Creative Design Solutions Ltd

Prototype to get it right!

Creative Design Solutions can prototype in a number of ways

Bread board. Components fitted & wired to create a test circuit without using soldering. A quick way to physically test a circuit.
Strip board. Components are fitted to general purpose PCB board. Tracks are broken and connections made with wore. Suitable for one off board perhaps.
Isolation Routed PCB. Circuit is entered into schematic, Layout and Route, Gerber output data files are used to generate a PCB using a CNC milling tool. Suitable for multiple PCBs and where production is likely to follow. Currently Creative Design Solutions can create double sided boards in house. It is also possible to create multilayer boards using this technique.
Send off for PCB. Circuit is entered into schematic, Layout and Route, Gerber output data files are used to generate a PCB using a PCB manufacturer. Suitable a greater number of PCBs, where production is likely to follow, where exact representation of production board is required, where larger number of layers are required.

Efficient fault feedback using isolation routing

Performing isolation routing in house is an aid to design/layout fault finding. Any design/layout faults detected can be easily fed back into the schematic or layout.

Population of PCBs

For convenience, speed and efficiency considerations, Creative Design Solutions can populate PCB's with components. This is normally useful during development phase. More complex boards can be populated and tested in stages which can make debugging easier.

Isolation Routing

The Complete Circuit Board Prototyping Solution

Creative Design Solutions is always in favour of efficiency and fast turn around solutions. Now there is no need to send your data to a slow and costly board house to produce circuit board prototypes. Creative Design Solutions can create prototypes from your existing CAD packages - Gerber & Excellon (or HPGL) data.

Intelligent Data Conversion

	Creative Design Solution uses Isolation software to create the drilling and milling data for isolation routing. From CAD files, the Isolation software computes the isolation path outlining each electrical net on the circuit board. This isolation path becomes the mill path and is mechanically engraved to produce your prototype printed circuit board.

Simple Machine Setup

Milling is simple. Circuit board material and backup material are pinned together and affixed to a table. The table's precision pin-and-groove insures perfect registration when the material is turned over for double sided circuit boards. The milling system uses widely available, industry standard tooling.

Precise Drilling and Milling

	The Isolation software which drives a CNC router. First all holes are drilled, then the isolation milling is performed. High resolution and repeatability allows trace widths as small as 0.1 mm (0.004"). This precision allows you to prototype high-density digital, microwave, and surface mount circuit boards - at a fraction of the time and cost!.

Full Routing Capabilities

Then contour routing allows circuit boards of virtually any shape and size. Interior routing is just as easy. Large "drill" holes can also be routed instead of drilled. Additional routing capabilities include depaneling production-run circuit boards, and creating front panels and name plates from aluminum and many plastics.

Last Updated: February, 2006