JLCPCB Blog

Design Tools & Best Practices

Guide to PCB Via Design: Best Practices, Tips, and Key Considerations

High-quality PCB design not only requires innovative concepts but also relies on a deep understanding of PCB manufacturing processes. Via design, as one of the critical steps in PCB design, is crucial for both PCB performance and manufacturing efficiency. Can vias be designed in any size? To answer this question, let’s first understand how holes on a PCB are created. 1. Cutting the Material: PCB manufacturers use automatic cutting machines to slice large copper-clad laminates into substrates of specif......

Sep 15, 2026

Flexible Heater Basics

What Is a Flexible Heater? A Complete Guide

Flexible heaters provide customizable heating for applications where space, shape, or installation conditions make conventional rigid heaters difficult to use. But different materials offer different specifications, so selecting the right heater requires more than choosing a size and target temperature. This guide explains what flexible heaters are, how they work, the main types available from JLCPCB, and the differences between polyimide and silicone rubber heaters. It also covers common applications......

Sep 15, 2026

Design Tools & Best Practices

GPT-6 Astra PCB Design in KiCad: From Brief to Verified Native Project

Key Takeaways What OpenAI published: The launch page features a 15-second condensed clip of GPT-6 Astra performing PCB layout in KiCad. What the model did: It turned a four-line brief into a 44 × 34 mm, two-layer PCB, covering the circuit, footprints, component placement, routing, and a native two-sheet schematic. Where the work went: Placement and routing were only part of the work. Two linked schematic sheets, project-local libraries, and UUID-based links between 45 components and their footprints w......

Sep 14, 2026

High-Speed Layout

Via Stitching in PCB Design: A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways Via stitching bonds same-net copper across layers with repeated plated vias, most often ground, to cut high-frequency impedance between regions. A grounded via next to a signal layer transition gives return current a short local path and helps confine the field around the via. Via fences along board edges and RF cavities suppress edge radiation, but their isolation is geometry- and frequency-dependent, with no universal dB value. Keep stitching pitch at or below one-twentieth of the in-b......

Sep 14, 2026

Power & Ground Layout

Track Width v/s Current Capacity: PCB Layout Tips for Power Routing

Key Takeaways Trace width and copper thickness set the current limit. Standard 1 oz (35 µm) copper suits most designs; step up to 2–3 oz for power-hungry boards. Size traces against IPC-2221/IPC-2152 for a safe temperature rise. Internal layers carry less current than external ones. Buried traces dissipate heat poorly, so derate them or move high-current paths to outer layers. Vias are a bottleneck—each carries only about 500 mA. When routing power across layers, stitch multiple vias in parallel rathe......

Sep 11, 2026

Surface Finishes & Coating

PCB Gold Fingers: Why They Matter and How to Design Them

Key Takeaways PCB gold fingers provide reliable electrical and mechanical contact for PCBs that connect to external connectors or card slots. ENIG is suitable for general contact applications, while electroplated hard gold offers higher wear resistance for repeated insertion and removal. Gold fingers should remain fully exposed, with solder mask and silkscreen kept away from the contact area. Proper chamfering and gold finger orientation are essential to ensure smooth insertion and prevent damage duri......

Sep 11, 2026