Design Engineering and EDA

Precision Tracking Systems offers Design Engineering covering Electronics, Mechanics, Manufacturing, Fabrication, and Packaging from original concept thru completion of the finished product or any portion thereof.

To get started we require your information in either Black Box (when security dictates "Need to Know") or Parameter Spec's (for complete designs). Specific criteria pertinent to the job at hand is of course addressed as needed.

Statement of Quality and Design Integrity

Precision Tracking Systems stands 100% behind everything we do. If we design from scratch, we guarantee that the design will precisely match the specifications which the customer has authorized as correct, and that the circuit board will match the approved schematics 100% with zero errors or we will effect repairs at our own expense until compliance is achieved.

If PTS designs from a schematic supplied by the customer, then all we can guarantee is that the circuit board will precisely match the schematic 100%. As long as we have no hand in the schematic design, we cannot guarantee that the circuit will function at all, let alone per spec, only that it will conform to the original design drawings. PTS assumes no liability for designs we did not create. All repairs, redesign, and subsequent actions by PTS on the customers authorization will be billed accordingly.

The following sections will address the CAD platforms used, options and services available, what you can expect to see happen, and what you will receive back.

Electronic Design Automation (EDA) :

Design automation tools allow us to more precisely control the outcome of a product without having to go through costly and time consuming rebuilds, retooling, and waste. Your products can be built, tested, and integrated on the computer from the top down so that complex problems can be discovered and fixed before fabrication begins.

Schematics :

Generally, our customers like us to design from scratch, that is, from original concept. We think the product through and with your feedback, we determine all the fine point specifications. This makes the first step, designing an electronics schematic, much more accurate and efficient. Turn time is greatly reduced and we get an engineers prototype sooner.

The schematics have the standard reference designators and pin outs, plus part names, power ratings, tolerances, special materials, and block notes. Off page connectors are marked with a reference number, plus the signal name, page number to go to or come from, and signal protocol. Schematics include top downs, block diagrams, functional diagrams including flow charts, and board by board component level schematics from which the PCB is derived.

Whatever your product, the electronics needs to be layed out clearly and concisely with manufacturing in mind. The schematics we generate not only reflect the electrical connections between components, they also create the Netlists used to design the circuit boards themselves. This ensures 100% data transfer reliability from schematic to PCB layout. Precision Tracking Systems can also work directly from your schematics, netlists, and designs to further your products' development with the same degree of reliability.

Circuit Boards :

Precision Tracking Systems designs from single sided thru-hole right down to multi-laminate ultra fine pitch smt. Designs are derived from the schematic netlists and transferred straight to the circuit board. Vector weight analysis and advanced autorouting techniques combined with powerful editing tools and DRC checks guarantee cutting edge layouts. Boards can be any number of layers with multiple dedicated planes and sub-micron routing accurate to within 0.5 mils. Components can be rotated with placement sensitivity to .01 degrees.

Options and Services

When a design is completed, photoplotted artwork is necessary to continue with the fabrication process. Generally, a board house provides this service for a fee. Precision Tracking Systems provides this service as a matter of course at no additional charge. The customer has the option of reviewing the artwork before it goes to our board house.

If PTS is doing the assembly work, we will develop a Production Book that details the assembly process, also at no added charge. If however the Production Book is requested and PTS is not doing the work, charges apply.

What you get back

Upon project completion and satisfaction of final billing, everything we've done on the clients behalf is returned. Designs, artwork, files, product and lab notes, copies and originals, sources, vendor lists, data reports, testing data, technical writings, layouts, production abstracts, photoplotted artwork positives and the Gerber and Excellon files that generated them, files generated for use by fabrication and manufacturing routines, intellectual properties including software, source codes, etc., prototypes, manufactured goods, and parts.

After we've returned all files and documents, the customer will be able to take the package anywhere and have it manufactured. Although we would like the manufacturing, assembly, and testing work ourselves, PTS will stand by to provide technical support if you go elsewhere. We have the final production and welfare of your products at heart.