Customer Reviews

Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference; Basics

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I wanted to like this book very much, but the deeper I look into it, the more disappointed I get. I keep telling myself that the title says "Basic", and perhaps the information I'm looking for will be found in an advanced, follow-on title. But, there are too many important basic details that are simply missing or mentioned only in passing.

I'll offer one example, of many possible. From page 118:

"Fiducials come in several different sizes and shapes. Figure 5-16 shows the old-style fiducials or targets. ... It is highly recommended to place at least three (or more) fiducials toward the extents of the board."

OK, there's a nice figure of an 'old-style'; but what would a 'new-style' fiducial look like? Its not shown or described. How big is it? Even the old-style figure is not dimensioned. Where do they go - where is the extent, and how close is "toward"? (The term 'extent' is never defined.) Fiducials are an elementary and necessary aspect of layout, and I expected to find at least a couple of pages on their use and definition. If you were depending only upon this book, it would be impossible to figure out why, how, when, or where to use one.

What's an aperture? What's a Gerber? You can't possibly get any more fundamental than that, but those terms aren't found in the index or in over 70 pages (out of the book's 260 total) of lists of terms and acronyms (which do, however, include such useful entries as: Sequential Electrochemical Reduction Analysis, Systems Network Architecture, and Geiger Counter?).

This profession needs a good introductory reference work, but I'm sad to report that this isn't it.

It looks like the author decided to give the book its only good review (see the review above). I have read enough of this book to know it can only be fully understood when someone already knows enough about circuit board design and therefore does not need the book. If it was intended for beginners then it is not worth the money.

I agree that the only review that this guide could get is from the anyone involved with this book. I was new to circuit board design when I read this book and I am even lost more now, it really didn't answer the basic questions that I had.

I have a little PCB construction experience and wanted to get some expert advice and pointers. This book was a serious disappointment. It skipped over much nomenclature that a true beginner would not understand and did nothing to improve my knowledge. The writing is sketchy, especially later in the text. The formatting seems to be messed up; there are bulleted lists in the middle of pages with no context. Finally, the text copies (plagerizes?) some TI docs (74LS08) and does not give TI credit. Save your money and find another book to buy.

Received book in good condition. Was able to download sofware on line but unable to open/use it. It'd have been perfect if the software disk was accompanied.

This book was fairly basic, but had a lot of graphics, pictures. There is a little to much glossary, but the software was worth the price of the book. Although a little gludgy, but very useful. I wish I had this software 17 years ago.
The book in all was pretty good. I would have like to had it when I started out. It details the process, and gives great manufacturing notes. Great for a beginner!
I wanted a little more about the actual designing though.

I have read this bood from cover to cover and there has never been a more informative text book. This book really deals with the basics and gives you step by step instruction. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!! The cd included in the book just gives it that extra edge on designing...