Hardware Podcasts

S7E2 WEBINAR: Your Manufacturer is Stupid: Why Your Circuit Board Design Is Making Their Job Harder with Chris Denney

Being an Engineer · 9 Jan 2026 · 1h 02m · Episode 1

What this episode covers

Chris Denney, CTO of Worthington Assembly and Circuit Hub, explains how PCB design choices directly impact manufacturing efficiency and cost. He details five critical areas for mechanical and electrical engineers: ensuring component polarity is clear on the silk layer, using standardized 'cozy' 1mm text, avoiding panelization conflicts with overhanging parts, maintaining component size consistency to simplify stencil stepping, and preferring green solder mask over black for better optical inspection. Denney emphasizes that manufacturers are not Apple and must work with standard processes, urging designers to provide clear visual cues and collaborate early to avoid expensive rework and delays during new product introduction.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Worthington Assembly, Circuit Hub, Protolabs, PCBWay, JLC
Tools
KiCad, Fritzing

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