FlapJack
Full Member level 6
Is it still a big no no to turn an IC 180 Deg around to allow for direct routing as it was years ago. Back then all chips had to face the same way or the world would come to an end.
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Is it still a big no no to turn an IC 180 Deg around to allow for direct routing as it was years ago. Back then all chips had to face the same way or the world would come to an end.
I have always laid out SMD based PCBs based firstly on the electrical connectivity, I always layout for reduced loop areas especially for feedback loops etc. I will rotate a component to 45 degrees if it makes the layout better and don't concern myself with the orientation of any component, with pick and place and automatic optical inspection it is not an issue...
In't old days when board assembly involved a lot of human labour and human inspection things were different, now any angle any orientation...
DIP is not dead and there is something to be said for sockets. Would you worry about orientation for this type of board today.
I always orient my ICs the same way, and with multilayer boards there is really no excuse for random orientation.
It makes servicing a LOT more straightforward as well.
I have very strong feelings that every circuit board designer should be forced to serve at least one year of hard labour on the chain gang, doing component level board repairs.
And another year as a slave on the production line loading boards.
A whole bunch of small details you probably never thought of start to become of vital significance.