This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to design electronic printed circuit boards.

It includes designing electronic printed circuit boards. It also includes developing alternative printed circuit board design schemes based on design brief and customer relations, and documenting designs.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to design printed circuit board assembly

1.1

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and workplace procedures for a given work area are identified and be applied

1.2

Extent of the proposed circuit board and sub-assemblies design is determined from the design brief or in consultation with appropriate person/s

1.3

Design development work is planned to meet scheduled timelines in consultation with relevant person/s involved

2

Develop printed circuit board assembly design

2.1

Electronic components, sub-assemblies and industry standards are applied to the design

2.2

Alternative arrangements for the printed circuit board design are considered based on the requirements outlined in the design brief

2.3

Safety and functional considerations are incorporated in the printed circuit board design

2.4

Printed circuit board design draft is checked for compliance with the design brief and design rules

2.5

Printed circuit board design is documented for submission to appropriate person/s for approval

2.6

Unplanned situations are responded to in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

3

Provide assembly drawings and artwork files ready for production

3.1

Printed circuit board design is presented and explained to client representative and/or relevant person/s

3.2

Requests for alterations to the printed circuit board design are negotiated with relevant person/s within the constraints of workplace policy

3.3

Final printed circuit board design is documented and approval obtained from appropriate person/s

3.4

Quality of work is monitored against performance agreement and/or workplace procedures or industry standards

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least two separate occasions and include:

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, workplace procedures and practices, including using risk control measures

creating a library of components

creating custom component footprints and schematic elements using physical measurements and/or applicable datasheets

dealing with unplanned situations in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

designing single and double-layer boards

developing outlines of alternative designs

developing the design within safety and functional requirements

documenting and presenting design effectively

extracting and checking manufacturing files/gerber and drill/excelon

implementing common design rule parameters used by printed circuit board fabrication houses

modifying existing component footprints and schematic elements using physical measurements and/or applicable datasheets

running design rule and error checks within software package

using a version control system (VCS) or implementing a version control strategy

using an industry standard printed circuit board design software package

using both surface mount device (SMD)/surface mount technology (SMT) and through-hole components

using Vias in accordance with industry standards.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

design principles and industry standards

design tools and software

factors influencing design, including component placement, routing and auto-routing and design rules

printed circuit board techniques, including materials and processes overview (photographic, mechanical, thermal and dielectric) and types of printed circuit board (single-sided, double-sided and multi-layer)

relevant job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant printed circuit board manufacturer specifications, including component specifications and their implications in a given circuit

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures

sources of components and technical data, including sources of components and technical data (data sheets and manufacturer’s data) and circuit/apparatus parameters and specifications.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

resources that reflect current industry practices in relation to designing electronic printed circuit boards

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Designing electronic printed circuit boards must include at least the following:

two printed boards for different component population densities and related sub-assemblies, including:

single-sided printed circuit board

doubled-sided printed circuit board

Electrotechnology

Electronics and Communications