ISOLA PCB / ENGINEERING RESOURCES
From first question
to fabrication brief.
Use practical review guides, a material comparison worksheet and a file preparation checklist to move your project forward.
Choose your next task.
MATERIAL RESEARCH
Build a candidate list →
Start with verified manufacturer links and collect construction-specific documentation.
STACK-UP PLANNING
Review a six-layer board →
Walk through layer assignments, construction decisions and the release package.
CALCULATIONS
Check the first idea →
Use thickness arithmetic and an isolated microstrip approximation with clear limitations.
WORKSHEET / MATERIAL REVIEW
Compare like with like.
Copy these fields into your project review. A typical material value without its measurement conditions is an incomplete comparison.
| Field | Candidate A / Candidate B: collect for each |
|---|---|
| Source | Manufacturer document title, revision and access date. |
| Construction | Grade, glass style, resin content, core or prepreg, thickness and copper profile. |
| Electrical data | Dk and Df, frequency, method and whether the value is intended for design modelling. |
| Thermal & process | Assembly and operating requirements; the supporting material data and process review. |
| Availability | Fabricator confirmation, acceptable alternatives and any supply constraints. |
| Decision | Selected construction, unresolved issues, reviewer and approval date. |
CHECKLIST / INQUIRY PACKAGE
Make the files easy to review.
Fabrication data
- Board outline and dimensions
- Copper, mask and legend layers
- Drill files and hole notes
- Layer naming and file revision
Engineering requirements
- Material and substitution rules
- Stack-up and finished thickness
- Copper and surface finish
- Impedance and inspection requirements
Project details
- Prototype or production quantities
- Requested delivery date
- Contact name and email
- Open questions and special handling
For the online form, package unsupported fabrication file types inside a ZIP. Identify the revision in both the archive name and your message. Up to five files can be submitted, with a maximum of 10 MiB per file and 25 MiB in total.
Open the inquiry checklist & form →Terms you will encounter.
| Term | Use in the review |
|---|---|
| Dk / dielectric constant | Record the measurement conditions and construction alongside the value used in a model. |
| Df / dissipation factor | Record the measurement frequency and method when comparing loss-related material data. |
| Core / prepreg | Identify which construction is specified for each dielectric region and obtain the pressed thickness. |
| Finished copper | Use the intended final copper thickness when reviewing dimensions, rather than assuming the starting foil is the final result. |
| Controlled impedance | A target plus an agreed tolerance, construction and verification plan. |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Before your next design review
Are the tools a substitute for fabrication review?
No. They support early exploration. Obtain the final construction and production dimensions from the fabricator.
Where should I check current material details?
Use the manufacturer references in the material library, then confirm the intended construction with your fabricator.
Do you provide instant prices?
The current website collects an engineering inquiry. It does not calculate a binding instant price or create a production order.
CONTINUE YOUR DESIGN