The Board Outline is Usually the First Thing I Review

When I'm close to finishing a PCB design, I don't usually start the final review by looking at the routing.

Instead, I look at the board outline.

At that point, I'm thinking less like a PCB designer and more like someone who must fit the board into a real product. Are the mounting holes still in the right place? Do the connectors line up with the enclosure? Is there enough clearance around the board edge?

Most of the time, nothing needs to change. But spending a few minutes looking at the mechanical side of the design has helped me catch small issues before they become expensive revisions.

It's a simple habit that has gradually become part of every PCB release.

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