8. Position Your Parts with Manufacturing in Mind

Are There Any Positioning Constraints?

Sometimes, parts have to go exactly where the mechanical design demands—like fitting into an enclosure, lining up connectors, or managing heat. When those constraints exist, you follow the rules.

But if you have wiggle room, adopting a manufacturing-first mindset can slash costs and speed up production. Here are key tips to make that happen.

Where Possible, Keep All SMT Components on One Side

Putting all surface mount (SMT) parts on a single PCB side is a manufacturing win. It cuts process steps, reduces board handling, and drops assembly costs.

Splitting SMT parts across both sides doubles SMT assembly time and complexity. So, keep them all on one side if you can.

Likewise, grouping through-hole (THT) components on the same side opens the door to wave soldering, a fast and cost-effective soldering method—saving time and money versus manual or selective soldering.

If You Can't Avoid Dual-Side Assembly...

Sometimes, dual-side assembly is unavoidable. In those cases, spacing and clearance become your best friends.

Selective soldering handles dual-side THT well, but needs at least 10mm clearance around solder-side leads to avoid knocking off SMT parts.

If 10mm is tight, ensure a clear approach path for the soldering nozzle to reach joints safely. Smaller nozzles can squeeze into tight spots, but larger nozzles generally work faster and more reliably, keeping costs down.

Bottom line: Thoughtful part placement isn't just good practice; it's the secret sauce for efficient, high-yield manufacturing and happier wallets.