Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Altium Develop connects your design data straight to manufacturing, so issues like missing drill files and acid traps get caught long before your board reaches the fab house: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=one-minute-pcb-design-reviews&utm_content=watch-out-for-acid-traps
In this One Minute PCB Design Review, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson reviews a USB lithium-ion battery charger and zeroes in on the fabrication outputs that make or break a clean manufacturing handoff. Zach walks through a board shape layer that only shows a small square instead of the real outline, a Gerber export carrying two drill drawings with no drill table to define hole sizes, and why a complete drill file is something you should always include with your outputs. It's a quick, practical look at the difference between a design that's done and a design that's actually ready to manufacture.
Zach also digs into the copper pour on this two-layer board, praising the filled bottom layer while flagging an empty top layer, a drill hit sitting dangerously close to a polygon edge, and a trace that enters at an acute angle, creating the kind of acid trap many fabrication houses will flag. He shows the simple fix: pull the polygon edge back and route orthogonally out of the pour before continuing. Whether you're charging your first Li-ion cell or refining your manufacturing files, these are the small details that keep your boards out of trouble.
🔹 Connect with Zach: Want your design reviewed by Zach? Reach out to him on LinkedIn with your design and production files for a chance to be featured on our channel: linkedin.com/in/zachariah-peterson
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #AcidTrap
Altium Develop connects your design data straight to manufacturing, so issues like missing drill files and acid traps get caught long before your board reaches the fab house: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=one-minute-pcb-design-reviews&utm_content=watch-out-for-acid-traps
In this One Minute PCB Design Review, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson reviews a USB lithium-ion battery charger and zeroes in on the fabrication outputs that make or break a clean manufacturing handoff. Zach walks through a board shape layer that only shows a small square instead of the real outline, a Gerber export carrying two drill drawings with no drill table to define hole sizes, and why a complete drill file is something you should always include with your outputs. It's a quick, practical look at the difference between a design that's done and a design that's actually ready to manufacture.
Zach also digs into the copper pour on this two-layer board, praising the filled bottom layer while flagging an empty top layer, a drill hit sitting dangerously close to a polygon edge, and a trace that enters at an acute angle, creating the kind of acid trap many fabrication houses will flag. He shows the simple fix: pull the polygon edge back and route orthogonally out of the pour before continuing. Whether you're charging your first Li-ion cell or refining your manufacturing files, these are the small details that keep your boards out of trouble.
🔹 Connect with Zach: Want your design reviewed by Zach? Reach out to him on LinkedIn with your design and production files for a chance to be featured on our channel: linkedin.com/in/zachariah-peterson
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #AcidTrap
