The Challenge
PCB holders are an essential tool for anyone working with electronics. They provide a stable and secure way to hold PCBs in place for tasks like inspection, soldering, system integration, and testing.
Frustrated with the PCB holders on the market, we decided to develop something that suited our needs: a ready-to-go PCB Circuit Keeper to support our embedded engineers in the efficient bring-up of multiple boards and system design, with flexibility and modularity at its core.
At 219, we thrive on tackling ambiguous, challenging problems. We approach those problems with a build-test-iterate philosophy, weaving together engineering disciplines. While this is core to our client work, we also tackle internal projects the same way. The development of the Circuit Keeper was no exception.
Our Process
We started with a perforated design (like a peg board). 3D printing was the manufacturing method chosen for its flexibility, ease of manufacture, and insulative properties. Experimenting with attachment methods, we tried snapping fasteners, thumbscrews, and other concepts. After several iterations and internal testing + feedback, we revisited our design and tried out a magnetic attachment paradigm. In our use cases, the magnetic design proved to be more flexible and easier to use. Feedback on the first prototypes as well as continued field use helped us hone in on new requirements and further details for a magnetic platform.
Product Requirements
Multiple board sizes: To ensure the holder can accommodate the size of your PCBs.
- 250 x 270mm
- 275 x 315mm
Type of work: Determine whether you need a holder for soldering, rework, storage, or other specific tasks.
- R&D
- Multi-Board System Organizing
- Storage
- Travel
- Soldering
- Rework
Desired features: Consider features like adjustability, rotation, clamping mechanisms (spring-loaded clamps, magnetic bases, etc.), and ESD safety.
- Modular
- Cable management
- Easy installation
- Non-conductive treatment
- Reusable
Durability:
- Use sturdy and durable materials to ensure longevity
Cost: Weigh the features and durability against your budget.
- Reasonable as part of a general project equipment budget
Pick Your Battles
We researched and prototyped many variations, releasing them to team members internally (everyone with a different use case and interest in improving the design). Input would trickle in as our team experienced issues or discovered other clever approaches. We logged the feedback and made revisions whenever there was time between projects.
Overall, the process was one of adhering to product requirements, building and iterating, reflecting on the different iterations and feedback, and taking a thoughtful approach to moving the design forward.
One helpful part of our process was to stay agile and creative, avoiding “tunnel vision.” This allowed us to evolve from a great platform with the peg-board style design to an even better and completely new paradigm with the magnetic fixture.
The Finished Product
We are thrilled with the results! The 219 PCB Circuit Keeper is a fully modular and infinitely customizable engineering development platform. With magnetic anchors and fittings of many varieties, we are able to organize PCBs, build out complex systems, route wires, hold down peripherals and other system components during development, as well as things like soldering, debugging, and other tasks. Its customizability and ease of use allows us to significantly streamline and stay organized with embedded system development processes.
We spent time on the elements that actually matter and enhanced creativity and precision in the process, all while protecting against any damage in handling. We have a lot more ideas in the pipeline to roll out in the near future.
We are always looking for tools to help us develop faster and solve problems better. Keep an eye out for additional internal projects coming soon!
These were developed to enhance our productivity and are not available for purchase.
