Video will appear after the Forum
Date: 03/27/2026
About this Forum:
This session highlights how Design for Manufacturability (DFM) ensures that innovative PCB concepts can be reliably fabricated to meet industry standards. In a 30‑minute format, presenters will introduce the scope of DFM services and explain why understanding IPC specifications is critical for new designers. Case studies will demonstrate how unmanufacturable designs were corrected through DFM, with emphasis on IPC 2221/2222 for design and IPC 6012 for manufacturing. Key engineering challenges such as stack‑ups, bow/twist prevention, and impedance calculations will be discussed, showing how design decisions tie directly to fabrication requirements. The session concludes with a funnel‑style view of impact: starting from broad specifications, narrowing into detailed engineering, and expanding into product performance. Attendees will gain practical insight into how DFM aligns with shop capabilities, what belongs in an RFQ package, and how manufacturability drives reliability and return on investment.
The Rodgers RLE Forum is a time to appreciate and learn from examples of impactful engineering. The laboratory hosts these opportunities for engagement in support of its mission to serve as a cutting-edge hub for advancing and sharing knowledge and best practices in high-performance prototyping.
About the presenters:
Russ Adams is Prototron’s Director of Technical Marketing, bringing 30+ years of PCB fabrication expertise. He supports engineers with stackups, materials, and manufacturability guidance to ensure fast, first‑pass‑success prototype builds.
Frank Sortelli is a Senior Technical Account Manager at Prototron with 25+ years in quick‑turn, high‑reliability PCB manufacturing. He partners closely with design teams to resolve DFM issues and accelerate time‑critical prototype cycles
Kim O’Neill is a Senior Technical Engineer at Prototron with more than 25 years of hands‑on PCB fabrication and materials experience. He works directly with designers to optimize stackups, improve manufacturability, and deliver reliable quick‑turn builds.
Prototron Circuits is a leading quick‑turn PCB manufacturer specializing in early‑stage, time‑critical, and high‑reliability printed circuit board builds. With more than 35 years of experience supporting aerospace, defense, medical, robotics, and advanced‑technology programs, Prototron helps engineering teams move from concept to functional hardware with speed, precision, and deep technical support.
Our capabilities span complex rigid PCBs, controlled‑impedance designs; and demanding materials such as RF/microwave substrates and high‑temperature laminates. Prototron is known for its collaborative engineering approach — working directly with designers to resolve manufacturability challenges, improve stackups, and ensure first‑pass success.
From rapid prototypes to low‑volume production, Prototron delivers predictable lead times, IPC‑aligned quality, and the responsiveness required for research environments and fast‑moving development cycles.