Currently, it’s no longer about optimal performance
but about guaranteeing reliability, long-term availability, and compliance in an industry where a single part can make or break your product.
That’s why,
when selecting automotive grade components for your next high-performance design, the stakes couldn’t be any higher.
As, these components must go beyond functionality—enduring extreme conditions, ensuring reliability, and meeting strict regulations.
So, whether you are designing for a car, industrial machinery, or any other automotive application – the choice of components is highly paramount.
Therefore, we are here to share the key steps for choosing the most reliable and compliant parts for your design.
1. Start with ECAD Libraries and Part Validation
Likewise, the first step in ensuring your automotive-grade components are up to standard is a proper validation through ECAD libraries and part validation. Besides, a mistake here can lead to part mismatches or incorrect pinouts during manufacturing.
So, always consider cross-referencing the parts in your ECAD libraries and part validation tool with manufacturer specifications. Moreover, this helps prevent issues like incorrect footprints, unavailable parts, or incompatibility with your overall design.
2. Ensure RoHS and REACH Compliance
It goes without saying that RoHS and REACH compliance are non-negotiable in automotive applications.
Additionally, these regulations ensure that the components are free from hazardous substances and are environmentally safe.
Now, if you are sourcing parts globally, then don’t rely on the manufacturer’s declaration alone.
Likewise, always use compliance-checking tools within your ECAD libraries and part validation process to double-check RoHS and REACH certification.
Also, this avoids costly redesigns if non-compliant components are sourced.
So, have you ever been caught off-guard by a non-compliant part after PCB fabrication?
On the other hand, slips in RoHS/REACH result in full redesigns.
Accordingly, to prevent this, make it a habit to double-check every part with compliance checking tools in your ECAD setup.
3. Account for Design Margin Considerations
Apparently, many engineers fail to account for design margin considerations when selecting the proper automotive-grade components. Plus, automotive systems endure temperature fluctuations, high vibrations, and even power surges that regular components might not withstand.
So, always select components that offer a wider operating margin than the typical conditions your system will encounter. For example: if your system is rated for 85°C, then consider choosing components rated for 100°C to ensure reliability over time.
4. Check Component Life-cycle and Availability
Now, we all know that component longevity is a major factor for automotive applications. Likewise, ensure that the selected parts are readily available and supported throughout your product’s lifecycle.
Likewise, tools like SiliconExpert can help you proactively monitor part status and obsolescence risks. Also, work with trusted suppliers only who offer lifecycle guarantees. Then, look for components with long-term availability or at least with a clear plan for lifecycle extension. On the other hand, components nearing end-of-life can cause serious issues down the line quite extensively.
5. Verify Compliance with Industry Standards
Lastly, automotive-grade components must comply with various industry standards beyond just RoHS and REACH. So, whether it’s ISO, SAE, or UL standards, your selected parts need to meet them to ensure safety and reliability.
Therefore, you must leverage ECAD libraries and part validation tools that have built-in access to industry standards. Moreover, these tools can automatically flag components that don’t meet the necessary regulatory or safety benchmarks. Consequently, it also saves you from expensive rework down the line.
Bottom Line
Overall, when selecting automotive-grade components, it’s highly essential to follow a rigorous process in order to:
- Ensure Compliance,
- Extensive Functionality
- Long-term Reliability.
As, such critical mistakes in component selection can eventually result in costly redesigns and delayed production.
Meanwhile, our clients have remarkably saved weeks in prototyping and months in production with our validated selection tools and compliance checks.
This content is originally posted on: https://gighz.net/
Source URL: https://gighz.net/ecad/5-check-when-selecting-automotive-grade-components/
