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How to Reverse Engineering Pcb

By circuiteng (/member/circuiteng/) in Circuits (/circuits/) > Electronics (/circuits/electronics/projects/) 3,027

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PCB reverse engineering (http://www.circuit-engineering.com/), also known as PCB

cloning (http://www.circuit-engineering.com/) or PCB copy, is using reverse
engineering technology onto the PCB which was designed and manufactured by
others, it is to use PCB related software to copy someone else’s circuit board and
then manufacture the circuit board by yourself. This is the tradditional explanation
for the PCB reverse engineering. with the pcb reverse engineering technology
development, the impact and scope of this industry continues to expand rapidly,
and the de�nition of pcb reverse engineering also extend from the narrow sense
that: pcb reverse engineering only refers to extraction of PCB �le from electronic
circuit board and then restore it for the purpose of PCB cloning or copy; To the wide
sense that pcb reverse engineering not only include PCB �le extraction, circuit
board cloning/copy and other related technical aspect, but also modify PCB �le, the
shape of the mold for electronic products, extraction of 3-dimensional model data
on a variet of electronic products, compile the components list assembled on the
PCB circuit board as well as individual data sheets on each component where
available, decrypt microcontroller on the circuit board, crack encrypted IC on the
PCB, moreover, inverse assemble the �rmware of PCB circuit board and etc, a
whole set of PCB reverse engineering technology.

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Step 1: Clean the Surface of PCB

(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FCG/Z6ZP/GOW49R2L/FCGZ6ZPGOW49R2L.jpg?auto=webp&fit=bounds)

There is a 4 layer PCB need to being reversed engineering, all the components
assembled on the surface have already been removed by hand-held soldering iron
and air pressure gun, during this stage operator must be aware of components
especially for those components with �ne lead and high unit price delicate IC, after
that, pcb board surface must be cleaned by washer water Washer which main
ingredients are chlorinated solvents, buffer, corrosion inhibitor, antioxidant, surface
active agent composition. Features of washer water is Low toxicity, no risk of
explosion, the maximum allowable concentration in air 100PPM.
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Step 2: Scan PCB Each Layer

/F807ZZCGOW49R34.jpg?auto=webp&
width=1024&height=1024&fit=bounds)
/ORIG/F80/7ZZC/GOW49R34
(https://cdn.instructables.com

/FT3FM2HGP5SZL24.jpg?auto=webp&width=1024&height=1024&
(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FT3/FM2H/GP5SZL24
fit=bounds)
/FY7L3YFGOW49R3F.jpg?auto=webp&
width=1024&height=1024&fit=bounds)
/ORIG/FY7/L3YF/GOW49R3F
(https://cdn.instructables.com

1 Scan TOP layer circuit board, save the scanning picture and name as TOP.jpg, the
DPI value can be set according to the density of PCB, hereby we choose 400DPI as
reference;

2 Scan Bottom layer and name it as BOTTOM.jpg;

3 Use sand paper to abrade the TOP layer copper and expose the 2nd layer copper
circuit pattern, scan the circuit pattern after clean it out and name it as MID1.jpg;

4 Use sand paper to abrade the 2nd layer copper and expose the 3nd layer copper
circuit pattern, scan the circuit pattern after clean it out and name it as MID2.jpg;

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Step 3: Software Processing

5 Instruct leveladjustmen for each picture we have ever scanned through
3 of 7POTOSHOP (rotate pictures to ensure all of them are level which will make the 8:38 am
22/08/19,
How circuit pattern
to Reverse looks better,
Engineering moreover
Pcb: 3 Steps multilayerhttps://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-revers...
PCB with over 1 picture can make it
easy for alignment); Hereby we suggest to turn the BOTTOM layer picture into
Mirror Horizontally, simutaneously you should adjust TOP layer picture which will
make it has the same orientation as well as �xing holes on each corners. Finally
save each layer �le as the format of .BMP, such as TOP.bmp, BOTTOM.bmp,
MID1.bmp, MID2.bmp, please noted not to cut out the pictures exactly but leave
some space around each of them;

6 Open PCB Reverse Engineering software, click on “�le” from MAIN MENU, and
then click “OPEN BMP”, select the TOP.bmp �le and open it, set up DPI value and
then choose the layer feature as TOP layer, start to place components, through-
hole and arrange circuit line, after you have arranged everything on the TOP layer,
save �le as temporary and name as TOP-1.dpb ( save the �les periodically under
different name such as TOP-2, TOP-3, TOP-4 prevent �les lost from unexpected
power cut-off or computer breakdown );

7 Click on “�le” from MAIN MENU, and then click “OPEN BMP”, select the
BOTTOM.bmp �le, at the same time open temporary �le TOP-1.dpb, and you will
�nd that TOP layer picture which has been �nished already can’t align to BOTTOM
layer background picture, so you have to use cursor “UP”, ”DOWN”, ”LEFT”,
”RIGHT” to move its location, now you can choose some reference points to align
the layers and after you have �nished alignment you can start to place components,
through-hole and arrange circuit line on BOTTOM layer, what if circuit line on the
TOP layer block your eyesight on BOTTOM layer? It is easy, just from the main
menu "Options" select "layer color settings”, cancel the selection of TOP layer as
well as silkscreen, after you have arranged everything on the BOTTOM layer, save
�le as temporary and name as BOTTOM-1.dpb, or as BOTTOM-1.pcb;

8 Repeat the process from point 5 to point 7 you have just been through then can
output completed PCB �le of 4 layer circuit board.

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5 of 7 22/08/19, 8:38 am

We have a be nice policy.

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3 Discussions

(/member/Oluwayomi/) Oluwayomi (/member/Oluwayomi/) 3 months ago

Reply / Upvote
Pls the name of the scanner

(/member/ArunM78/) ArunM78 (/member/ArunM78/) Question 1 year ago on Step 3

Answer / Upvote
Hello Circuiteng,
Can someone give me contact details who can do the step 2(remove Copper/prepreg layer by layer) in
India.

(/member/thiagoppte/) thiagoppte (/member/thiagoppte/) 5 years ago on Step 3

Reply / Upvote
what is the program wich you use for pcb reverse engineering?

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