Frequently asked questions about reverse engineering and printed circuit boards

What is reverse engineering?
Reverse engineering means taking your existing printed circuit board and developing a structurally identical, functionally identical, operationally identical PC board using current technologies, techniques, and materials.

What’s the difference between reverse engineering a printed circuit board, and simply cloning it?
Cheap PCB-cloning services do exist. But … copying your PCB that way could restrict your parts sourcing, expose you to liability, and cost you more money in the long run. For more details, see our article, Copying a Printed Circuit Board.

Is reverse engineering an existing PC board legal?
Yes, for two reasons.

First, you already own the board.

Second, reverse engineering produces a PC board that is electronically identical, but not a copy. The trace route, for instance, is almost always different.

Can reverse engineering be used to update old circuit board designs?
Yes, absolutely – we’ve done numerous projects in which an existing circuit board was simultaneously reverse engineered and upgraded, to take advantage of more-common components or to integrate more-efficient technologies.

How much does it cost to reverse engineer a printed circuit board?
Key cost drivers are the complexity of the printed circuit board and the length of time to delivery. You can get a pretty good idea of costs by using our online instant estimator.

How soon can you get started and how long does it take?
How soon can you get us your project specs and existing circuit board? We’re ready whenever you are.

The whole process typically takes 4-6 weeks, although if you’re in a hurry we do offer rush service.

Once my PCB is reversed, can I use your drawings and specifications to manufacture offshore?
We provide all the manufacturing files you need to have your circuit board manufactured anywhere in the world: fully detailed schematics, industry-standard Gerber files, drill files, bill of materials, and more. See the article on our Thoughts on Reverse Engineering PCBs offshore.

To find out how Armistead Technologies can help, just give us a call or contact us with your project details!