Layer stack configuration in PCB Design - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a PCB design engineer working on a new multilayer circuit board.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a clear report showing the layer stack configuration details to ensure signal integrity and manufacturing feasibility.

📊 Data: You have data about each layer's type (signal, power, ground), thickness in micrometers, and material type for a 6-layer PCB.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a dashboard report that lists each layer with its type, thickness, and material, and visualize the total thickness and layer distribution.

Sample Data

Layer Number	Layer Name	Layer Type	Thickness (µm)	Material
1	Top Signal	Signal	35	Copper
2	Prepreg 1	Dielectric	100	FR4
3	Inner Ground	Ground	35	Copper
4	Inner Power	Power	35	Copper
5	Prepreg 2	Dielectric	100	FR4
6	Bottom Signal	Signal	35	Copper

1

Step 1: Create a table visualization listing all layers with columns: Layer Number, Layer Name, Layer Type, Thickness (µm), Material.

Use the sample data as is to create a table in your BI tool with the specified columns.

Expected Result

A clear table showing all 6 layers with their details.

2

Step 2: Calculate the total thickness of the PCB by summing the Thickness (µm) column.

Total Thickness = SUM('Layer Stack'[Thickness (µm)])

Expected Result

Total Thickness = 35 + 100 + 35 + 35 + 100 + 35 = 340 µm

3

Step 3: Create a bar chart showing the thickness of each layer by Layer Name.

X-axis: Layer Name; Y-axis: Thickness (µm); Bar color by Layer Type.

Expected Result

A bar chart with 6 bars, each representing a layer's thickness, colored by type (Signal, Power, Ground, Dielectric).

4

Step 4: Create a pie chart showing the proportion of total thickness by Layer Type.

Group data by Layer Type and sum Thickness (µm) for each group.

Expected Result

Pie chart showing thickness distribution: Signal (105 µm), Dielectric (200 µm), Ground (35 µm), Power (35 µm).

5

Step 5: Add a card visualization showing the total number of layers.

Number of Layers = COUNTROWS('Layer Stack')

Expected Result

Card showing '6' as total layers.

Final Result

Bar Chart: Layer Thickness by Layer Name, colored by Layer Type

↓

Pie Chart: Thickness Distribution by Layer Type

↓

Card: Total Layers = 6

✓The PCB has 6 layers with a total thickness of 340 micrometers.

✓Dielectric layers (Prepreg 1 and 2) contribute the most thickness (200 µm).

✓Signal layers are on the top and bottom, each 35 µm thick, totaling 105 µm.

✓Ground and Power layers are each 35 µm thick, providing stable reference planes.

Bonus Challenge

Add a calculation to find the percentage thickness contribution of each layer type and visualize it in a stacked bar chart.

Show Hint

Calculate percentage by dividing each Layer Type's total thickness by the overall total thickness, then multiply by 100.