PCB Reverse Engineering

PCB Reverse Engineering Service

As a part of our one stop service for quick turn around of your projects, Mikatech provides project-based copying or re-engineering of printed circuit boards (PCBs).

By working with clients around the world for over 28 years, Mikatech would like to sum up clients PCB Copying demands as follows:

Unlike the Mikatech PCB Clone service, PCB Reverse Engineering is to reverse engineer a PCB assembly and trace back all of its original functionality, then, base on the extensive understanding of the functions, we can increase performance, reduce lifecycle costs, and add or subtract capabilities as part of the reverse engineering process.

Mikatech PCB Reverse Engineering service is flexable, from small jobs such as to change the pads between DIP SMD or other packagings for those hard to find components, (e.g. if a AT89S8252 DIP packaging is on the original PCB, but only the AT89S8252 QPF packaging is available on the market, then Mikatech can re-arrange the layout, change DIP pad to QFP pad), add jumper tracks to big jobs such as to give the project a total facelift.

Another key part of the Mikatech PCB Reverse Engineering service is to reverse the main controller of the PCB and, extract the program and trace back the functions to its individual logic. As the world first full dedicated reverse engineering company, Mikatech is previleged to have worked with clients around the world to help accumulated our wide knowledge base in this field.

Mikatech PCB reverse engineering service includes:

General Questions About Cloning Service

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• Is it safe to send payment to MikaTech ?

  If MikaTech was a bad company, you could find tons of bad reputations about its service on the internet over the 28 years history

  So, the answer is YES! We are good people.

  Why choose Mikatech, please click here to find out
  

  
  
• Can Mikatech break ics not listed on this site ?

  Different chip manufacturers have different part numbers, but the inner core of the chip can be make with same technology, it would be quite impossible to list all the part numbers where our technology can apply such as MYSON, STK, FEELING, ANALOG, FUJITSU, NOVATEK, LG/HYNDAI.
  
  Also by the advancing of the technology, everyday we gain more and more experience and develope new methods for reverse engineering for different Intergated Circuit parts. Full list of Integrated Circuit part numbers which is within our scope of capability is always getting bigger, please contact us to find out.

• Will my privacy be protected ?

  Mikatech Innovative Limited understands the importance of its clients' privacy. At the moment you contact Mikatech, the personal information from you will be put under protection by our management regulations which was developed by our years of practice, Mikatech uses these information to customize its service to you, it will never disclose these information to third party out of any reason.
  Every project we did, we will delete all the data, materials, and codes 60days after deliverig the files, it iwll protect us and protect your privacy.

• Is it legal to get service from Mikatech ?

  Yes, it is totally legal.
  Mikatech deliver its reverse engineering services for educational purposes only, it can be illegal to use above mentioned services in some coutries or regions, please check your local laws. Mikatech does not take any responsibility in relation to the use of above mentioned services that may be considered illegal.

  
  
• I sent you an email, why there is no answer ?

  • A. Our mail server is temperally broke down, your message has not been delivered to our mailbox even the mail sent successfully message is showed on the screen, please contact us again.
  • B. Our email is recognised as junk mail email by your mail server, so our reply has been rejected by your mail server or it is diverted to your junk mailbox, please remove our account from junkmail list or check your junk mailbox, or use another email account to contact such as gmail.
  • C. Your email is recognised as junk mail email by our mail server, so your email was put to our junk mailbox, please use another email account to contact us again.

• How to Clone a PCB Schematic Diagram ?

  How to Clone a PCB Schematic Diagram

  Cloning a PCB schematic diagram means reconstructing the complete circuit drawing from a physical PCB sample through reverse engineering. Below is the standard step-by-step workflow:

  1. Prepare the original PCB and tools

  First, gather necessary equipment: a multimeter, digital microscope, high-precision caliper, desoldering station, scanner, PCB reverse engineering software (such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence), and component datasheets. Then desolder all surface-mount and through-hole components from the board, and label each component’s position and part number to avoid confusion.

  2. Record component information

  Sort all removed resistors, capacitors, IC chips, diodes, transistors and connectors. Measure their electrical parameters with a multimeter and look up official datasheets for integrated circuits to confirm pin definitions, voltage limits and functional logic. Mark every component reference designator (R1, C2, U3, etc.) as printed on the PCB silkscreen.

  3. Capture PCB layout data

  Scan the bare circuit board on both top and bottom layers at high resolution, or use an optical scanner to export clear layer images. If the PCB has multiple inner layers, chemical delamination or X-ray inspection is required to view hidden copper traces, vias and ground planes. Import all layer images into PCB design software as reference templates.

  4. Trace copper connections to map circuit links

  Based on the scanned layer templates, follow every copper trace, pad and via to track electrical connections between component pins. Use the multimeter’s continuity test mode to verify hidden connections that are hard to see visually, especially traces covered by solder mask or inner layers. Note short circuits, ground nets and power supply rails separately.

  5. Draft the preliminary schematic

  Place each electronic component symbol in schematic editing software according to the recorded reference labels. Draw wires to connect corresponding pins strictly following the traced PCB conductive paths. Group related circuits (power modules, signal input circuits, control chips, output interfaces) for clearer organization.

  6. Correct and verify the schematic

  Cross-check the drafted schematic against the physical PCB repeatedly:

  • Confirm every pin connection matches the real board
  • Check for missing pull-up resistors, filter capacitors or protection diodes
  • Verify power and ground network distribution
  • Simulate basic circuit logic if simulation tools are available to spot unreasonable wiring

  7. Match schematic with reproduced PCB layout

  After finishing the schematic, redraw the PCB layout in design software using the schematic netlist. Compare the new layout with the original scanned board to adjust trace widths, pad sizes and component positions until the layout is identical to the sample. This step ensures the cloned schematic is fully consistent with the physical circuit board.

  Legal Reminder

  Only perform PCB schematic cloning on circuit boards you own or have obtained formal written authorization to reverse-engineer. Unauthorized cloning of third-party proprietary circuit schematics for mass production, sale or commercial use constitutes intellectual property infringement in most countries.