Part of Obsolete Electronics Replacement & Redesign
PCB reverse engineering: understand and document an existing board without schematics
Micro Digital Engineering analyses existing circuit boards when no schematics or design files are available. We establish what the board does and how it connects to the equipment, recover the engineering information that is needed — components, connections, circuit — and prepare the input for a later redesign or replacement. The result and its level of detail are agreed before work starts. Reverse engineering gives you information about the board; it does not by itself produce a copy of it.
Confidential task? We sign an NDA before you share technical files.
Can you analyse an existing PCB when no schematics are available?
Yes. That is the starting point of this service. The board is inspected and photographed, components are identified, connections are traced into a netlist, and the circuit is reconstructed and analysed. For multilayer boards, the methods depend on the board and are agreed with you; some of them require a spare board that can be taken apart.
Three results you can order
Analysis of functions and interfaces
What the board does in the equipment, which signals, supplies and communication it uses at its connectors, which parts are critical and which are obsolete. Often enough to decide what to do next.
Recovered engineering information
Identified components, a netlist of the traced connections and a reconstructed schematic, to the level of detail agreed for the project.
Input data for redesign or replacement
Functional description, interface definition and the critical parameters a new board must preserve — the starting point for a replacement or a compatible replacement board.
How the board is analysed
- Inspection. Both sides are photographed and documented; markings, packages and board revisions are recorded.
- Component identification. Parts are identified from markings, packages and measurements; parts that cannot be identified are marked as unknown, with their function where it can be determined.
- Connection tracing. Connections are traced by continuity and inspection on the accessible layers and built into a netlist.
- Measurements on a working board. Where a working unit is available, supplies, signals and waveforms are measured in operation with calibrated instruments, to confirm how the circuit behaves.
- Multilayer boards. Inner-layer connections are determined from continuity and from the circuit’s function. Where that is not enough, further methods are agreed for the specific board; some require a spare that may be destroyed.
How this differs from related services
| Service | Main result |
|---|---|
| PCB reverse engineering (this page) | Understanding of the existing board: components, connections, circuit, functions |
| Schematic and design data reconstruction | A complete documentation package for repair or remanufacturing |
| Obsolete electronics replacement | A working replacement verified in the equipment |
| Firmware recovery | Firmware of a programmable component on the board |
What reverse engineering cannot promise
- The complete copper geometry of every inner layer of a multilayer board; the usual target is the connectivity and the circuit, not an exact copy of the layout.
- The contents of programmed devices: firmware is assessed separately in firmware recovery and migration, and read protection is not bypassed.
- The identity of every part: unmarked or custom components may be described by their function instead.
The limits that apply to your board are stated in the report.
What’s included
Inspection and photographs, component identification, tracing of connections, netlist, reconstructed schematic, functional analysis of the circuit, measurements on a working unit where available, and a report with findings and recommendations for the next step.
What you receive
| Deliverable | Format | How it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Component list | Spreadsheet with identified parts and unknowns marked | Cross-check with the board |
| Netlist | Agreed format | Continuity checks on the sample |
| Reconstructed schematic | PDF, design files if agreed | Review against the netlist |
| Interface description | Document: connectors, signals, supplies | Measurements on a working unit, where available |
| Analysis report | Document: functions, critical parts, obsolete components, limits, recommendations | Review with you |
How the work runs
- You confirm that you own the equipment or are authorised to maintain it; the result and level of detail are agreed.
- Visual inspection, photographs and documentation of the sample.
- Component identification.
- Tracing connections and building the netlist.
- Reconstructing the schematic and measuring a working unit, where available.
- Functional analysis and report.
What to send us
- Photos of both sides of the board and its place in the equipment.
- One or two samples; a spare that can be taken apart helps with multilayer boards.
- Any documentation that exists, even incomplete.
- What you plan to do with the result: maintenance, remanufacturing or replacement.
- Confirmation that you own the equipment or are authorised to maintain it.
Common questions
Is reverse engineering of a board legal?
We work on equipment that you own or are authorised to maintain, and ask you to confirm this. We do not copy third-party products for resale. If rights are unclear, check them with your legal adviser before the project starts.
Will the board be damaged?
Non-destructive methods are used first. If a method requires taking a board apart, this is agreed in advance and a spare is used.
Can you reverse engineer a multilayer board?
Yes, to the level the board allows. Connections on inner layers are determined from continuity and function; where further methods are needed, they are agreed for the specific board.
What if the board contains a programmed chip?
The firmware is a separate question, assessed in firmware recovery and migration.
Do we receive a copy of the board?
Not from this service. Reverse engineering delivers information about the board. A working replacement is developed in obsolete electronics replacement or compatible replacement boards.
Related services
- Obsolete electronics replacement — from analysis to a working replacement.
- Schematic and design data reconstruction — a complete documentation package.
- Firmware recovery and migration — firmware on the board.
- Compatible replacement boards — form, fit and function replacement.
Discuss the board
Send photos of the board and describe what you need to do with it.
Confidential task? We sign an NDA before you share technical files.