CALCULATORS / PCB INTERCONNECT AND PACKAGING

Component height and enclosure clearance calculator

Board/component stack envelope; nominal dimensions only.

pcb-assembly-height.napkin / editable

SCENARIO COMPARISON

Compare the numbers.

This source describes an analytical model. Its quantities and checks are the view.

Scenario	stackmm
	18.6
	18.28

All calculated quantities are listed with the inputs. Switch to Source to inspect the equations.

SCENARIOS / CALCULATED VALUESSAME SOURCE

Change an input to see the consequences.

height fits18.60 mm✓ passes

BASELINE INPUTS

board1.6 mmtopComponent10 mmbottomComponent3 mmclearance2 mmenclosure20 mm

CALCULATED

stack18.6 mm

Edits change the baseline source.

THE SOURCE

Edits below update the same model.

# Component height and enclosure clearance
# Scope: Board/component stack envelope; nominal dimensions only.
# Status: illustrative worked example; engineering review pending.
# Inputs are example values. Checks are editable example requirements, not standards.

board = 1.6 mm
topComponent = 10 mm
bottomComponent = 3 mm
clearance = 2 mm
enclosure = 20 mm

stack := board+topComponent+bottomComponent+2*clearance [mm]

check height fits: stack <= enclosure

scenario alternative: board = 1.28 mm

Calculated from your source · not saved

Baseline · Baseline

height fits18.60 mm ✓ passes

alternative · alternative

height fits18.28 mm ✓ passes

Illustrative first-order example. Checks are editable requirements, not design standards. The broader topic may require additional equations, data, and validation.

Formula and units

This example uses the following equations. Input names and units match the editable source above.

stack: stack = board+topComponent+bottomComponent+2*clearance [mm]

Original worked example

These are the baseline values in the downloadable source. Edits above let you test your own values.

Given

board: 1.6 mm
top component: 10 mm
bottom component: 3 mm
clearance: 2 mm
enclosure: 20 mm

Calculated

stack: 18.6 mm

Assumptions and limits

Board/component stack envelope; nominal dimensions only.

The requirement checks use the limits written in this example. Passing a check does not establish that the model covers every load, material behavior, or operating condition in a real design.

Download this .napkin example ↓

Take it further with your agent

Napkin keeps the inputs, equations, checks and assumptions together in one study. Your agent sets it up; you change the numbers.

Try with Claude ↗

codex 'Use Napkin (https://napkin.engineering/mcp, or the local Napkin plugin) to build a study: Component height and enclosure clearance. Inputs: component envelopes; board pose; enclosure surfaces; tolerances. Outputs: maximum stack height; minimum clearance. Model scope: Explicit stackup and trace/via geometry; empirical models identified. Read napkin_capabilities and the current snapshot. Ask me for the values that matter, label assumptions with units, author .napkin source, validate it and apply it with napkin_source using the current revision, then open the study. Add checks for the limits I supply. Keep unsupported analyses explicit.'

Claude needs the Napkin connector; Codex needs the Napkin plugin. Set up your agent ↗

The broader study

The topic brief below describes the broader scope. The worked example above states the particular calculation it implements.

Inputs: component envelopes, board pose, enclosure surfaces, tolerances
Outputs: maximum stack height, minimum clearance
Modes: calculate, compare, sweep
Drawing: Layer viewer and cross section

EXECUTABLE WORKED EXAMPLE · FIRST-ORDER MODEL · CHECK THE SCOPE & ASSUMPTIONS