How to Print Circuit Board with PCB Assembly Process

mwcms on March 27, 2023

Our daily lives are completely dependent on electronics. Electronic components are present in everything, from our cars to our smartphones. The printed circuit board (PCB), also called the brain of these electronics, is at its core.

The majority of individuals can identify printed circuit boards when they see one. You’ll find these tiny chips covering copper and lines components at the centre of disassembled electronic gadgets. These boards are made of copper, fiberglass, and other metal components. They are joined together by epoxy and solder-masked for insulation, and this solder mask is the source of their distinctive green hue.

Let’s explore the process of printed circuit boards with the PCB Assembly Process.

Step 1: Solder Paste Stenciling

You have to apply solder paste on the board as the initial step in making PCBA. Except for using a mask, this procedure is similar to one used for shirt screen-printing. Consequently, only certain sections of the potential PCB can receive solder paste application from assemblers. The assemblers apply the solder paste where they have to place the components.

Step 2: Pick and Place

With the help of pick and place device, the PCBA process continues. Pick and place device installs mounting components or SMDs on the PCB. If you see a PCB, you will find that most non-connectors are SMDs.

Step 3: Reflow Soldering

After assembling, the assemblers ensure that the components and solder paste stays in place. Therefore, they let the solder paste dry before placing the components. Reflow is a technique used in PCB assembly to achieve this.

Once the pick and place procedure is finished, the PCB board is moved to a conveyor belt. A huge reflow oven—which resembles a commercial pizza oven—passes down this conveyor belt. The board is gradually heated to about 480 degrees Fahrenheit or 250 degrees Celsius in this oven, which is made of several heaters. This temperature will cause the solder in the solder paste to melt.

Step 4: Inspection and Quality Control

It is necessary to test the constructed board for operation once the surface mount components have been soldered during the reflow process. This does not signify that the PCBA has been completed. The movement during reflow frequently causes a connection to be of poor quality or lost entirely. This movement can occasionally result in misplaced components connecting parts of the circuit that shouldn’t be connected, leading to shorts, another frequent adverse effect.

Step 5: Through-Hole Component Insertion

Besides SMDs, there are other components on the board. But, the number of other component depends on the board’s type.The most popular type of PCB process is plated through-hole.

A PCB hole fully plated throughout is known as a plated through-hole.The holes help PCB components to transfer signals to the entire board. It is not possible to use soldering paste on this section of the board because it flows inside the hole without creating a bond between components.

Step 6: Final Inspection and Functional Test

After soldering, you have to conduct a test to check the capabilities of the board. A “functional test” is what is being performed here. This step evaluate the performance of the board while imitating the typical operating conditions. The PCB is exposed to the simulated signals and powerin this test while testers observe electrical properties.

Conclusion

The most effective method for cleaning residue off PCBs is to use a stainless-steel, high-pressure washing machine with deionized water. The gadget is not at risk while washing PCBs in deionized water, so the actual water itself—rather than the ions it contains—causes harm to a circuit. As a result, PCBs can be washed in deionized water without harm.

Comparison Between Standard PCB and Metal Core PCB

mwcms on March 21, 2023

Metal-core printed circuit boards have increased in popularity alongside the popularity of LED-based products during the past few years. Given that an LED-based light can be around 5 times more cost-effective to operate than a comparable incandescent unit, the automotive and lighting industries have welcomed the technology, as have consumers. Even smaller fluorescents have slightly higher operating costs, and when it comes to making the best use of available space, they fall short of the smallest LEDs.

These and other reasons have led to an increase in the number of gadgets that use LEDs as a key component of their design. However, heat is one component of LED functioning that must always be considered when designing products.

Standard PCB

We are a full-service supplier of both standard and unique printed circuit boards. A standard printed circuit board is the most popular PCB solution for every need. We can offer quick turn times and flexibility to meet our customers’ strict project deadlines thanks to our U.S.-based manufacturing facilities and the most modern PCB fabrication equipment.

There are various common or standard PCB thicknesses available for PCBs. 0.062 inches, 0.093 inches, and 0.031 inches are a few of them. Naturally, various design and manufacturing aspects should be considered when establishing the PCB thickness.

Once the prototype boards have been created and your idea has been thoroughly evaluated, standard PCBs are useful. After that, ordering standard PCBs in quantity can significantly reduce expenses. Strict internal quality assurance testing can be used to ensure that standard PCBs are completely dependable and comply with IPC 2.

After the prototype and design phases are complete, standard PCBs are widely used in high-volume production runs. They function effectively even for enormous designs since they can largely print sophisticated circuit boards. All standard PCBs have had their designs for manufacturing analyzed, ensuring that the PCB design will function as intended.

The only need to use this particular board size is if you are designing to some standard, although many fabrication firms will probably advertise their capacity to make 1.57 mm boards. Instead of 1.57 mm thick boards, standardized interfaces like Mini PCIe use 1 mm thick.

Metal Core PCB

LEDs are similar to other circuit board-mounted components in many aspects. There isn’t much of a purpose to interestingly arranging your PCB if there are only a few LEDs, such as green and red power-on and power-off indicators. There are other lighting options, though, that use rows or arrays of LEDs that are continuously on.

Keeping these devices cool is important to prevent early failure or the creation of a safety concern. Additionally, efficient cooling is necessary to ensure constant light output.

Using unique substrate materials that are specially prepared to increase the reliability of designs that operate at higher-than-usual temperatures is one advantage of a metal core PCB. The substrate actively transfers heat from hot-running component locations to the layer on the opposite side of the board, where it can be safely and effectively dissipated instead of only acting as a mounting platform for the various components.

Conclusion

The final decision will depend on your specific application requirements. Metal core and standard printed circuit boards have several differences, and standard boards work perfectly if you want to maintain flexibility with PCB thickness. However, metal PCBs would be preferable for electromagnetic shielding and minimizing board space.

A solid-state relay architecture requires a thermally efficient and mechanically durable structure, which metal core PCBs offer. To satisfy the demands of excellent thermal performance that can even outperform current ceramic-based designs, manufacturers are finding new forms of metal core PCB material, especially dielectrics.

Circuit Board Assembly – Step-by-Step Guide

mwcms on February 27, 2023

Printed circuit boards or PCBs may look complicated, but that may not be the case. Simply put, PCBs are nonconductive materials with holes or pads designed on them. These holes help mount electrical components on them. 

Along with mounting holes, they also have small embedded connections that you call traces. Traces act as wires, connecting the electrical components together and allowing them to function cohesively, which is critical for an electrical appliance’s functionality.  

To understand the assembly process, you must know the basics of a printed circuit board. 

PCB Basics

First, you should know that there are two ways to attach a component to a circuit board: the surface mount method, or SMD, and the Through Hole technique. In the surface mount technology, you have copper pads on the board, and you have to lay the components on top of them. 

You then have a through-hole technique where you stick the ends of a component through the board and then solder them from the bottom. If you are new to PCBs and not skilled at soldering, the through-hole technique is the way to go. However, the components tend to be bigger, so you will not be able to create a compact design. 

Below, we will discuss the step-by-step PCB assembly process on a large scale. 

Soldering 

The assembly process starts with soldering to the circuit board. The machine carries out an inspection at the start, in which it inspects the circuit board and ensures it is aligned. Once it is aligned, the machine will apply solder across the board’s surface evenly and smoothly. The machine ensures that the solder comes in contact with all the pads.  

Pick and Place Machine

After soldering, the next assembly step requires the board to go to the pick-and-place machine. You must use a manual process for a low-volume prototype assembly, so you must place the board inside annually. The pick-and-place machine select’s it’s tools and then collects individual parts to place them on the board for rapid succession. After the pick and place process, the board is ready to refloat. 

The head that moves back and forth on this machine can hold eight components simultaneously. The parts that come from reels include the tape and reel board. The head travels and picks up over eight parts at a time from the reels and advances them so that the next part is ready. 

Refloat Process 

Refloat process is crucial because the solder needs to melt for adherence. This will make the board good for both mechanical and electrical connections for all the parts. It travels across the big machine and comes out from the other side after being cooked. Once the solder cools, junctions between each part come into creation. 

To Conclude

After the surface mount assembly, you can install through-hole components and create beta appliances. As you can see, manufacturing a printed circuit board involves a step-by-step process and careful considerations. The assembly process can, however, vary according to the size of the board and its electrical components.

As you can see, the PCB manufacturing process requires state of the art machinery and qualified expertise. If you want your printed circuit board assembly to be highly efficient and functional, you should look for a good manufacturer. Expert manufacturing companies are thorough with their design and assembly process, and can pave way for excellent appliances thanks to their sleek design. 

Why is Metal Core PCB Important?

mwcms on February 17, 2023

Metal Core PCB are composed from copper film used for circuit lithography, a metal layer with a high heat dissipation capacity, and a dielectric layer. Copper and aluminiumare the materials most frequently used to fabricate metal layers. However, manufacturers also use stainless steel sometimes. Copper outperforms aluminium in terms of performance and electrical characteristics, but copper is more expensive.

The metal layer can be 100% metal or partly fibreglass (FR-4). Due to its high manufacturing complexity, the multilayer version of metallic PCBs is less prevalent. Instead, they can be single or double-sided. A multilayer MCPCB requires that the layers be distributed equally concerning the inner metal layer; for instance, a PCB with 12 layers would place the metal layer in the middle of the stack-up, with 6 layers above and 6 layers below.

Benefits of Metal Core PCB

Metal PCBs provide superior capacitive coupling, strong electromagnetic shielding, increased power density, and efficient thermal dissipation. Thermal vias, which are used in conventional PCBs, can further enhance thermal performance. Here are the top benefits of Metal Core PCB:

  • Thermal Dissipation

One PCB alternative with a higher heat conductivity is metal core PCB. They avoid potential circuit damage, increase power levels, and manage high-density circuits by keeping the heat as far away from the power components as feasible. Aluminium is a popular material for metal core PCB because it is affordable, recyclable, and has good electrical qualities. Moreover, metal core PCBs are incredibly faster than standard PCB.

The dielectric layer should be thin to establish the simplest path with the metal plate, and it typically has a thickness of about 0.003 to 0.006 inches. For instance, a test on a metal core PCB using integrated 1W LED revealed that its temperature stayed very near 25°C. However, the same power LED installed on a PCB attained a temperature 12°C higher than 25°C.

  • Better Stability and Strength

The rapid LED technology’s growth has highlighted concerns about heat dissipation. Particularly high-power LED lights and the circuit may have reliability and stability issues because these LEDs are typically positioned directly on the PCB. Heat dissipation can impair the operation of electronics that use a lot of power if the proper technique is not used. 

This issue is successfully resolved using metal PCBs. Aluminum adds resistance and strength to the PCB without adding weight and ensures longevity.

  • Dimensional Stability

As external circumstances change, metal core PCB’s size will remain more stable than one made of more conventional material, such as FR-4. PCBs containing metal layers have had a relatively slight size variation, between 2.5% and 3.0% when heated between 30°C to 150°C.

  • Longer Lifetime

Aluminium offers superior strength and longevity compared to materials such as fiberglass and ceramic, frequently used in producing PCBs. It consist of strong metal and reduces the risk of breakage during different production phases, while using finished products or assembly.

Conclusion

In contrast to ceramic substrates, the material architecture of metal core PCBs enables mounting configurations appropriate for solid-state relays in various control applications. A solid-state relay architecture requires a mechanically durable structure and thermally efficient, which metal core PCBs provide. 

Manufacturers are developing new forms of metal core PCB material, particularly dielectrics to achieve high thermal performance requirements that can even outperform current ceramic-based designs.

How To Solder On Printed Circuit Boards

mwcms on January 27, 2023

Solder is a material that manufacturers use in the printed circuit board assembly process. This material can join soft metals such as gold, copper, and silver together. Copper is the common material in the printed circuit board assembly or any electronic item.

Most commonly, manufacturers will use eutectic solder, a combination of tin and lead. This is about 63% and 37% lead, and it comes with a formulation with a minimum melting point for the combination of metals.

Properties

Different solders come with different melting points and ranges of temperatures where solid and liquid tend to co-exist together. You can also form a pasty substance as it cools, and you can find that it is very flexible. The flexible property or ductility allows the metals that join it to interpenetrate once you melt it.

It is a dense and heavy material because it has a high lead content. It also comes in several different gauges and wire diameters. For surface mount devices, a very fine one is more useful. You can also find lead-free, which comes with the formulation of tin, silver, and copper.

This does have a melting point, and you can use this commonly with electronics that use low-temperature soldering irons. Lead-free has a high melting point, which is why it can be difficult to work with. This material is also relatively new, and most people will be unfamiliar with its properties.

Printed Circuit Board Soldering

A printed circuit board holds electronic components and provides a mechanical means of holding them in a space where they connect electrically. A printed circuit board contains different resistors, active circuits, and capacitors.

The circuit board holds them together collectively and consists of several layers. The first layer you see is a green layer, a polymer called LPI. This photo image-able polymer can go down as a liquid and dry to form a solid layer. The green layer is necessary to prevent it from crossing over and shorting traces that should not connect.

Basic Technique

If you are manually soldering components to a printed circuit board, you must adhere to the basic technique. There are two different types of soldering iron. One has a station that controls and adjusts the desired target temperature. The other melts electronics at a fixed temperature, which you can use similarly.

Soldering iron heat up and melt the solder on the circuit boards. When it melts and cools on the printed board surface, it cools and solidifies, fusing to the surface of the metal at a molecular level and enabling electrical conductivity within the two metal platforms.

When soldering with an iron, you can also use flux, which helps it to flow, and also provides good contact by removing oxides on the surface of the metal. Although modern flux is not toxic, you should always use a fume extractor.

Two Different Connections

You can find two different types, surface mount and through hole. Surface mount connections require manufacturers to heat components in an oven with pre-applied. This allows it to melt and join to the board’s surface. Through-hole is when you push the components through the printed circuit board hole and solder them from the other side. The solder travels across the hole to make good contact.

Final Words

As you can see, this is an essential part of the printed circuit board assembly process. It is best to resort to a professional manufacturing unit to do a perfect job. The best soldering service will use top-notch technology for clean and precise solder.

Surface Mount Assembly vs. Electro- Mechanical Assembly

mwcms on January 18, 2023

Surface mount and electro-mechanical Assembly are two circuit board assembly procedures manufacturers commonly use. But which one is better? To find out the answer to this question, you have to first find out about both assembly procedures, how they differ from each other, and their similarities.

Surface Mount Assembly

SMT, or surface mount technology, allows manufacturers to create circuit boards. The alternative to this technology is through whole technology, which caters to a different design of circuit boards. Most circuit boards in a smartphone or any other electrical appliance nowadays include small miniature chips on top of a circuit board. Surface mount assembly is usually a semi-automated process that allows manufacturers to build circuit boards for various products.

This technique involves installing the components directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards to create electrical circuits. Every component or device is mounted on the circuit board using a solder mask. Production will be extremely fast if you use surface mount assembly. But, it also has a lot of disadvantages.

With components being incredibly miniature and circuits packed densely with multiple electrical components, testing and inspection can be problematic when assembling printed circuit boards using surface mount technology. However, with advanced technology and expertise, manufacturers can optimize testing.

Several steps are involved in producing printed surface boards utilizing surface mount assembly. The application of solder paste marks the beginning of the assembly procedure. The material that the electronic parts are installed on is this. Component placement begins once the solder mask has been applied to the board. Both physical labor and mechanical assistance are acceptable for this.

This procedure then advances to the reflow soldering stage, when all the extra solder is removed. After completing these procedures, the printed circuit boards surface mount assembly process is finished, and you may start the testing process.

Electromechanical Assembly

Machines and other automatic driving systems are crucial to electro-mechanical Assembly. Electronic items are made up of several components and connections. These parts may also include resistors, conductors, and capacitors—devices that modify the direction of electrical flow.

 

Since it creates a path for electricity to go to all components, the circuit board assembly is the engine behind most electronic devices. Components can mount on circuit boards in two different methods. And the through-hole method is the primary focus of most electro-mechanical assembly procedures.

SMT vs. Electro-mechanical assembly

The mounting process is the electro-mechanical assembly’s main difference when you compare it to surface mount technology. The electro-mechanical assembly uses through-hole technology. You can use both of these methods in a printed circuit board.

In the through-hole method, there are pre-drilled holes in the circuit board, and you have to push the components through them and solder them to secure them in place. On large-scale productions that use through-hole components, manufacturers use wave soldering.

This is where a circuit board moves through a solder wave tank and applies a strong bond to the board—a strong bond results in component placements that can withstand severe environmental stress and high heat.

Through-hole components are easier to change and replace for testing and prototyping applications that require manual adjustments. In the surface mount method, thousands of tiny components place directly on the PCB with the help of a flux paste. This reflow soldering method does not require pre-drilled holes, and components are typically smaller.

The Verdict

Electro-mechanical assembly can be costly and time-consuming, but it is reliable and durable for applications that undergo high stress. SMT assembly is ten times faster and more economical. On the other hand, SMT components can fit inside a circuit board at a higher volume. Overall, each technology can be favorable depending on the electrical appliance.

How Do You Define a PCB?

mwcms on December 15, 2022

This post will talk about one thing only: Printed Circuit Boards, or PCBs for short. You must know that the world of technology keeps expanding as new devices, gadgets, and equipment make their way into our lives. What keeps the electrical appliances and equipment running? Is there a core component without which your electrical device, like a smartphone, laptop, or vacuum cleaner, won’t work? Yes!

Printed Circuit Boards are the core components of many electrical devices. In technical terms, a PCB creates conductive pathways to connect and mechanically support electrical components. We won’t be talking in purely scientific and mathematical lingo – don’t worry! Let’s find out what a PCB refers to and what it does.

What Do You Define a PCB in Technical Terms?

Here’s how you define a Printed Circuit Board or PCB:

“A PCB forms the board base for connecting and supporting multiple electrical components using the surface mount technology to run electronic products.”

Have you ever accidentally cracked open your phone or even an electronic toy? Did you see a green electric board with numerous wires attached to different parts of the individual item? Well, that’s a PCB! It has socketed or open components that transfer electrical signals and conductive traces through conductive pathways to run an electronic product.

Like animal and plant cells require a nucleus at the center to function and coordinate other mechanisms, nearly every electronic product requires circuit boards. A more technical term for circuit boards is “printed circuit boards”. Many standard devices like laptops, smartphones, and even vacuum cleaners won’t work without it.

How Do Factories Make PCBs?

PCBs are electrical circuit boards in various shapes, sizes, and designs. Since they fit many electronic product categories, they are not the same. Factories are the production houses where electrical circuit boards get fused with electrical components to produce PCBs!

Every PCB is different yet vital to the functionality of the device it’s for. The most standard version is a plastic board covered with fiberglass. Having a non-conductive plastic board is essential to make a high-quality board. The manufacturers create small conductive pathways on that board to mount and connect multiple electrical components.

The conductive traces (pathways) assist components in passing electric signals through it. It contains numerous holes to fit each component. First, manufacturers add a soldering paste to the board, passing it through the “pick and place” technique where components are attached to it.

Second, it goes through the soldering process to permanently attach every component to the board. Then, the board goes through physical and functional inspection (testing phase) to ensure high-quality production. Finally, the factories receive test feedback and performance reports before readying them for supply to the market. 

What Happens When a PCB Corrupts or Malfunctions in a Device?

Printed Circuit Boards are the core components of electronic devices. So, when the board takes out or if it malfunctions, the device will probably stop functioning. Even if a single important component malfunctions on the board, the whole device could malfunction or stop working altogether.

Fixing it as soon as it gets damaged or malfunctions is the best approach, especially when it’s an essential household or personal device like a smartphone or laptop. There could be dozens of issues and reasons behind a PCB not functioning correctly, including:

  • Poor soldering
  • Low-quality soldering paste
  • Damage in the assembling process
  • Heat-up issues
  • Poor-quality components 

Conclusion

You will only have a limited range of electronic products if factories stop producing electrical products, mainly printed circuit boards. You can only imagine how far the effect of PCBs travels in our daily lives. PCBs are in numerous devices, from personal hygiene products to military equipment and navigational systems.

What are the Most Important Components of a PCB?

mwcms on November 29, 2022

Printed Circuit Boards feature the Surface Mount Technology these days. Therefore, components of a PCB tend to be a lot on a single board; sometimes, up to a hundred components at once! It’s worth knowing that PCBs or printed circuit boards are the core components of our essential electronic devices and equipment. Without PCBs, your phone won’t work.

While learning about PCBs, most readers find one topic very interesting. That topic relates to the different components that make up a PCB. In surface mount boards, dozens of electrical components are connected via conductive pathways. Let’s learn about some of those components below.

7 Most Important Components of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

PCBs contain a wide range of electrical components that perform different functions based on the host device. They’re vital for the functionality of a device like a laptop, washing machine, or calculator. The number and type of components can vary significantly based on the device and PCB type. However, the most common types of electrical components infused in a printed circuit board include:

  • Resistors
  • Transistors
  • Inductors
  • Capacitors
  • Transformers
  • Sensors
  • Diodes

If even one component stops working, the whole PCB shuts down. Thus, the device it belongs to will shut down as well. Here, we will discuss the crucial PCB components, what they do, and why they’re important.

  • Resistors

They’re among the most crucial components in nearly all types of printed circuit boards. They produce and transmit electric currents to cause a voltage that helps dissipate electric power as heat energy. Although resistors have the same purpose, they still come in a wide variety in terms of shape, size, and power. They’re basically based on the resistance value and are easy to identify using color codes.

  • Transistors

Think of a transistor as an amplifier that switches and regulates electronic signals in a printed circuit board. These electrical components also come in a wide variety, but the most typical transistor in use is the “bipolar transistor”. It has three pins that form (i) the base, (ii) the emitter, and (iii) the collector. 

  • Inductors

Inductors are quite similar to capacitors in printed circuit boards. They store a specific energy quantity in the form of magnetic fields right when an electric current passes through them. Their main purpose is to block electric signals in the board to prevent interference that could occur due to a connection with another electronic device or equipment. 

  • Capacitors

These electrical components are quite famous in the electronics world. These hold an electric charge in the board and release it through the PCB whenever different parts of the board require power. It collects opposite charges on separate conductive layers using an insulating material.

  • Transformers

Transformers are essential components that form high-quality PCBs. With a transformer, electrical energy flows from one circuit board to another along with correct voltage fluctuations to suit the transfer. 

  • Sensors

Sensors detect environmental and other external factors (in numerical values) and release an electric current (as a signal) in the circuit board. The electrical signal they generate corresponds with the circuit board and associated components to cause an effect or change. Sensors detect physical elements and external factors such as air quality, sound, and light motion and convert them into electrical signals.

  • Diodes

Diodes prevent electrical current from flowing in the wrong direction inside the conductive pathways of a printed circuit board. It blocks the electric current from going in the wrong direction to prevent excessive damage to the circuit board. The most popular diode is the LED or “Light-Emitting Diode”. 

Conclusion

What happens when a single component malfunctions in a printed circuit board? The whole PCB can malfunction and shut down the device it’s in! If it’s your smartphone or laptop, you’ve got little or no time left to use it if the PCB’s damaged (i.e., motherboard). That’s why manufacturers only source high-quality PCB electrical components to ensure the circuit boards function as intended.

The Right Way to Solder on Printed Circuit Boards

mwcms on October 28, 2022

Soldering is the most vital part of the PCB assembly process. It’s where the electrical components get attached to circuit boards. Without electrical components, no PCB would function effectively. There are various methods to sell electrical components to PCB and ensure electrical currents pass through the conductive pathways efficiently.

The main issue is that many people don’t know the right way to solder electrical components on circuit boards. Since a bunch of them are being used in factories, it can be quite tricky to pick the right one. We will discuss some of the top soldering techniques so you can choose the one that’s right for your business.

The Right Way of Soldering on Printed Circuit Boards

In the electronics world, soldering is a fundamental skill that nearly every professional must have at some point. Soldering and electronics go together like a fork and spoon.

Although people learn how to design, build, and release electronics without picking up a soldering iron, it’s still a vital part of the industry. Let’s check out a few soldering methods and techniques commonly used these days.

1.      Reflow Soldering

It’s the most common soldering method factories use today, especially for manufacturing surface mount technology or SMT printed circuit boards. This soldering method involves using a heated soldering paste to attach electrical components to the circuit board. The paste looks like molten metal, enabling professionals to connect pins and pads seamlessly. However, it results in permanent attachment.

2.      Wave Soldering

Wave soldering was once extremely popular for wave soldering. However, it’s still commonly used for surface-mount technology circuit boards. Printed circuit boards that go through the through-hole process (i.e., drilling holes in the board to fit electrical components) usually also go through the wave soldering process.

Generally, factories utilize wave soldering to produce massive PCB assemblies. The PCBs go over molten solder in a pan that looks nothing less than a wave pool. Once through, electrical components get attached to the circuit board.

Before coming in contact with the molten solder, the components are already glued to the board. Due to an additional step that reduces efficiency and somewhat increases the time and money consumption, reflow soldering replaced wave soldering.

3.      Braze Soldering

Soft and hard soldering is nothing compared to brazing. Brazing results in fortified joints between the printed circuit boards and electrical components, including transistors, inductors, and capacitors. It uses high temperatures to attach electrical components to circuit boards.

Although it’s similar to hard soldering (discussed later), brazing involves melting the underside of the metal components to get attached to the board. It causes the least thermal deformation and is one of the best soldering techniques for mass PCB production.

4.      Soft Soldering

Soft soldering is the perfect option for compact and fragile circuit board components. Soft soldering doesn’t damage the electrical components through high heat or molten solder. In this process, the temperature of the molten solder is below 400 degrees Celsius or 752 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the temperature goes over, it becomes “braze soldering”. The low-temperature technique is for smaller components prone to breaking at high temperatures or heat conditions. Although it’s suitable for small components and fragile boards, it doesn’t produce the strongest joints.

5.      Silver Soldering (or Hard Soldering)

This soldering technique also yields strong joints between components and circuit boards. However, combining metal components such as gold, silver, or brass-plated components is best. It’s used to connect and attach the same metals in other industries.

Conclusion

What type of printed circuit board you’re producing will determine the right soldering technique. Other factors influencing the soldering technique include existing capabilities, materials, and requirements.

Check which soldering technique offers the most lasting results and try to match it with your PCB requirements. Partnering with a solid PCB manufacturing company could ease the process and increase soldering efficiency.

What Goes Into The PCB Assembly Process?

mwcms on October 17, 2022

The fast-paced technology around us brought countless electronic devices and equipment into our lives. Those electronic items have PCBs at their core. This post is for you if you don’t know what PCBs are. Just like a living cell has a nucleus at its center, Printed Circuit Boards are present in nearly all electronic equipment and devices.

Manufacturers use the “pick and place” technique to assemble and produce PCBs based on Surface Mount Technology or SMT. PCBs are small green boards that have electrical components on them. The components get attached through soldering to make the final version of a PCB. Simply put, designing, layout, printing, soldering, and testing a board is the “PCB assembly process”.

What Goes Into the PCB Assembly Process?

The process involves various steps, including soldering, pasting, designing, and testing. In this section, we will look at those processes in a systematic sequence to give you a better idea of PCB assembling.

Reliable manufacturers align the processes with above-average standards to produce high-quality PCBs. As the vast majority of PCBs feature the surface mount technology these days, the process below is for the same type of PCBs:

  • Solder Paste

Before adding any components to the printed circuit board, manufacturers add solder paste to it. The paste is only for the component pads, i.e., only the spots that will have components on the board. It’s done using the solder screen and protective machinery.

  • Pick and Place Technique

The board with solder paste goes through the “pick and place” process. A machine containing components places them on the printed circuit board. The machine does that very carefully to ensure proper placement and in the correct position. The tension between the components and solder paste keeps them attached to the board, considering you don’t jolt the PCB too hard.

  • Soldering

After adding components following the solder paste, the boards go through the individual soldering process. That’s where the soldering machine will permanently solder each component to the board. However, this process isn’t widely popular with surface mount technology-associated PCBs anymore.

If the manufacturer uses the wave soldering machine, the first step of the assembling process will be the pick and place technique. The board won’t require solder paste separately as the wave soldering machine provides solder paste. However, reflow soldering is more popular than wave soldering for assembling PCBs.

  • Inspection

Without inspection, reliable manufacturers don’t release PCBs into the market or supply them to their business clients. Inspection deals with issues that might have developed at various stages of the assembling process. PCBs with surface mount technology have dozens of components and sometimes a hundred. Hence, manual inspection is time-consuming and discouraged.

Automatic optical inspection is a more feasible solution for surface mount boards. The optical inspection machines scan and detect poor joints, abnormal soldering, and inappropriate placement. It catches both visible and non-visible issues with the surface mount.

  • Testing

Once the inspection and correction are over, the PCBs go through the testing phase. Before leaving the manufacturer’s den, testing PCBs is necessary to ensure they’re functional and suitable. Factories use different ways to test PCBs and surface mount boards.

  • Feedback

At the end of the process, the manufacturers receive reports to monitor the overall production quality, especially concerning PCB quality. Factories check for issues and monitor the functionality of PCBs during the testing phase to know they’re producing high-quality printed circuit boards. 

Conclusion

All PCB manufacturers rely on quality and safety standards to deliver reliable printed circuit boards. Furthermore, many types of PCBs are on the market to fit various electrical devices and equipment.

Learning about the PCB assembly process enables you to find the right manufacturer based on your requirements. If you’re developing electronics or similar goods, you’ll require an extensive insight into the assembling process to use the perfect PCBs for your projects.