Understanding the Role of Surface Mount Technology in Circuit Board Assembly

mwcms on July 20, 2023

Also known as SMT, surface mount technology is soldering various parts of the circuit board directly onto the circuit board. It is considered a breakthrough in the PCB industry, mainly due to its benefit of cutting costs without cutting corners on quality.

SMT comes under the electronic component assembly phase of the circuit board construction, and this technology is designed to be directly mounted onto the actual circuit board.

Let us delve deeper into this technology, understanding what SMT is in greater detail and looking at the manufacturing process in further detail.

 

Surface Mount Technology: Explained

This piece of technology is utilized during the assembly of the PCB and is a production method that involves directly embedding various electrical components onto the PCB.

The main selling point and a major reason why this is considered such a beneficial technique for PCB production are that the entire circuit board creation process can now be fully automated

 because of how it works. 

The parts installed onto the PCB are surface-mounted devices or SMD.

 

How does it work?

What makes SMT an upgrade is that it eliminates the time-consuming process of mounting components onto the board by making holes to insert them in.

Using SMT, you can solder the parts directly onto the PCB using a technique called reflow soldering, shedding a great amount of time that would be spent when assembling the board using the conventional production method.

However, circuit boards made through SMT are usually automated by integrating different machinery into the production process. The overall process can prove to be time-consuming because of the precision required when soldering the parts onto the spots on the board.

Incredibly high precision and accuracy are required when installing the parts into the circuit board through this method, which is why special machinery is developed known as surface mount assembly.

 Applying parts onto the circuit board using SMT is required primarily since this technology involves incredibly small components compared to the components which are fit using the through-hole assembly method.

PCB Manufacturing Process using SMT

1. Prepping the Board and Necessary Components

Before soldering any component onto the circuit board, performing certain tasks to prepare them is usually handled during the board, component, and board design stage.

The initial state of the PCB comprises a board that comprises a copper or gold pad, also known as a solder pad.

Stencils are a vital tool used during manufacturing to provide each component with a set position, which is necessary for the paste printing process.

2. Solder Paste Printing

This is a vital phase of the SMT manufacturing process, where a special printer applies paste onto the predetermined positions set using the stencil. Ensuring the paste is applied to the correct positions is vital because it holds the mounted components in place.

3. Applying the Components

After solder paste has been applied to the different spots and the board has been prepared, it is time for the components to fit onto the board using SMT.

Special machinery ensures that the devices are mounted precisely onto the position assigned to each of them. Since the boards are moving on a conveyer belt, with each machine working by applying a part on the board while the PCB moves, accuracy is vital.

4. The Reflow Soldering Process

Once the SMCs have been installed onto the circuit board, the conveyer belt takes the PCB through the soldering oven comprising different zones. This soldering method is designed to accelerate the setting and drying process to ensure that the solder has been applied and the components have been set in place as soon as possible.

5. Thorough Inspection

After the PCB has been fully assembled, it goes through cleaning, and a final inspection is made to check for possible flaws or defects that might occur during the assembly.

 

Conclusion

Judging by the information above, surface mount technology has successfully automated the entire PCB production and manufacturing process, which is mainly why it is considered such a breakthrough in PCB assembly.

 

The Future of Circuit Board Assembly: Trends and Innovations

mwcms on May 28, 2023

Since it started, circuit board assembly has come a long way. With new tools and ideas, the future of circuit board assembly is enjoyable. In this blog, we will talk about the newest trends and innovations in circuit board assembly, as well as how they will affect the future of the business.

Industry Trends in Circuit Board Assembly

Various factors are impacting the assembly of circuit boards, including:

1. Miniaturization

Circuit board assembly is moving toward downsizing because people want smaller, more compact electronics. Manufacturers use new technologies and design methods to make smaller boards with all the needed parts and functions.

2. Surface Mount Technology

Surface mount technology (SMT) is becoming increasingly famous in circuit board assembly because it can use smaller parts and fit more on the same board. SMT makes it possible to place parts more precisely, which can improve the total performance of a device.

3. Automation

More and more makers use robots and automatic production lines to improve speed and reduce mistakes when assembling circuit boards. Automation also lets makers make boards with many components and smaller spacing between them.

4. Increased Use of Multi-layer Boards

Multi-layer boards are better than single-layer boards in several ways, such as having more circuits, being smaller, and having better signal integrity. As people want smaller and more complicated electronics, multi-layer boards are increasingly handy in circuit board assembly.

5. Use of Advanced Materials

A lot of circuit boards with new materials like high-temperature laminates and ceramic surfaces are entering the market. These materials have better temperatures and mechanical qualities, which makes it possible to pack more components into a gadget and make it work better.

Emerging Innovations in Circuit Board Assembly

Several emerging innovations are poised to transform the future of circuit board assembly, including:

1. Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, called “3D printing,” is a new way to make circuit boards. Additive manufacturing makes making complicated circuits and boards with unique forms possible. This process lets more personalized and new electronic products.

2. Flexible Electronics

Flex circuits, also known as flexible electronics, use bendable materials such as plastic or polyimide. This inception allows for circuit boards that can easily change shape and bend. This technology has several benefits, such as making boards last longer, making boards smaller, and making the design more flexible.

3. Internet of Things (IoT)

It is a network of gadgets that can share information and talk to each other. As IoT devices become more common, circuit board assembly must meet their specific needs, such as low power use, wireless connections, and small size.

4. Advanced Testing and Inspection Technologies

Circuit board assembly is increasingly likely to use advanced testing and inspection technologies, such as X-ray and automatic optical inspection. These technologies help makers find flaws and mistakes early on in the making process. This addition means that bad parts become less trash.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can revolutionize circuit board assembly. By analyzing data from factory processes, AI programs can identify opportunities for enhancing efficiency and reducing errors.

The Future of Circuit Board Assembly

The latest cutting-edge technologies are altering circuit board assembly, making the future attractive. To be competitive and satisfy customers, manufacturers must adapt. Future circuit board assembly scenarios:

1. Increased Customization

3D printing and flexible electronics will allow manufacturers to make more personalized electrical devices for particular applications and use cases. Circuit board assembly must be more versatile in design and manufacture to accommodate diverse forms, sizes, and materials.

2. Improved Efficiency and Productivity

Automation and AI will continue to boost circuit board assembly efficiency and output, cutting human labor. Advanced testing and inspection technology will eliminate defective components, reducing reworks and discarded materials.

3. Greater Integration with IoT

IoT devices’ low power consumption and wireless connection will need circuit board assembly to merge smoothly with them. Manufacturers must implement IoT-compatible technology and procedures.

4. Continued Emphasis on Sustainability

Sustainable electronics will be in demand as customers grow more eco-conscious. Circuit board assembly must use sustainable materials and procedures to decrease electronic device waste and carbon impact.

5. Increased Collaboration and Integration

New technology and procedures will make circuit board assembly more integrated and collaborative. 3D printing involves understanding circuit board design and 3D printing technology, fostering cross-disciplinary cooperation.

Conclusion

Emerging technologies are altering circuit board assembly, making the future enjoyable. Manufacturers must embrace new processes and technology to stay competitive and fulfill customer needs. Future circuit board assembly possibilities include increasing customization, efficiency, productivity, IoT integration, sustainability, and cooperation. Manufacturers may build new, high-quality electrical gadgets that fulfill customer wants and progress the industry by keeping ahead of trends and embracing emerging technology.

Top 5 Latest Equipment You Need for Assembling Your Boards

mwcms on April 30, 2023

While making PCBAs is a fun task, learning how the brains of all electronics are created offers joy and a sense of accomplishment. Each step of the assembling process is carefully thought out to produce a board that works flawlessly. Additionally, as electronics become more sophisticated, PCB manufacturing equipment is increasing and becoming more fascinating than ever.

Solder Paste Printing Machine

Solder paste is applied to the board as the initial step in PCB assembly. Usually composed of tin, lead, and silver alloys, solder paste is a grey-coloured goo formed from a combination of very microscopic metal particles. Consider it as the glue holding your finished board together. Components wouldn’t adhere to your bare board without it.

The PCB is covered with a stencil before the paste is applied. A PCB stencil is a piece of stainless steel with tiny laser-cut holes that allows solder paste only to be applied to the SMD pads, which are the board parts where the component connections will eventually be located on the finished PCB.

Glue Dispensing Machine

The glue dispensing machine uses glue dots on the PCB before component insertion to hold the component bodies until the leads and contacts are connected. This is crucial for reflow soldering or double-sided wave to prevent component drop-off and wave soldering, where the force of the solder wave may remove bigger components.

Reflow Soldering Machine

The most used soldering method for PCB assembly is reflow soldering. The assembly is transported via a conveyor via a lengthy, enormous oven called the reflow soldering machine once the board has been fully populated with components. As the PCB boards move through several temperature-controlled zones, the solder paste melts and steadily hardens to make reliable electrical connections between the component pads and their corresponding components.

The circuit board is moved along a conveyor system through the equipment’s various temperature zones. The solder paste is dried, heated, melted, wetted, and chilled before the components are soldered to the printed circuit board. The main component of reflow soldering is using an external heat source to heat the solder, causing it to melt, flow, and re-infiltrate the circuit board.

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

The boards have now been assembled, and testing and inspection are next. Automatic visual inspection is more crucial than ever due to the rise in the complexity of PCB boards. Even though you can still try to use your naked eyes to discover errors, manual inspection is ineffective for mass production since workers quickly become worn out, and errors are more likely to be overlooked. Testing PCBAs is essential in PCBA manufacture to prevent expensive re-manufacturing costs and material waste. AOI systems identify issues early in the production cycle, allowing for the modification of methods or the correction of specific boards.

AOI systems can complete tests formerly done by humans but much more quickly and accurately by using optical technologies to detect errors. The AOI machine uses high-resolution cameras to capture the board’s surface and create an image for analysis.

Functional Validation Test (FVT)

Before shipment, completed PCBs must pass Functional Validation Testing (FVT), which is the last phase. We are no longer merely looking for physical flaws like solder bridges or tombstones. The board is instead loaded with software, and we are testing to see if it will function when utilised in whatever application our customers have in mind.

Conclusion

Likely, components won’t be manually soldered when many PCBs need to be created. Expert assembly companies steps in to assist with the fabrication of both the bare boards and the assembly of all the parts into the Printed Circuit Boards, or PCBs.

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.

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 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.

The Key Characteristics of the Surface Mount Technology: PCB Assembly

mwcms on August 30, 2022

Surface Mount Technology or an SMT is a method of manufacturing circuit boards. The alternative to this would be through-hole circuit boards with different circuit board designs. Most circuit boards that you see in mobile phones today are a bunch of small chips placed on top of a circuit board panel.

Surface Mount Technology

A circuit board with surface mount technology will not necessarily have holes inside. Instead, they are on top of copper pads and copper traces on the circuit board. This surface mount technology is a semi-automated process that allows manufacturers to build all the different circuit boards in-house for various products.

With the help of this technology, manufacturers can easily mount electronic components on the surface of printed circuit boards. This mounting technique is very different from the insertion technique that manufacturers conventionally use with holes.

In other words, it is an alternative to the older practices of developing circuit boards with the help of through holes. Since it is a newer rendition, it overcomes many shortcomings of the through-hole technology on the surface mount.

SMD

One of the critical characteristics of the surface mount technology is an SMD, otherwise called a surface mount device. When you browse the markets, you will find multiple range packages of SMD. These packages vary in different sizes and shapes.

SMD Passive Components

A large portion of the SMD resistors are either capacitors or resistors. The package sizes of these passive components come in sizes standard pack. Other surface mount device components include crystals and coils.

Resistors and capacitors generally vary in dimensions, shapes, and sizes. Other forms of SMD components that you can find include diodes and transistors. These are often very small in regards to shape and size. They connect within a circuit board with the help of leads.

Approximately three leads are included within these packages. Identifying which way the device must shift can help with the manufacture of the printed circuit board.

Integrated Circuits

You will find that there is a variety of packages that come in handy for integrated circuits. The use of the package depends entirely on the amount of interconnectivity that the component needs. For instance, a logic chip is only installed with 14 to 16 pins. On the other hand, other processors and chips can come with about 200 or more.

Since requirements can vary so greatly, there are a number of different packages that you can find. Like the packages, the processes in the SMT process also differ from the conventional through-hole PCB method.

Solder Paste Printing

One of the most distinctive processes of the SMT method involves solder paste printing. This refers to the place where you need components. The printed circuit board usually comes with a very fine and thin piece of metal.

On the circuit board, there are solder pads. In surface-mount technology, stencils and squeegees usually do the job of applying solder to the appropriate pads on the circuit board. This method of solder mask application is becoming very widely used and popular. This is especially the case in the subcontract sector.

To Conclude

As you can see, the surface mount technology has great significance today and is prevailing against the conventional through-hole method. The characteristics of the surface mount technology in the PCB manufacturing industry, along with its large-scale implementation are speeding up the manufacture of electrical appliances and technology. This, in turn is accelerating the world towards a prosperous future.