5 Things You Should Know About PCB Assembly Services
Posted by Marc Damman on May 1st, 2015
A PCB or printed circuit board works to mechanically support and electrically connect various electronic components of devices and equipment with the use of conductive tracks and pads. In combination with other parts and features that have been etched from copper sheets, which are then laminated onto some type of non-conductive substrate. PCBs come in three basic configurations, namely single-sided (with one copper layer), double sided (with two copper layers), and multi-layer (with several copper layers). The conductors on each layer are inter-connected using vias or plated-through holes, while advanced PCBs contain other components like capacitors, resistors and other active devices, which are commonly embedded in the board's substrate.
Printed circuit boards can be found in a wide range of electronic products. While they require additional design effort in laying out circuits, assembly and manufacturing of these boards can be automated by professional companies specializing in PCB assembly services and manufacturing. Designing and manufacturing circuits using PCBs are a lot cheaper and faster than other wiring methods because components can be wired and mounted using a single part. This also eliminates operator wiring errors and simplifies installation of many complex electronic components within devices and systems. Here are other important things you should know about PCB assembly services:
• The process of creating a PCB does not stop once the actual printed circuit board is completed because certain electronic components still need to be attached and assembled in order for the board to be functional. This requires carefully printed circuit assembly, which may involve inserting component leads into through-hole constructions or placing pads or lands on the outer surfaces of the board in surface-mount constructions. Either way, component leads must be mechanically and electrically fixed to the board using a motel metal solder.
• There are several soldering techniques that can be used to attach PCB components, such as bulk wave soldering for high volume productions, and fine tip soldering for microscopic parts.
• There are times when surface mount and through-hole constructions are combined into a single assembly. Especially when parts require additional strength to endure physical stress (which through-hole mounting can offer) and when components that need to go untouched but require less space (which surface mounting can help achieve).
• Testing of circuits can be done in a variety of ways, like visual and automated optical inspections, power-off testing, analog signature analysis, in-circuit tests, and functional tests.
• When boards happen to fail tests, they may require de-soldering to replace failed parts and be reworked so they can function as they should.
About the Company:
ADCO Circuits offers electronic design and circuit board assembly services to aerospace/military, telecommunications, automotive, industrial/commercial, wireless and medical equipment markets. They provide electronic designing, contract manufacturing, rapid prototyping & PCB assembly services in Michigan. They are an ISO 9001 and TS 16949 certified and compliant to AS 9100 and ISO 13485.
