Understanding Various Aspects of PCB Fabrication
PCB fabrication is one of the services that comes under the category of printed circuit board manufacturing. A combination of extensive knowledge, latest design software, and high grade equipment is the key to creating PCBs of various types. These include single and double sided, multi-layered, and HDI products. In PCB fabrication, the manufacturer actually puts the design into place to create a tangible product.
What Does PCB Fabrication Entail?
The subsector of PCB fabrication comprises a variety of aspects. This includes the facility, the mounting technologies, manufacturing equipment, and testing equipment. These aspects are discussed in detail below:
• Facility: The bigger the facility, …show more content…
There are two types of mounting technologies: o Printed Through Hole: Also known as PTH or ‘thru hole’ technology, this is the traditional mounting scheme for PCBs. It involves attaching lead wires to electronic components, which are inserted into drilled holes on the circuit board. Soldered pads are mounted to the PCB on the opposite side. This is performed either manually or by the use automated insertion equipment. PTH was the replacement for initial assembly techniques such as point to point construction in the 1950s. Today, it is primarily used for Dual Inline Packaging (DIP), and Pin Grid Array Packages.
o Surface Mount Technology: Also known as SMT, surface mount technology was the solution for the demand for printed circuit boards of smaller sizes and weights. In this method, the leads are soldered directly to the circuit board. This allows for the components to simply be mounted or placed on the board. SMT was developed and introduced in the 1980s, has reduced the size, weight, and space occupied by the PCB in an application. The use of this method has resulted in an increase in the number of pins in Integrated Circuits (ICs). It has also allowed for mass PCB …show more content…
Hence, in terms of testing and inspection services, PCB manufacturers utilize different types of testing equipment to complete the PCB fabrication process. The three most common types include: o Manual Inspection: This is the traditional form of inspection. Certified testers perform the inspection of the PCB. They thoroughly examine the product and its components. They ensure that the component placement and rigidity is accurate, the soldering has been performed to industry guidelines. They also ensure that the product’s functionality is up to industry standards and expectations. Customer choose this method as it is extremely cost-effective. However, it is also time consuming.
o AOI Inspection: Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is a popular and preferred testing method. It involves using an optical imaging system for detecting defects. It can also be used to identify problems with assembly and soldering. This process is known for its high speed and accuracy in terms of fault
PCB fabrication is one of the services that comes under the category of printed circuit board manufacturing. A combination of extensive knowledge, latest design software, and high grade equipment is the key to creating PCBs of various types. These include single and double sided, multi-layered, and HDI products. In PCB fabrication, the manufacturer actually puts the design into place to create a tangible product.
What Does PCB Fabrication Entail?
The subsector of PCB fabrication comprises a variety of aspects. This includes the facility, the mounting technologies, manufacturing equipment, and testing equipment. These aspects are discussed in detail below:
• Facility: The bigger the facility, …show more content…
There are two types of mounting technologies: o Printed Through Hole: Also known as PTH or ‘thru hole’ technology, this is the traditional mounting scheme for PCBs. It involves attaching lead wires to electronic components, which are inserted into drilled holes on the circuit board. Soldered pads are mounted to the PCB on the opposite side. This is performed either manually or by the use automated insertion equipment. PTH was the replacement for initial assembly techniques such as point to point construction in the 1950s. Today, it is primarily used for Dual Inline Packaging (DIP), and Pin Grid Array Packages.
o Surface Mount Technology: Also known as SMT, surface mount technology was the solution for the demand for printed circuit boards of smaller sizes and weights. In this method, the leads are soldered directly to the circuit board. This allows for the components to simply be mounted or placed on the board. SMT was developed and introduced in the 1980s, has reduced the size, weight, and space occupied by the PCB in an application. The use of this method has resulted in an increase in the number of pins in Integrated Circuits (ICs). It has also allowed for mass PCB …show more content…
Hence, in terms of testing and inspection services, PCB manufacturers utilize different types of testing equipment to complete the PCB fabrication process. The three most common types include: o Manual Inspection: This is the traditional form of inspection. Certified testers perform the inspection of the PCB. They thoroughly examine the product and its components. They ensure that the component placement and rigidity is accurate, the soldering has been performed to industry guidelines. They also ensure that the product’s functionality is up to industry standards and expectations. Customer choose this method as it is extremely cost-effective. However, it is also time consuming.
o AOI Inspection: Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is a popular and preferred testing method. It involves using an optical imaging system for detecting defects. It can also be used to identify problems with assembly and soldering. This process is known for its high speed and accuracy in terms of fault