A PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) is a board that has been soldered and mounted on the PCB and can now perform the electronic function for which it was created.
Printed circuit board assembly is one of the most critical processes in PCB production. Moreover, it includes all of the components needed to construct the PCB. SMT and THT are the two ways of constructing a printed circuit board assembly.
What are THT and SMT?
PCB fasteners, connectors, and cables are often assembled by hand in THT assembly. On the one hand, this protects components that have already been soldered in place. However, when both sides of the PCB have been completed, further SMT assembly is often no longer technically practicable.
All small components, such as capacitors, resistors, and microcontrollers, are assembled swiftly and in huge quantities in SMT assembly at the JLCPCB factory. Leesys employs eight ASM SMT lines for this purpose. These provide great precision and performance while taking up a small amount of space.
The through-hole technique was very traditional. Now, assemblers have been able to meet their customers’ needs. These needs are in terms of flexibility, responsiveness, quality, and lead times. That’s why SMT is considered better than THT.
What are the stages of the PCB assembly process?
Adding solder paste to the board, picking and placing components, soldering, inspection, and testing are all stages of the PCB manufacturing process. Furthermore, all of these procedures must be followed and monitored to guarantee that the best quality product is generated.
Why is this procedure so expensive?
Firstly, the reason for this is that it necessitates replicating the entire component placement process on both sides of the circuit board. Furthermore, due to the fine pitch and leadless components, the PCB assembly quote can be expensive. This is because they necessitate a special assembly procedure and inspection methodology.
PCB assembly and design is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs with a strong understanding of electronics. Furthermore, anyone can start this business with a small amount of funding and infrastructure.
Some manufacturers, such as JLCPCB, offer specials deals. For instance, by ordering 1-4 layer PCB, which costs 2$, you can get free SMT assembly.
What is the market potential of the PCB Assembly?
The PCB business is fueled by consumer electronics, LED lighting, automotive electronics, and industrial electronics. Local PCB producers can only meet 30% of the demand. As a result, it is an excellent moment to start a PCB assembly firm.
What are the different categories of PCB Assembly Manufacturing?
The following are the different types of PCB manufacturing units.
- Firstly, production in large quantities
- Secondly, manufacturing in small batches
- Thirdly, manufacturing in small batches with a quick turnaround
- finally, manufacturing of complex-design PCBs in small quantities
What is the raw material required for PCB Assembly?
The major raw materials required include solder, flux, chemicals, adhesives, wires, and PCBs. The PCBA process always starts with the base, which is the most basic unit of a PCB. moreover, it consists of several layers, each of which plays a significant role in the functionality of the final PCB.
The following layers alternate:
Substrate
It is the first step. This is the foundation material that gives the PCB its stiffness. JLCPCB no offers FR4 and aluminum substrates for very low prices:
Copper
Firstly, on the functional side of the PCB, a thin layer of conductive copper foil require to apply. This is the copper trace layer. Copper is only added on one side of single-sided PCBs. Copper is present on both sides of double-sided PCBs.
Solder mask
Secondly, the solder mask sits on top of the copper layer, giving each PCB its distinct green hue. It prevents shorting by insulating copper traces from mistakenly contacting other conductive materials. Moreover, the solder holds everything together. The solder needs to administer to components on the board through holes in the solder mask.
Silkscreen
Thirdly, a white silkscreen is a final layer on the PCB board. It adds labels to the PCB in the form of characters and symbols. Moreover, this helps to indicate the placement of all components on the board. These materials and components remain largely the same across all PCBs, except the substrate.
What are the pieces of equipment and tools required for PCBA?
Here is the list of tools and machinery for PCBA.
- Heat-wave soldering machine
- Oscilloscope (50MHz)
- LCR-Q meter
- Function generator
- Power supply (0-30V, 3A)
- 41⁄2-digit digital multimeter
- Analog multimeter
- Magnifying glass fitted with tube light
- Temperature-controlled soldering station
- Soldering iron (25W)
- Soldering iron (65W)
- Variac
- Rheostat
What is the process of PCB Assembly?
Depending on the quality and specification requirements of the final product, the PCB assembly process comprises numerous manufacturing and quality control processes. Furthermore, the basic assembling technique, on the other hand, is relatively easy. The important steps are here.
- Firstly, electronic components and the PCB are first tested to ensure that they meet the relevant requirements.
- Secondly, electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, coils, diodes, transistors, ICs, and SCRs need to install on the PCB at their proper locations in the production line at various stages.
- Thirdly, the PCB then runs through a heat-wave soldering bath for component soldering.
- In the next stage, unwanted component leads are removed, and components are tested for proper soldering with a soldering iron.
- Finally, the constructed PCB is then tested for specifications using appropriate test jigs before being shipped to the customer.
What are the PCB test and inspection procedure?
On each line, every PCBA subjects to a comprehensive, high-resolution AOI inspection using Mirtec MV-3L equipment, with images stored for several months. We can use the specific bar code on each board to track it down. Each building undergoes a thorough first-off examination, which supplements by a thorough NPI procedure for new products.
What services does a manufacturer’s team provide to its customers?
From the beginning, the skilled team collaborated with customers on product design and development. Free services include Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and New Product Introduction (NPI) reviews. Moreover, they can help you expedite assembly and solve process issues before they influence delivery.
Where to order best PCB assembly?
Thanks to the availability of modern equipment at JLCPCB, high accuracy and speed of work are ensured. Manual PCB assembly is carried out on the latest equipment. We have a team of highly qualified engineers. New registrations enjoy $18 free coupons exclusively.
