How to panelize PCB？

Do you know what a panelized PCB is? How to handle products that use multiple PCBs for various designs? What to do when you need multiple designs on a single board? A panelized PCB contains multiples of the same or sometimes even different designs on a single board. In this passage, we will provide panelized PCB and increase productivity for you. Please check the content below for more information. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } What is the Need for a Panelized PCB? Cost Efficiency This is one of the main benefits of having a PCB panel. If you want to make multiple PCBs, the manufacturer would likely charge more for the additional time they spend to manufacture a higher number of boards. A panel will have multiples of the same design on a single PCB. This could result in one large board with over 30 designs and has to be made and processed only once instead of making it 30 times on multiple PCBs. Faster Turnaround Time Since many boards can make on a single panel in a single run, this results in a large amount of time-saving for the manufacturer. Which then results in faster delivery time for your PCB? You are using panel results in a faster time to market for your product. Convenience Factor Imagine you are working on a device that has one main board and two daughter boards. In a case like this, where your final product has multiple PCBs, It makes more sense to combine all three on a single panel. This also helps in organizing large quantities. Using a panel, you can make sure that all PCBs for a single product are on one panel rather than multiple PCBs scattered all around. Faster Board Assembly When doing board assembly, whether it be a couple of 10s of prototypes or 1000s, time consumed in swapping outboards and putting new boards into your machines causes a loss of productivity. If you are doing it manually, then it takes a lot of time to align a stencil and then apply the paste to all boards. In situations like these, panels speed up the process. Loading a single panel of multiple boards results in faster production. How to panelize PCB？(Tips of panelizing PCB) V Score or V Groove Each panel after fabrication, we require a reliable method to separate from each plate. This method should be such that it requires minimal or no tools to separate boards. One such way to do it is by using V Score lines. V Score lines are the cut line defined on the mechanical layer of the board design. The manufacturer then performs V-shaped cuts on those lines, which go about 1/3rd the board's depth. The next step after this is to physically break off the boards, and they then break off cleanly along the edge where V cut lines exist. Break Off Tabs The second approach to separating individual boards from a panel is using break-off tabs. These are narrowed down areas of the board with many holes or vias drilled into the edge, which is later broken off. On the application of force, the narrow region with the holes breaks off as it is the weakest point on the panel. The only disadvantage of using this approach is that the board edges won't come clean. It is different from when using the V Groove method. Clearances Whenever designing a panel, there needs to be a minimum clearance between individual boards on the panel. A board that uses V Grooves would also need some minimum clearance near the cut lines. This value is usually about 2mm and is usually specified on the manufacturer's technical capabilities page. A board that does not have enough clearance may break off in a manner that damages the board's functional section. Processing Tabs Finally, on certain boards or panels that are very small, there needs to be a blank region added so the factory's machines can process the entire board. This is a blank region added to the design, so the board meets the minimum size requirements. Often this is done by the factory, but sometimes you may need to define a blank region along with cutting lines in your CAD software.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/17/2021 18:04

Top PCB manufacturers in China

There are so many PCB Manufacturing Companies in China, but it is not easy to select one. Since PCB Manufacturing is a complex process from Prototype to Large Scale Defect-Free Production and PCB Assembly Services, selecting a reliable PCB manufacturer is really important for customers. In this passage, we will introduce you several best PCB manufacturers in China. Please check and read the content below. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } PCBWAY PCBWAY is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, and is an outstanding PCB Manufacturer in China. It has achieved excellent results since its establishment. PCBWAY has specialized in PCB prototype, small and medium batch production. It was founded in 2014, and has been constantly growing. With over 15 years’ professional experiences and advanced manufacturing capabilities of our factories, in the past 4 years, their products have been well marketed in 150 countries and used by 250,000 clients around the world. Check for PCBBUY instant quote: PCB Prototype online Quote & Cost Calculator - PCBBUY.COM JLCPCB JLCPCB (JiaLiChuang HongKong Co., Limited), the global PCB manufacturer and a high-tech manufacturer specializing in quick PCB prototype and small-batch PCB production. With over 14 years of experience in PCB manufacturing, JLCPCB has more than 800,000 customers in China and abroad, with over 18,000 online orders of PCB prototyping and small quantity PCB production per day. The monthly PCB production capacity is 600,000 sqm. For various of 1-layer, 2-layer or multi-layer PCBs. JLC is a professional PCB manufacturer featured of large scale, well equipment, strict management and superior quality. JLCPCB has five PCB factories, 1 Stencil factory, and 1 SMT factory. Check for instant quote: PCB Prototype online Quote & Cost Calculator - PCBBUY.COM NextPCB NextPCB is one of the most experienced PCB manufacturers in China, has specialized in the PCB and assembly industry for over 15 years. They have three large professional factories, which specialized in PCB prototype, PCB Mass Production, and PCB Assembly separately. Not only could NextPCB provide the most innovative printed circuit boards and assembly technologies in the highest quality standards, the fastest delivery turnaround as fast as 24 hours, the lowest manufacturer direct prices, and the most dedicated customer service in the industry, but NextPCB could also provide turnkey service without a broker including components sourcing, PCB prototyping/PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly, quality testing, and the final shipment. Quality Assurance: NextPCB product is certified by IATF16949, ISO14001, UL, ISO9001, RoHS, and REACH and engineers are concentrated on PCB and assembly industry for over 15 years. The process, raw materials, final products, and sales services are under strict and professional control. Check instant quote： PCB Prototype online Quote & Cost Calculator - PCBBUY.COM ALLPCB ALLPCB is PCB manufacturer in China, specializing in cheap PCB prototype & production, PCB assembly and SMT stencil services online. Check for NextPCB instant quote：PCB Prototype online Quote & Cost Calculator - PCBBUY.COM PCBBUY PCBBUY Technology Co. Ltd is a smart factory specialized in quick turn PCB prototyping. PCBBUY service center is located in the beautiful city - Hangzhou, China, and its factory is located in the southern gate of China - Zhuhai, Guangdong. There are production lines of Single PCB,2 layers PCB,4 layers PCB,6 layers PCB,8 layers PCB and 1000mm PCB. We has passed the SGS, RoHS, UL and other authority certification, the fastest can achieve 24 hours of delivery. PCBBUY was invested and held by ICHUNT(ichunt.com) which is a leading B2B trading platform for electronic components in China and has successively obtained multiple rounds of financing from Matrix China, WELIGHT Capital, Huanuo, JD capital and Haitong Securities, etc.) PCBBUY that relies on Internet plus and Industry 4.0 technology, has fully realized online and offline collaborative office and reconstructed traditional PCB factory production management mode by utilizing new technologies such as big data, cloud computing and “the Internet of Thing”. We have developed our own MES (Manufacturing Execution system), that connects and monitors machines and work centers on the factory floor, the MES is to ensure the effective execution of manufacturing operations and improve production efficiency which greatly shorten the traditional delivery time. We offer 24H rapid service for 1-8 layer prototype PCB, online quoting, online ordering, uploading files, and real-time tracking etc. PCBBUY mart factory has an annual capacity of 250,000 square meters, an area of ten thousands of square meters, facilities 160+, employees 200+, and multi-layer circuit board engineers 50+. We strictly follow 6S Production Management Procedure, all our PCBs are produced under IPC II standard. We promise a one-year warranty, and the quality problem "ten times compensation for false board”. We know the importance of speed and quality in PCB prototype, and insist on using the leading brand facilities（Taiwan Dongtai drilling machine, Jingming automatic copper sinking line, Taiwan Jingming electroplating line, vacuum etching, high-resolution light source lamp set, west wind precision milling spindle） Adhere to quality starting from source, we choose to use Shengyi and Kingboard Class A board, Taiyo and Guangxin ink; Tongling Nonferrous Metal. If you are going to custom PCB products and searching for a reliable PCB manufacturer, please check PCBBUY homepage for more information.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/17/2021 17:13

How to make a Bluetooth PCB？

Bluetooth PCB is very common in our daily life. And you can find it in your smart phone other Bluetooth enabled devices. Bluetooth is a form of communication that utilizes radio frequency to connect with different devices. The paired devices exchange information serially with the master Bluetooth device. The interaction between the paired devices can be done through the master Bluetooth device, which acts as a facilitator. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } Bluetooth PCB is the main force driving wireless headsets, remote controls, wireless speakers to IoT (Internet of Things) application. They are two-layered PCBs but have only a single plate. You will find the layers on both sides of the leaves. In this passage we will discover how Bluetooth technology works. What is the working principle of Bluetooth PCB? The principle behind the working of a Bluetooth circuit board is straightforward. An antenna is located on the Bluetooth PCB, which receives the signal sent out by a Bluetooth device. The message is then sent to the output after being processed inside the circuit board. Different Bluetooth profiles are used to facilitate communication between devices based on the application of the Bluetooth device. For example, the Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) is used for communication with audio-video devices and found in remote controls of hi-fi equipment and TVs. What are the components of Bluetooth PCB? A Bluetooth circuit board also contains a minimum of 2 inductors, which can fine-tune the impedance of the antenna to improve the reception and sending of information. The modules have 4 IO pins, which are the State, Enabled, communication, and power supply options. You can also find multiple resistors, diodes, and capacitors placed on the Bluetooth circuit board. Apart from the above components, other parts such as chips, voltage regulators, and the crystal-based clock can also be found. The Bluetooth circuit board requires careful attention while assembling, especially with the antennae for its proper functioning. Bluetooth circuit boards are found within Bluetooth-enabled devices. What are the applications of Bluetooth PCB? Bluetooth boards exist in the devices and devices we use every day without careful consideration. Anything that uses wireless connection can be using Bluetooth radio frequencies even without your knowledge. So let us go over some typical applications of Bluetooth circuit boards. 1. Wireless Headsets and Earphones Fancy listening to music on the go without the hassle of wires messing up? Most of the wireless headsets and earphones use Bluetooth technology for the transmission of audio and voice signals. The Bluetooth circuit board is the silent performer enabling the connection between your audio device and your headset, making you listen to your favorite songs. You can also talk over the Bluetooth connection using voice signals courtesy of the Bluetooth PCB. 2. Cordless Keyboards and Mouse An impressive number of wireless keyboards and mouse relies on Bluetooth circuit boards to connect to your computer and help you do your work. Earlier wireless connections were made over infra-red frequency, but Bluetooth is a far more superior alternative used these days. Even printers, scanners, and other computer peripherals can be connected using Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth Speakers Bluetooth speakers are a fad these days, and everybody is carrying one. The wireless speakers have an inbuilt Bluetooth circuit board as a part of the main circuit board responsible for syncing with your audio player or smart phone. Multimedia Transfer We don't think twice before transferring songs or videos between devices over a Bluetooth connection. All such methods are sending out and receiving multimedia content, and other files are equipped with a Bluetooth circuit board. The smart phone you are using also has a Bluetooth circuit board, which lets it play songs through a wireless speaker or headset and transfer files and movies from one phone to another. Automatic Synchronization Bluetooth connection is the spinal cord of any device which has to do with IoT. This new technology creates a bright world by connecting everything and giving you control over it. For example, you may pick up the temperature of the machines in a factory on your smartphone over a connection established over Bluetooth frequency. Such devices use Bluetooth circuit boards for automatic synchronization and exchange of information between different touch points.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/11/2021 16:59

How to make Aluminum PCB？

When you hear the names Aluminum Clad, Aluminum base, Metal Clad Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB), Insulated Metal Substrate (IMS), Thermally Conductive PCBs, etc., do know that the PCB type in question is synonymous to Aluminum PCBs. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } From the name, you can already tell that aluminum PCBs contain aluminum as one of the materials. Indeed, these PCBs have a metal core at the base material, with aluminum being one of the critical components. What's more, there's the presence of a thin layer of thermal, dielectric material and electrically insulating material. Why to use Aluminum PCB? Since the emergence of aluminum PCB technology in the 1970s, several industries and individuals have augmented demand for production. Suppose you're planning on using applications that have heat dissipation and wish to control the temperatures. In that case, Aluminum PCB is the right choice for you. Aluminum is known for transferring heat away from significant components on the board. In doing so, your PCB is kept free from the dangers of heat damage. Moreover, it is highly durable and can serve you a long time compared to other materials like fiberglass. What are the types of Aluminum PCB? Even though all-aluminum clads work the same way, i.e., in heat dissipation, different types have individual characteristics based on their design and structure. The following are the types of aluminum clads that you should be know. Through-hole aluminum PCB When we design through-hole aluminum PCB, the manufacturer backfills and pre-drills a single aluminum layer and then applies the laminate material. There will be a formation of a core of multilayer constructions after this process. Afterward, they laminate the thermal materials on the two sides of the board with thermal bonding materials. The final touch involves drilling on the assembly. Flexible aluminum PCB A flexible aluminum PCB is a recently marketed circuit board with a polyimide resin integrated with ceramic filters upon purchase. The two materials’ essence is to increase insulation, flexibility (you can twist or fold the PCB to any shape and retain the form), and thermal efficiency. What’s more, their application is cost-effective since you won’t need to purchase connectors or cables. It’s disadvantageous because you can’t alter or modify the final product once you acquire a specific shape. Multilayer aluminum printed circuit board Multilayer aluminum PCBs have multiple-layer of thermally conductive dielectrics. The design constitutes one or more layers of circuitry found in the dielectric with blind vias representing thermal or signal vias. An advantage to using multilayer IMS PCB is the straightforward and operative solution they offer for heat conductivity in complex products. Contrary to that, they’re costly and can’t easily engage in heat transfer in single layer designs. Their application is often in power supply products. High thermal conductivity aluminum PCB In this type of PCB; the insulating layer is an epoxy resin material. The epoxy resin should have excellent thermal conductivity. High-frequency aluminum PCB With high-frequency aluminum PCB, the insulating layer has a polyolefin or polyimide material. Other times, it can be woven fiberglass between an epoxy resin. The purpose of the materials is to improve the flexibility of the PCB. How to solve difficulties during the aluminum PCB manufacturing? Copper etching Ideally, the copper foil you use in the circuit layer should be thick. A higher standard than this, which is more than 3oz, will force you to compensate for the etching’s width requirement. Failure to do so will make the width intolerant to the etching. Therefore, you need to control the etching factors carefully, compensation being a major one. Solder mask printing A thick copper foil in this PCB design hinders solder mask printing of aluminum PCBs. In other words, a thick layered trace copper leads the etched image to have a vast difference in the trace surface and baseboard. Thus, printing becomes difficult. A quick way to solve this problem is by using a quality solder mask oil. Alternatively, you can fill in the resin before the solder mask. Machine-made Manufacturing an IMS involves drilling mechanically, molding, and v-scoring, among others, centered on the internal via or holes. To combat this, use the electric milling and professional milling cutter for manufacturing products of a lower volume. Additionally, adjust the drilling parameters to stop burr production.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/10/2021 17:52

What is the difference between PCB and breadboard？

The most commonly used types of boards over which projects and circuits are assembled are breadboard and PCB or printed circuit board. In breadboard, the circuit is designed with the use of wire to make connection among the components while in PCB components are linked or assembled at the copper wire tracings that are designed over the board or substrate and symbols of different components are designed at the board over which components are placed to make circuits. In this post, we will cover a detailed comparison between PCB and Bread. So let’s get started with Difference between PCB and Breadboard. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } What is the definition of PCBs? The easiest and probably the most ubiquitous example of a PCB is your computer’s motherboard. It connects and facilitates the communication between electronic components within your computer. It achieves this primarily through a collection of copper traces, tracks, and pads. Generally, in appearance, a PCB is a green layered piece of laminated board. The Austrian inventor Paul Eisler developed the first official printed circuit board in 1936 while working on a radio set. Companies did not manufacture PCBs regularly until the 1950s. The first PCB started with a single layer, but modern PCBs now consist of over twenty layers. Before an engineer or fabrication company can fully assemble a PCB, it needs to be prototyped. This prototype will be a proof of concept, allowing you to test your design. Nevertheless, as with your motherboard, the PCB is the carrier, foundation, and support for all your other devices within your system. You will find PCBs in smartphones, microcontrollers, smart TVs, etc. What is the definition of breadboard? In appearance, breadboards are rectangular plastic consoles perforated with square holes and engraved with various symbols and lines. Ronald J. Portugal invented the first solderless breadboard in 1971. You may have heard it referred to as a solderless, proto board, plug board, or terminal array board. It is uncertain where the name “breadboard” originates. However, we do know that electronic engineers in the past used to connect components by wire-wrapping them and nailing them into a wooden board. Essentially, they would use these wooden boards as their bases. Another theory states that an engineer had an idea for a vacuum tube device once upon a time. The only thing he could use for the base was his wife’s breadboard. Therefore, breadboards may get their names from engineers using wooden boards to prototype their ideas. The layout of a breadboard is quite similar to that of a PCB – at least in concept. The perforations on the breadboard allow you to connect various electronic components. These components can range from transistors to LEDs. Not only do we use breadboards for prototyping, but we also use them extensively for educational purposes. In fact, in the same way, you can find build kits for your Raspberry Pi 4 project ideas, you can find various breadboard kits too. They often come with power supply units, jumpers, wires, resistors, transistors, and other components. You can even connect them to PCB based microcontrollers. What is the advantage of PCB? On this board circuits created are have a permanent assembly. The current-carrying capability of this board is larger than the breadboard to draw more current we can create different paths that do not exist in the breadboard. To make exterior linking there is an addition of different components is used in this board. And this board is mounted with a heat sink that makes it rigid. The circuit created on this board has clean look while the breadboard circuit shows complicated circuit assembly. In almost every type of electronic module, this board is used. The circuit understanding on the PCB board is very easy due to simple assembly. What is the advantage of breadboard? The main advantages of the breadboard are discussed here. Through the use of this board, we can vary the linking connections of devices use in circuits according to our requirement. This board helps us to do the replacement of companies used in the circuit when we needed. Construction of the circuit on this board is a very speedy and easy process due to the absence of soldering. Here are chief benefits over PCB board is that we can link ammeter to this board at any point where we current has to measure but these features do not exist for PCB board.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/08/2021 17:48

How to protect PCB from moisture？

During the PCB manufacturing process, the design of PCB will affect whether moisture is more or less likely to be an issue. One of the most troubling issues with printed circuit boards involves the presence of moisture. If moisture exists within a PCB, the destabilization caused by it is liable to have a delaminating effect on the surface elements. Anytime soldering or rework is applied to the PCB, the delamination could easily expand as a result of the moisture contents. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } In this passage, we will tell you everything about how to protect PCB from moisture, follow us and read the content we provide. Moisture effect on PCB The presence of moisture can lead to various functional failures on a PCB, depending on which components or conductive paths come into contact with it as diffusion takes hold. Moisture can fester in the epoxy glass, resin or glass interfaces and cracks in a board. Problems commonly associated with moisture include slowed circuit speeds and increased delay times with the functions of a corresponding device. If the problem exceeds a certain limit, the device might simply fail to activate. Tests have been conducted that show the effects of moisture absorption and desorption in printed circuit boards. In a PCB with plated through-holes of varying density, trapped amounts of moisture have different desorption rates based on the distance between each hole. In PCBs that are heavily saturated, desorption can take hundreds of hours within high-temperature environments. If a PCB is placed in an environment where the atmospheric moisture pressure exceeds the resistance of the board and its components, moisture can penetrate the PCB. To prevent moisture delamination from taking effect on a PCB, soldering should be performed only with high temperatures of less than 0.1 percent moisture content or with low temperatures of less than 0.2 percent moisture content. High-temperature soldering would hover around 260 degrees Celsius, while low-temperature soldering would be in the ballpark of 230 degrees Celsius. How to remove moisture from PCB？ When measurements are made of a PCB’s ability to store electric energy, a change in moisture content can be detected within the board. Capacitance sensors are used in this process. Capacitance levels move in inverse proportion to hole density. If the latter is high, the former is low because there’s less distance between the moisture and the surface but more space for the moisture to escape. In non-PTH PCBs, capacitance decreases at a more rapid pace. As such, less bake time is needed for these boards to have a low enough moisture level. On PTH boards, there’s less exposed surface room for the moisture to escape. Due to the inverse effect of copper planes on the desorption process, they should be baked with consideration for their design. On one hand, you can empty moisture more effectively from a board by running the baking process for longer periods, but doing so could reduce the board’s solder ability and functional capacity. Consequently, bake time should be measured to avoid these possible side effects. The process of moisture removal does not always yield predictable results. For example, a pair of identical copper planes could undergo a central flare-up of moisture as the baking gets underway, only to diffuse moments later. If this momentary swell of moisture occurs in an area of the board where delamination is most probable, it could be the unintended side effect of baking. On some boards, moisture removal is simply not possible once the moisture has diffused through several layers. Therefore, it’s crucial to employ measures to prevent moisture from entering into the board during the initial process of assembly. How to protect PCB from moisture？ During the manufacturing of PCBs, the lamination process should be conducted in a temperature-controlled environment where the air system is regulated with desiccant drying agents. It’s also crucial to wear fresh gloves during each work cycle to avoid the spread of contamination between different components. The very process of PCB lamination has a dehydrating effect on the finished product. It’s during this stage that the prepregs and cores are put into place and the layers are bonded into a single board. Some manufacturers apply a low-pressure vacuum effect during this stage to prevent internal voids that could possibly trap moisture within the layers. Among certain PCB fabricators, it’s common practice to bake the prepregs prior to lamination. The goal here is to prevent moisture pockets and blisters from forming on the finished board. This step is most useful when the prepreg has spent a certain length of time beforehand in an unregulated storage environment. Otherwise, this step is generally not necessary. One of the most effective means of moisture prevention in a PCB is meshed copper planes, which inhibit moisture travel between layers as well as in and out of boards. Meshed copper planes also serve as a stronger bonding material between layers. However, their presence in a PCB can reduce the board’s electrical capacity.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/07/2021 18:10

How to identify PCB manufacturer?

If you are going to order PCB products, it is pretty important for you to find a reliable PCB manufacturer to produce the boards you want. And a professional manufacturer will determine the quality and performance of the finished PCB. Please check and read the content we provide to learn more knowledge about it. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } What are the tips before choosing PCB manufacturer? When choosing a manufacturer, you should have some questions prepared. You can get the answers to these questions through your own research using the company’s website and other online resources such as online reviews. You can also get the answers by asking the company directly. Getting the answers to these questions will help you determine whether a given PCB manufacturer is the best one for the job. 1. How long have you been doing this? Experience is crucial in PCB manufacturing. It provides insight into the amount of knowledge and resources a manufacturer may have, their competence and how well they’ve been able to adapt over time to changes in the industry. 2. What certifications do you have? Certifications provide additional insight into how qualified a manufacturer is. To receive certification, a third party typically needs to verify that the company complies with a standard or other requirement. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes standards related to quality management, such as ISO 9001, as well as other areas. IPC produces standards that are specific to the PCB and electronics manufacturing industries. Make sure that each manufacturer you’re considering working with is capable of complying with all of the standards that apply to your industry and products. This, of course, includes broad regulations and standards such as restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) but also includes requirements that relate to your industry in particular. This is one area in which working with a company that has experience with your industry is valuable. 3. What makes your company unique? This question can help you make your final decision once you’ve found several similar manufacturers that provide the products and services you need. To answer this question, you can explore the value-added services each manufacturer offers and even just ask a company representative what they believe sets their organization apart. How to identify PCB manufacturer? It can be difficult to narrow down your PCB manufacturer choices, since there are so many options and, at first glance, many companies seem to be quite similar. Some topics you should investigate early in your search include a company’s products, services, capabilities and facilities. 1. Products Get information about what types of PCBs each manufacturer offers. This may include rigid, flexible and rigid-flex boards as well as metal core, aluminum-backed and hybrid boards. Additionally, ask about the substrates the companies use for their boards. Aluminum boards, for example, offer high thermal conductivity and excellent electrical insulation, while heavy copper boards are ideal for high current applications. Product Quality You’ll also want to explore the quality of the boards each manufacturer provides and the quality control processes they have in place. Some quality control measures to look for include: Price Price is another factor that is always essential to consider. Of course, you want to minimize your costs, but you must also be careful that the quality of your boards remains sufficient. You need to find a manufacturer that provides products that meet your quality standards while remaining in your price range. One aspect of cost to consider is the initial quote. Once you provide a manufacturer with information about your project, they can provide you with a quote. To ensure the quote they give you is an actual estimate of the total cost, ask if there will be any other fees added later in the order process. Additionally, ask about potential discounts for bulk orders or frequent orders. Some manufacturers will offer discounts or special arrangements for return customers. Ask whether these opportunities exist to ensure you’re getting the best possible price. 2. Services You’ll also need to determine which services each manufacturer offers and make sure they can provide the ones you need. Working with companies that provide numerous services comes with the advantage of not having to switch between companies throughout the production process. Sometimes, though, you might want a more specialized company. Beyond assembly, here are some of the services to look for: Prototyping Creating a prototype PCB before going to production can reduce the total timeframe and costs of your production process. Creating prototypes gives you sample boards you can use to test your design and then fix problems and make improvements, which is much more cost-effective to do earlier in the production process. Layout and design services Layout and design services can help you to speed up your production process. Some companies will do a complete design for you after you give them basic information about what you need. You may be able to send in existing files and have a company make changes or help you solve a design problem. File review and analysis Some PCB manufacturers will provide a review and analysis of your design before they manufacture. This serves as a final check for design errors and defects and helps ensure that the manufacturer has all of the necessary files and information before beginning manufacturing, helping to avoid delays after you place your order. SMT stencil production SMT stencils, which are made of stainless steel foil and are laser cut, help to ensure that the solder paste is printed in the correct places on the PCB. Using a stencil to apply solder paste is much more accurate than applying it by hand. Panelization Panelization refers to grouping boards to enable faster processing and is typically used for high-volume production. If you plan on placing high-volume orders, you may want to look for a manufacturer that provides panelization while still allowing for any customization you may need. This can significantly decrease your timeframe for production. 3. Capabilities You will also need to make sure that the company in question has the capabilities necessary for providing the PCB solutions you need. Gather information about the following capabilities. Order quantity What are the maximum and minimum order sizes that each manufacturer can fill within your required timeframe? Lead time You’ll want to get information on each company’s lead time for prototypes, small volume, medium volume and high volume orders. Ensure that the company’s estimated delivery time for the type of order you’ll be placing is compatible with your requirements. Additionally, check whether the company provides a quick turnaround service for rush orders. Some manufacturers offer an order tracking service, which enables you to easily the status of your order and when you can expect it to arrive. Number of layers Consider whether a manufacturer can provide bare, single-layer, double-layer and multi-layer boards as well as how many layers they can accommodate. The number of layers likely varies for flexible, flex-rigid and rigid boards, so make sure you get the details for the types of boards you plan on ordering. Surface finish options PCB surface finishes protect the copper surface of boards from corrosion and provide other advantages, such as making soldering easier. There are a variety of possible surface finish options available, and different PCB manufacturers may offer different ones. Possible surface finishes include electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG), immersion silver, immersion tin, hot air solder leveling (HASL), organic solderability preservative (OSP) and hard gold. Via options What types of vias can each manufacturer provide? Ensure that each manufacturer can provide the kinds of vias you need, whether that’s copper-filled vias, blind vias, buried vias or micro vias. Controlled impedance modeling For boards that operate in high frequency ranges, you may need controlled impedance. If you need repeatable high-frequency performance, check that manufacturers offer controlled impedance modeling and have knowledge in trace impedance. Specs and tolerances What kinds of tolerances can each manufacturer manufacture to, and do they meet your requirements? One critical spec to check is the drill aspect ratio, which refers to the ratio of the PCB’s thickness to the drilled hole’s diameter and relates to the ability to provide copper plated holes using chemical processes. As the aspect ratio increases — that is, as the holes get smaller — achieving reliable plating becomes more difficult. Other important specs include outer layer trace and space, inner layer trace and space, minimum drilled hole, standard drilled hole, minimum pad size, minimum feature to edge and minimum core thickness.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/07/2021 18:00

How to reduce electromagnetic interference in PCB?

During the PCB manufacturing process, electromagnetic interference will consistently plague PCB designers. So the testing of electromagnetic interference is extremely important to designers so that they could monitor electromagnetic compatibility and interference. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } Electromagnetic compatibility, or EMC, involves the generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy, generally through poor design. Electromagnetic interference, or EMI, refers to the unwanted and damaging effects of EMC, as well as electromagnetic interference from environmental sources. Too much EMI can result in a defective or damaged product. Any PCB designer should follow EMC design rules to minimize the amount and effects of EMI. Please check and read the content we provide and get to learn how to reduce electromagnetic interference in PCB manufacturing. Why to avoid electromagnetic interference? Sources of electromagnetic interference are all around us, and we can categorize them in several ways: Source Human-made EMI arises from electronic circuits. Naturally occurring EMI, on the other hand, can arise from environmental factors like cosmic noise and lightning. Duration Continuous interference is an EMI source that emits a constant signal, which most often appears as background noise. Impulse interference is intermittent, usually caused by switching systems, lightning and other non-constant sources. Bandwidth Narrowband signals like those used by radio can encounter interference from oscillators and transmitters, though these sources only affect certain parts of the spectrum intermittently. Broadband interference affects high-data signals like TV and can come from many sources, including arc welders and solar noise. Whether human-made or environmental, EMI can be both costly and dangerous. It can disrupt communication channels and sensitive devices. EMI is a notable concern in the medical field, where wirelesses device usage is on the rise. Unfortunately, EMI can affect the functionality of medical equipment like ventilators, ECG monitors, cardiac monitors and defibrillators. In other industries, EMI can disrupt sensors and navigational systems. The result in all cases is a disturbance of equipment that may be responsible for the health and safety of its users. However, the most common source of EMI — and the most problematic source for designers — is internal. Poor PCB design can result in incompatible signals interfering with one another on the board. This interference can ultimately cause the board to fail. Designers must ensure that interference is kept to a minimum and any signals let off are compatible so as not to result in interference. How to prevent electromagnetic interference in PCB? These essential design principles can help prevent and fix these electromagnetic problems in a printed circuit board design. 1. Ground Plane Designing a PCB’s ground plane is the most significant step, and it’s crucial for reducing EMI. The ground plane is your first line of defense against EMI since all circuits require a ground to work. Some common best practices for ground design to reduce EMI include: Maximize ground area: Increase the ground area as much as possible within the PCB. Signals can disperse more easily with more area, reducing emissions, cross-talk and noise. If the ground plane is too small, you could possibly add another layer and create a multi-layer PCB. This design solution provides more options for handling high-speed traces. Use solid planes: Especially in multi-layer PCBs, a solid ground plane is an ideal option. Copper-thieving and hashed ground planes usually result in higher impedance levels. Solid ground planes, on the other hand, provide lower levels. Connect each component: Connect every part to a ground plane or point. The ground plane acts as a neutralizing agent for board design, and floating components don’t fully make use of this. Be careful with split planes: Highly intricate PCB designs often include numerous regulated voltages, which should each have their own ground planes. Too many ground planes, however, increases fabrication cost. This issue is usually circumvented through the use of split planes, which create multiple ground sections on a single layer. However, designers should always use split planes carefully. Ensure you have a good reason to use a split plane and, if using one, make sure they are only connected at a single point. Multiple ground connections in a split-ground PCB can create loops, resulting in an antenna that radiates EMI. Connect bypass or decoupling capacitors: If the design includes bypass or decoupling capacitors, connect them to the ground plane. This act helps lessen the return current by reducing the size of the loop. Minimize signal length: The length of traces is important since the amount of time a signal takes to get to and from a source must be compatible. Otherwise, it can radiate EMI. Keep trace lengths are as short as possible and are about equal in length. 2. Trace Layout Traces are especially important for board design. Proper trace usage ensures properly propagated current. However, many problems can arise if traces are not arranged according to top EMC design rules. Traces are essentially conductive paths that contain flowing electrons while the circuit is active. Thus, these traces are one mistake away from creating a radiating antenna. A simple bend or cross can result in PCB electromagnetic interference. Some of the best rules for trace layout in PCB design include: Avoid right angles: Avoid angles of 45 degrees to 90 degrees for vias, traces and other parts. Capacitance increases as traces reach angles over 45 degrees. As a result, the characteristic impedance changes will lead to reflection. This reflection results in EMI. You can avoid this problem by rounding out traces that need to turn a corner or routing them through two or more angles of 45 degrees or less. Keep signals separate: Keep high-speed traces separate from low-speed signals and analog signals separate from digital ones. Close proximity can result in interference. Shorten return paths: Keep return current paths as short as possible, and route them along paths of least resistance. Return paths should be about the same length as transmit traces or shorter. Mind spacing: Two high-speed signals running in parallel create EMI through cross-talk, in which one trace is the “aggressor” and the other is the “victim.” The aggressor influences the victim trace through inductive and capacitive coupling, creating forward and backward current in the victim trace. You can minimize cross-talk by keeping a minimum spacing between traces. Generally, separate traces by twice the trace width. For example, if the traces are five-thousandths of an inch wide, keep a minimum distance of ten-thousandths of an inch or more between two parallel traces. Use vias carefully: Vias are necessary in PCB design because they let you take advantage of multiple layers in your boards when routing. However, designers must be careful when using them. Vias add their own inductance and capacitance effects to the mix, potentially resulting in reflections due to changes in characteristic impedance. Vias also increase trace length, which needs to be matched. When possible, avoid using vias for differential traces. If this is impossible, however, use them in both traces to compensate for the delay. 3. Component Arrangement Electronic components are the building blocks of an electronic circuit. However, arranging them improperly can cause several EMI issues. When designing a PCB, be mindful of each piece’s EMI impact. Some best practices for component layout in PCB design include the following: Separate analog and digital parts: As with traces, always separate analog and digital circuits and components. Placing analog and digital circuits in close proximity can result in cross-talk, among other issues. To avoid this, use shielding, multiple layers and separate grounds to place analog and digital signals as far away from each other as possible. Generally, it’s best to keep analog and digital signals on separate grounds altogether. Separate analog and high-speed pieces: Analog circuits carry high current, which can cause problems for high-speed traces and switching signals. Keep these away from one another and guard analog circuits with ground signal. On multi-layer PCBs, route analog traces so that a ground plane exists between the analog circuit and the switching or high-speed signals. Be careful with high-speed components: The faster and smaller the component is, the greater the amount of EMI it likely produces. You can combat this natural EMI through shielding and filtering, though it’s also a good idea to separate these components from others in the board design. Another measure to take is to keep high-speed signals and clocks as short as possible and adjacent to the ground plane. These measures help keep cross-talk, noise and radiation levels in check and within the acceptable level limits. 4. EMI Shielding Some components will produce EMI no matter what design rules you follow — especially small, high-speed parts. Fortunately, shielding and filtering can keep this EMI’s effects to a minimum. Some shielding and filtering options include the following: Component and board shielding: Physical shields are metallic packages that encapsulate all or part of a board. Their goal is to keep EMI from entering the board’s circuitry, though the specific methods vary based on the EMI’s source. For EMI that comes from within the system, component shields may be used to encase a specific component that produces EMI — thus connecting to ground, reducing the antenna loop size and absorbing EMI. Other shields may encase the entire board to protect against EMI from outside sources. A Faraday Cage, for example, is a thick protective enclosure designed to block RF waves. These devices are usually made of metal or conductive foam. Low-pass filtering: Sometimes, a PCB can include low pass filters to eliminate high-frequency noise from components. These filters suppress the noise from these part, allowing the current to continue on the return path without interference. Cable shielding: Cables that carry analog and digital currents create the greatest amount of EMI issues. They produce these issues by producing parasitic capacitance and inductance — a particular problem for high-frequency signals. Fortunately, shielding these cables and connecting them to ground at the front and back helps cancels out EMI interference.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/07/2021 17:52

How to measure PCB trace resistance？

Every each material in the universe has resistance alongside other parasitic properties. PCB trace resistance is one of the crucial factors that need to be calculated and analyzed during the design stage. Although copper is the most used material in the printed circuit boards, it comes with different compositions and properties. The PCB trace resistance may lead to various design and implementation issues. The issues increase with the increase in the circuit complexity. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } In this passage we will talk about the details and methods of measuring PCB trace resistance, please check the content below for more information. What is the calculation in PCB trace resistance? Calculating the PCB trace resistance is as simple as using the ohms law with the known parameters. Most design suits and development environments have integrated PCBs trace resistance calculator, which can estimate the resistance of the final copper trace on the board by providing the required and manufacturing profiles. And the calculator uses a standard formula to calculate the opposition so it will be constant universally. R = (ρ * L / (T * W)) * (1 + α * (TAMB – 25 °C)) L W and T represent the physical area of the trace height width and length. ΡCB represents the resistivity of the material, and α represents the temperature coefficient of the copper. But all of this calculation can only determine a close enough approximate value. The physical cost after production will vary slightly. How do you Calculate Trace Resistance? Specific formulas printed circuit boards all share in common to operate on a base level. If any part of this formula is wrong, there is not even any tracking resistance. One widespread mistake people make when it comes to detecting PCB trace resistance is that they have no idea how to calculate it. Visualizing the Printed Circuit Board Before revealing and analyzing this formula, we need to know what a conventional circuit board looks like, or at least on the surface. The most common circuit boards possess a thin layer of copper that is .009 mm and .38mm in thickness. The most common PCB traces are either 1 oz in weight or .03mm in height. The PCB Trace Resistance Equation Now that we know what a standard circuit board looks like, now we can present the formula and put this together. The method to calculate any conductor is: R = P × area. Each variable is assigned as follows: R – Resistance. P – Resistivity of any given material. Let's use this formula to determine the resistance of pure copper, heated to 25°C. Pure copper's resistivity rate at this particular temperature is 1.724. Knowing this, we need to multiply it against the area, which can range from 6-10 ohms per centimeter. Here's another example: Say we have an area of .375mm. If we multiply this by the resistivity, we'll get a resistance of 100 ohms, which would yield 20 ohms per centimeter. It is a small value, but because this formula is not perfect, it could result in some variance. It is one thing that can affect accuracy in PCB trace measurements. How to apply the PCB trace resistance equation? Another example of how this can play out is in resistance based current sensing circuits in power systems. If the sense resistor is 1 ohm and you use the same .025mm trace, the system will measure the resistance at 1100 ohms instead of the preferred 1000 ohms. That is quite a difference, and it can lead to a weaker currency than expected or even necessary. There do exist ways to work with the trace width that does not involve complicated calculations. These solutions can save much time, and you should consider before performing more complex calculations. You can regard these options to determine the trace width without needing to calculate the PCB trace width. The first of these can be done by merely eyeballing the width and increasing or lower it to see what kind of circuits are connected to it properly. It will do a couple of things. First, it will increase the area of copper, giving you a bit more room for experimentation with different ohm levels. Second, it will reduce the resistance of the copper on the board. It will also allow for a bit more testing to determine a proper trace width. For grid array packages, this is not an option. The option here would be to use a thicker copper layer and place it along with the original circuit board. It will increase the area and reduce resistance. One thing that should be made aware of about this is that using a thicker copper layer does require that you purchase the proper materials that are needed to create a more adhesive copper layer. It will cost some money.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/05/2021 18:02

How to prevent PCB corrosion？

Corrosion is the process of oxidation that happens when oxygen bonds with metal, producing rust and causing the metal to flake off and lose its valuable chemical properties. Since printed circuit boards are largely made of metal and are exposed to oxygen, they must corrode eventually. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } However, not all metals are created equal when it comes to corrosion. Some metals corrode almost immediately while some seem to never corrode. Metals that are highly resistant to corrosion include: Graphite, Gold Silver, Copper-nickel alloy. Metals that are highly susceptible to corrosion include: Plated tin, Lead, Copper, Plated nickel. Corrosion is one of the major enemies of printed circuit boards. A sufficiently corroded circuit board won’t work, and the steady advance of corrosion is inevitable. In this passage we will focus on: why do printed circuit boards corrode, and what are some of the most common causes of PCB corrosion? What are the types of PCB corrosion? The metal in your circuit boards can corrode in several ways, including: Atmospheric This is the most standard type of corrosion. Metal is exposed to moisture, which contains oxygen, causing a reaction where the metal ions bond with the oxygen atoms and create an oxide. Copper experiences atmospheric corrosion very easily, which is not a problem for copper plumbing because corroded copper retains its mechanical properties. It does not, however, retain its electrical conductivity, so this is a big problem for circuit boards. Galvanic Galvanic corrosion occurs when different types of metals are in the presence of an electrolyte. In these circumstances, the more resistant metal will actually corrode faster than the baser metal it’s in contact with, so when gold is in contact with tin, for example, the gold will corrode much faster than usual. Electrolytic In this type of metal degradation, adjacent traces experience dendrite growth when ionic contaminated moisture infects the electrical voltage between them, creating metal slivers that result in a short circuit. Fretting With fretting corrosion, the action of closing solder-plated switches creates a wiping action that removes the surface oxide layer, allowing the layer beneath to oxidize. Eventually, excessive rust builds up and prevents the switch from activating. How to clean corrosion PCB? If your PCB gets corroded from water damage or from another source, cleaning it may repair it. Cleaning a circuit board requires everyday household items that even small companies can afford. However, only someone with a fundamental knowledge of electronics should attempt to clean a PCB. The process involves disassembling the board and avoiding damaging the components. When you separate the PCB from an electronic, stay away from water and disconnect the device. You can use a variety of tools to clean a PCB, but certain items work best for eliminating corrosion. Cleaning a circuit board with corrosion involves the following materials: Baking soda The alkalinity and abrasive qualities of baking soda make it a perfect cleaner for corroded PCBs. It clears and neutralizes any corroded areas without damage. Deionized water When you use water to clean a circuit board, you must make sure it has no contaminants. The ions in regular water have conductive properties that degrade electronics. Meanwhile, deionized water has no contaminants or ions that cause damage. Household cleaner A phosphate-free household cleaner can help you remove dirt and corrosion effectively. Phosphates protect PCBs from corroding, but they also act as a major source of water pollution. Thin, soft-bristle brush If you do not have a specialized PCB cleaning tool, a toothbrush or paintbrush can also work. A brush with soft bristles will not scratch the board’s delicate components. Lint-free towel Cloths made from microfiber and other lint-free fabrics speed up the drying process without leaving particles behind. Oven A simple household oven thoroughly dries a PCB when you use indirect heat. Never place a circuit board in the oven without ensuring the oven is off first, however.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/04/2021 17:37