The Stages of the PCB Board Assembly Process

The most commonly used types of printed circuit boards include single-sided, double-sided, and multilayered varietals. Now, several stages make up the entire assembly process. As long as these stages function like the players of a team, the whole process will be much more integrated. Every step has to flow into the next. Also, getting feedback at the end of the final stage is mandatory to maintain quality. It’s the only way to spot issues quickly and make necessary adjustments. Here’s an overview of the assembly process.

 

1. Solder paste: The first stage of PCB board assembly followed by GREATPCB incorporates adding solder paste. The experts working with the company add solder paste in requisite areas before attaching any other component that remains in the form of minute soldering grains laced with flux. They add the mixture to the right place in a way that replicates typical printing processes.

 

2. Pick and place: During the PCB board assembly procedure, there’s a stage called “pick and place.” In this stage, the pick and place machine takes the components from a dispenser and puts them in the areas where they need to be. The tension created by the solder paste helps to keep all the components in their designated spot, at least as long as the board doesn’t shake.

 

3. Soldering: Once the necessary components acquire their spots on the board, the manufacturers pass it through the soldering machine. While it isn’t common these days, some companies move the board through wave soldering machines. By using this particular device, the manufacturers can avoid adding the solder paste. It isn’t crucial because the wave soldering machine dispenses solder paste. Nevertheless, most companies use a reflow oven instead of a wave soldering device.

 

4. Inspection: After completing the soldering stage, the best manufacturers will always inspect every PCB. Checking everything manually is almost impossible, especially with surface mounts, as they have too many components. Additionally, the process will need too many employees. Automatic optical inspection is the better option. Machines will detect misplaced components, faulty components, and poor joints much faster and with more proficiency.

 

5. Testing: Every electronic product requires thorough testing before it can leave the factory premises. The same goes for printed circuit boards. It’s the testing process that discloses whether the product is functioning appropriately or not. Some manufacturers resort to quick visual inspections to ensure whether electrical components are in place or not. Others use the analog signature analysis that involves the use of sending alternative current across two areas of the circuit and electrical components. Other testing processes include functional and in-circuit testing.

 

6. Feedback: The final process is about monitoring the output. It helps to find out whether the entire fabrication procedure went well or not. The best way to achieve it is to investigate all detected failures, and the best time to do it is during the optical inspection stage as it usually takes place right after soldering.

 

Final words

 

Printed circuit boards serve innumerable purposes. They are inside television sets, microwave ovens, and almost every other electronic device that you can think of. With the information provided above, you should be able to contemplate the entire assembly process.