PCB Layout Design

PCB Layout Design | In the early days, PCB design was carried out using adhesive tapes and pads on drafting film. A significant amount of time was spent on cutting, placing and routing of the tracks by hand. With the advent of computer technology and CAD programs, conventional techniques of PCB design have been replaced by software driven methods, resulting in significant improvements in design time and design complexity. What used to take several hours can now be completed in a few minutes.

Today, there are numerous PCB design tools available in the market. Many of them are shareware or freeware packages, while others are very high end expensive packages that run on UNIX or LINUX systems. We have experience with several Printed Circuit Board design CAD systems, with our primary tools being Cadence Allegro and OrCAD.

Printed Circuit Board Assembly | PCB

PTH Technology is implemented for those products where overall size of the board is not a major concern. The discrete components are inserted into holes bored through the circuit board and then the connections between the component leads and the circuit board pads are soldered beneath the printed circuit board. Lately, consumer penchant for smaller product sizes has led to the gradual decline of PTH Technology and the gradual growth of SMT technology in PCB assembly. In addition to smaller product sizes, SMT technology also offers improved functionality and stability. The various shapes, sizes and configurations of permissible surface mounted components have made possible the assembly of a huge number of discrete electronic components on a single printed circuit board, resulting in increased component density and smaller product sizes.

Printed Circuit Board Assembly

MakeMyCircuitBoard.com has worked with several companies and helped them bring their products to the market. Our highly skilled engineers have several years of experience in printed circuit board assembly, which makes us an ideal choice for all types of design projects. Our clients range from start-ups who need a few printed circuit board prototypes, to large established corporations who need several thousand multi-layered circuit boards, and everything in between. So whatever your requirements may be, we are just a phone call away. Our printed circuit board assembly services and capabilities include:

• SMT and PTH pcb assembly
• Prototype and quick-turn printed circuit board assembly
• Consignment and turnkey services
• BOM component sourcing and cost reduction
• Lead free and fully RoHS compliant
• Hybrid assemblies
• Micro BGA and BGA placement (mirrored and double-sided)
• 100% BGA x-ray inspection
• BGA re-flow and re-work
• Fine pitch and press fit connectors
• Thermal profiles
• 0201’s and fine pitch component placement
• ISO 9001 certified
• IPC-A-600-G
• Class 2 and Class 3 compliance

PCB - Printed Circuit Board orders increase

New US orders for computer and electronic products have shown very gradual improvement, with a seasonal spike in November followed by a normal decrease in December. PCB (printed circuit board) and semiconductor shipments followed a similar seasonal pattern in November and December. Read the complete story here.

PCB Assembly

In the SMT environment, the printed circuit board assembly process includes five operations in all. First, a solder paste is applied where the components will be placed. This is usually done by screen printing. Next, there is a placement operation in which a very high speed placement tool is used to mount tiny discrete components like resistors on the pcb. 

Next, a flexible placement machine is used for mounting large components like integrated circuits on the pcb. Once all the discrete devices have been placed, the board is checked for any missing components. Then, the pcb is placed on a conveyor and baked in an oven, in order to make the solder paste reflow and form the solder joints. Finally, the printed circuit board has to be cleaned to get rid of contaminants revealed during the process of fabrication and assembly.