Many of the things that you use every day rely on a printed circuit board (PCB). The fact that these boards are so common in all of the things that we use means that both high and low volume PCB assembly processes are an important industry. In fact, small batch PCB assembly is the basis that many prototypes depend upon. It is easy to understand that without low volume PCB assembly many companies would be limited in their product development.
The use of the PCB fabrication process can be the way that companies expand their products and increase their customers and clients. Consider these facts about the PCB prototype assembly process:
- Problems caused by printing technique account for 70% of all surface assembly quality, excluding the issues of PCB design or quality of components and printed boards.
- Although many PCB manufacturers can provide six ounce thickness, most PCB designers use one or two ounce copper trace thickness.
- Board designers use computer-aided design systems in conjunction with special software to layout the board’s circuit pattern. The distance between the spaces of electrical conducting paths are typically 0.04 inches, or 1.0 mm, or smaller.
- Remote controls, computers, car keychains, and toasters all rely on PCB technology. Without the companies that produce the PCB products, it would be impossible for any of these technologies to be developed.
- $44 billion was the revenue of circuit board and electronic component manufacturing in the U.S. in the year 2014.
- Four layers, six layers, eight layers, and 10 layers are the most common printed circuit boards. The total number of layers that can be manufactured, however, can exceed over 42 layers. These 42 layer boards are used in electronic circuits that are extremely complex.
- The two kinds of methods that are used to connect double-sided circuit boards are through-hole technology and surface mount technology.
- Some PCB assemblers have a standard production time of five days or less, which is as much as 75% faster than the average industry average. It was the advent of machine-assembly that enabled shops to assemble any size orders of PCBs in a fraction of the time it would normally take for hand placement.