PCB manufacturing step-by-step
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Overview of a PCB board production
Overview of a PCB board productionIndustrial PCB board production is a complex and multi-layered process that requires a wide variety of processing steps. Mechanical, chemical and photosensitive proce...
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PCB Electrical Test
PCB Electrical TestAt the end of the PCB production process we use electrical test to check the interconnectivity of the PCB is correct against the original PCB board data.Using a flying probe tester ...
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Surface finishes - Electroless Gold over Nickel
Surface finishes - Electroless Gold over NickelThe copper component pads and holes have been left clear of soldermask. Now we apply a solderable surface finish to protect the copper until the componen...
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Plated gold edge connectors
Plated gold edge connectorsFor plated gold edge connectors we electroplate hard gold. First the operator puts protective tape on the board above the connectors.Then he mounts the panel on a horizonta...
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Silk-screen and Cure
Silk-screen and CureMost PCB boards have a component legend to show which component goes where this is known as Silkscreen or Legend.Today we use ink-jet printers to image the legends direct from the ...
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PCB Profiling - V-cut scoring
PCB Profiling - V-cut scoringThe final manufacturing stage is to profile the PCBs and cut them out of the production panel either by V-cut scoring or routing.PCB V-Scoring, also referred to V-Grooving...
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PCB final inspection
PCB final inspectionIn the last step of the process is Final inspection (quality control) and a team of sharp-eyed inspectors give each PCB a final careful check-over.Here an inspector checks a custom...
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Image the outer layers
Image the outer layersWe image the outer layers in a clean room to make sure that no dust gets onto the panel surface where it could cause a short or open circuit on the finished PCB.The panel is firs...
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Plating
Platingwe electroplate the boards with copper. The operator loads the panels onto the flight bars. He checks all the clamps to ensure a good electrical connection. The panels themselves act as cath...
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Etch outer layers
Etch outer layersWe have now plated the panel with 25 microns of copper through the hole and an additional 25 – 30 microns on the tracks and pads. The copper is covered with a thin layer of tin as an...
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Applying soldermask
Applying soldermaskApplying soldermask is one of the most important process in PCB board manufacturing.Most boards have a epoxy-ink soldermask printed onto each side to protect the copper surface and ...
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Front-end tool data preparation for PCB manufacturing
Front-end tool data preparation for PCB manufacturingDFM – From Gerber files to PCB production dataThe board designer has prepared his layout on a Computer Aided Design or CAD system. Each CAD system...
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Preparing the phototools-Phototools for PCB image transfer
Preparing the phototools-Phototools for PCB image transferFor example the laser photoplotters type,To use laser photoplotters in a temperature and humidity-controlled darkroom to make the films we wil...
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Print inner layers-Innerlayer imaging for multilayer PCB
Print inner layers-Innerlayer imaging for multilayer PCBTo produce the inner layers of our multilayer PCB, we start with a panel of laminate. Laminate is an epoxy resin and glass-fibre core with copp...
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Etch inner layers
Etch inner layersWe remove the unwanted copper using a powerful alkaline solution to dissolve (or etch away) the exposed copper from the inner layer.The process is carefully controlled to ensure that ...
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Register punch and AOI-Automatic Optical inspection
Register punch and AOI-Automatic Optical inspectionThe inner core of our multilayer is now complete. Next we punch the registration holes we will use to align the inner layers to the outer layers. T...
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PCB Multi-layer Fabrication – Lay-up and Bond
PCB Multi-layer Fabrication – Lay-up and BondThe outer layers of our multi-layer consist of sheets of glass cloth pre-impregnated with uncured epoxy resin (prepreg) and a thin copper foil.The lay-up o...
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Drilling the PCB board
Drilling the PCB boardX-ray drill of reference holesNow we drill the holes for leaded components and the via holes that link the copper layers together.First we use an X-ray drill to locate targets in...
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Black hole process in PCB production
Black hole process in PCB productionThe first step in the plating process is the black hole process, this deposits a thin layer of conductive carbon (nanometres) on the barrel of the holes (only those...
