It’s interesting to note that in 1995, the printed circuit board (PCB) industry became a $7.1 billion industry. In 2000, this increased to $10 billion, and by 2012, the PCB industry was worth $60 billion on a worldwide basis. More recently, in 2014, the combined revenue for circuit board and electronic component manufacturing was about $44 billion in the United States alone.
Technological Advancements Within the PCB Manufacturing Industry
Technological advancements have played a significant role in the success of this industry. Since machine assembly is available for any size of orders, PCBs can be assembled by machine shops in considerably less time than by hand. Some PCB assemblers, for example, can provide circuit board assembly services in 5 days or less. This is 75% quicker than the overall industry’s average.
Approximately 50,000 or more parts can be completed within an hour with a solder paste applier, high-speed chip shooter, pick-and-place machine, and infrared over placed in a conveyer configuration. Furthermore, a single automatic line has the capacity to place and solder more components than 50 hand solderers. These automatic lines are also able to create a better product that has consistent quality.
The Importance of Maintaining Temperature Control
When soldering PCBs, the temperature curve is vital. Before the temperature reaches 160 degrees Celsius, the rising rate needs to be controlled at 1 degree Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius per second. Since temperature is so critical, if it rises too fast, the components and PCB may receive too much heat. This can potentially destroy the components and cause the PCB to become deformed.
Printing Issues
Other types of problems may arise from the printing technique. These account for 70% of the overall surface quality issues. It’s important to note that this doesn’t pertain to the PCB design, component quality, or printed board quality.
PCB Assembly Services
When a company needs to have fast PCB assembly services, whether it’s for a prototype, a small, or a larger batch, using the same shop to handle all facets of the project makes sense. In addition to ensuring more quality control, this can also streamline the overall process and save time. More can be found here. References.