A printed circuit board technically known as PCB is an essential yet hidden part of most electronic products. I called it hidden because I have never seen ‘a green colored board having wires connected through small fuses making it complicated to understand which wire is going where’ is placed beside my TV and acts as its heart. In fact, it is properly fitted inside almost everything which runs on electricity such as TV, radio, computer even the storage pen drives we use have the tiny form of PCBs and yes they are the heart of electric devices and gadgets.
A PCB is made of a material that is non-conductive with having conductive lines engraved on it by following etching or printing method. Essential electronic components such as batteries, resisters and transistors are mounted on the board on the conductive lines to get connected with each other which in result forms a working circuit board. A majority of such boards are processed in Honk Kong using the best board process technology to make best quality PCBs.
The process of making a fine PCB consists of different stages but before that let’s discuss the required tools and things used during processing which are as follows.
• All essential electronic components such as batteries, wires, Capacitators, indictors, LEDs, switches etc.
• All soldering materials such as solder paste, solder wire, solder performs, solder bar and of course a solder.
• Soldering equipments like wave soldering machine, soldering station, SMT equipment and testing equipment.
Once all the required tools and components are ready, the assembly process starts and the stages are as follows.
The initial stage is forming a layout of desired circuit board which requires software specifically a circuit board layout editor. Editors use it to draw a virtual circuit board on computers along with drawing the traces and spots of components. The software allows unlimited changes until an editing professional makes the final layout as required.
Etching lines: A CAD PCB software program is used to design a mask print and printed with photo plotter machine. Now, with chemical etching extra copper wires are removed and it gives a basic circuit board ready to get developed.
Holes by drilling: The task of drilling is usually performed by an automated drilling machine controlled by computer. Every layer of a board requires getting small holes to connect the components. The drilling process is called as ‘VIAS’.
Board plating: Copper is the most common soldering wire and is not easily soldered on the board hence it requires a plate of any material that is solder-able to be coated on the surface. Previously, lead based tin was used for plating purpose but now nickel and gold are used as they are lead-free materials and makes a PCB safe.
Inspection: Flying probe tester, nails tester and some other computer-controlled testing equipments are used to test a circuit board before assembling the components and mounting the on the board.
The process is highly delicate and requires complete careful attention. It is important to follow ethical rules from the first stage till testing as any tiny mistake can send a circuit board in trash.
