Why do you need the Help of PCB Manufacturers?

PCBs (Printer Circuit Boards) are needed to develop all kinds of electronic devices and it becomes the base for modern-day tools. You need to reach out to suitable PCB manufacturers so that the final product is a relevant one. It can also be referred to as the complex procedure to ensure the best performance of the final product. You need to reach out to a reputed PCB factor in China for getting the best prototypes that work for you.

PCBs are typically made of copper and depending on the needs the copper gets plated to the substrate and carved to expose the relevant design of the board. The PCB manufacturer needs to be aware of the product requirements and needs to work with the best designs. These boards are needed for the mechanical basis of the circuit and they’re designed in multiple ways across the platform. There are a couple of variations in the PCB manufacturing process, but the basis of development remains the same.

The PCB consists of four different parts as follows –

Substrate: It is the first and foremost part of the PCB and is prepared out of fiberglass. They provide the core strength to the structure and thus help to prevent any kind of breakage. The substrate can also be referred to as the skeleton of PCB.

Copper Layer: It is the second part of the PCB that is vital to develop top-rated PCBs for electronic equipment. Based on the kind of board, it can be a copper foil or a full-on copper coating. The need for copper is the same – it helps to carry the electrical signals to and from the PCB.

Solder Mask: The third piece of the PCB is the solder mask and can be said as the layer of polymer that helps to protect the copper. It prevents any kind of short-circuit from coming into contact with the environment. Solder mask is said to be working as the PCBs’ skin.

Silkscreen: The last part of the PCB or circuit board is the silkscreen. It is used as the component of show part numbers, symbols, and logos that become an important part of component reference & test point. It is also referred to as the legend or nomenclature.

It is important that the design of the PCB is placed before the start of manufacturing. For it, one needs to contact the PCB manufacturers with relevant experience in developing related products. The design process is completed with the use of technology and then the time comes to print the technology. All the processes are handled carefully by the PCB factory in China and you need to get in contact with a relevant one.

As the complexity of PCBs increases, it becomes impossible to provide the necessary connectivity using two sides of the PCB. You need a considerable degree of accuracy to manufacture the multi-layer printed circuit board and thus reach out to expert manufacturers for help.

How to Safely Store Printed Circuit Boards

 

A printed circuit board is an integral component of electronic devices and is used in plenty of devices in the electronic industry. That’s why companies that design electronic items essentially need the support of circuit board manufacturers to complete their production. If you also use PCBs in your manufacturing process, there is one thing that you must know about – how to safely store PCBs.

It’s common in electronics-based companies to get PCBs delivered days, weeks, or even months before they are used. So, you must handle and store each unit of PCB properly so that its functionality and quality don’t get compromised. In this guide, you will learn some tips for the safe storage of printed circuit boards.

How to Prepare Your PCB Storage Area

To store PCBs, you should designate a climate-controlled area that is free of contaminants and debris. It must be dry and super clean. So, make sure to wipe down the area with a clean cloth and get rid of all the dust. If necessary, sweep the area before wiping it.

A moisture-controlled area is important to prevent any defects and damages from occurring to PCBs. Otherwise, they might get damaged with shortages and corrosion. Besides, you should also take steps for any intrusion and electrostatic force in the storage area.

What to Take Care of While Storing PCBs

Just like for any electronics, moisture is the biggest enemy of printed circuit boards. Thus, you don’t want any moisture or contaminants to get in contact with your PCBs.

Keep your hands clean and wear gloves when handling circuit boards. When storing PCBs, pick up the circuit boards from edges and place each of them in an air-tight, vacuum-sealed bag. Don’t put excessive pressure on the boards while storing them.

Once PCBs are placed in a vacuum-sealed bag, store them in an area that is free of static charges and any liquids. The outer package might indicate the normal moisture level for printed circuit boards; however, if your place happens to have too much moisture, you may need to dehumidify the place or bake the place at a precise temperature.

What to Know About Long-Term Storage of PCB?

When it comes to long-term storage, you must have dry shield bags for storing PCBs. Each packet should contain desiccant, a moisture barrier bag, a humidity indicator card, and a moisture-sensitive label. Apart from convenient shelf storage space, printed circuit boards can be stored in air-tight dry cabinets. Dry cabinets are available specifically for the storage of moisture-sensitive items, such as printed circuit boards.

One more thing that you should know about is that you should leave printed circuit boards in their original packaging as a precaution until you need them. It will help you avoid any unnecessary mechanical damage.

By now, you have learned essential steps that you must follow while storing printed circuit boards to prevent their quality and functionality from altering. So, keep them in mind and follow them whenever you need to store PCBs for the short or long term.

PCB Manufacturing is Expensive. Know How to Reduce the Cost!!

 

If you are dealing in electrical equipment and need PCBs for the same, then you should be worried about the cost. You should know how to reduce the cost of PCB manufacturing to keep the overall cost of the electrical equipment within a range. Or else, the cost of production will be significantly higher.

 

But, you shouldn’t skimp on quality for the price. No matter what the condition, you shouldn’t bargain the PCB manufacturing cost keeping the quality on the bay. The manufacturing cost depends on many factors so you should consider them all and while designing the PCB and reduce the cost.

 

In this post, we will discuss the tips to reduce your PCB manufacturing cost.

 

Size of the printed circuit board 

The size of the PCB impacts the cost of production. We know a bigger circuit board is easier to route, but it is costlier to produce. Sometimes, smaller PCBs are also costlier because you need extra layers on them. The manufacturers have to use more precise equipment to manufacture and assemble your boards. It means you should consider the size of the printed circuit board to control the cost.

Choose higher-quality materials 

Good quality materials for PCB manufacturing may increase your upfront initial cost but it will guarantee a more reliable end product. So you shouldn’t compromise on the material quality and try saving money on manufacturing. If you choose cheaper quality products, your product might suffer failures. Also, you might have to return it to the manufacturer and get it fixed.

 

 Prefer standard circuit board shapes 

Your electronic items might demand printed circuit boards of different shapes. But, it’s always good to use the standard shapes because they are easy to manufacture and cost-effective. The manufacturer won’t have to specifically cater to your needs and give more attention to the details. These specifications increase the effort as well as cost. The conventional shapes of the standard circuit board are rectangle and square.

 

Follow industry standard sizes and components

Like every industry, there are standard sizes and components defined for the electronic industry. Following standard sizes and components make things simpler and more efficient. Also, the manufacturer doesn’t have to use many resources like for bespoke specifications.  

 

Provide longer lead times 

If you require a faster turn-around time, there will be additional costs for manufacturing and assembling the circuit boards. The manufacturer will use extra resources to speed up your turn-around time, which will increase your manufacturing cost. So, you should provide a longer lead time to your manufacturer for cost-effective results.

 

Other than these 5 cost-saving tips, you should opt for a PCB prototype. You will get the sample product before the bulk production. With the PCB prototype, you will have time to identify the issues and resolve them so that nothing goes wrong in the final production. It will protect your resources and unnecessary production of wrong products. So, you should work with a cheap PCB prototype manufacturer for the same.