When it comes to manufacturing a product, you can either let your vendors and suppliers take advantage of you, or you can take control of the situation. I realized a few years ago that our vendors were going to continually charge us more and more unless I put a stop to it. We boycotted using them for a few months, and their tune changed, which was a welcome relief. This blog is all about taking charge of your company's manufacturing processes, making them better, improving your profits, and avoiding problems along the way; it might make a bigger difference than you think.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be found in many of the consumer items you purchase each day.
A PCB provides the electrical connection to the electrical components of a circuit. These boards are typically green in color.
Modern PCBs feature four unique parts that work together to help regulate the flow of electricity through an electrical device.
1. Substrate
The first part of a PCB is the substrate. This component can be likened to the skeleton of the PCB since it is the substrate that helps provide the shape and form of a PCB.
Substrates are typically made from fiberglass. Fiberglass is used because this durable material is resistant to breakage and can provide core stability to the PCB.
2. Copper Layer
Copper is a very conductive metal. You will often find copper in electrical components, and a PCB is no different. A PCB can contain either a copper foil or a full-on copper coating, depending on the intended use of the PCB once manufacturing is complete.
The copper layer is like the nervous system because it transmits electricity between the PCB and the electrical device in which the PCB is installed.
3. Solder Mask
Although copper is highly conductive, it isn't the most durable metal. The copper layer needs to be protected against the outside environment in order to ensure the integrity of the PCB. This protection is provided by the third part of the PCB- the solder mask.
The solder mask is essentially a layer of polymer that acts as the skin of the PCB. A solder mask that is created properly during manufacturing can prevent a PCB from short-circuiting.
4. Silkscreen
The silkscreen, also referred to as the legend or nomenclature, is the part of a PCB that is meant to be used by humans.
The silkscreen layer appears on the component side of the PCB. Each silkscreen layer contains test points, component ratings, logos, and serial numbers that are applicable to the unique components installed on a PCB. If a PCB ever needs to be upgraded or repaired, the silkscreen will help to identify the correct replacement components.
Electrical devices play a major role in the day-to-day lives of consumers. Without function PCBs, many of your electronic devices wouldn't work properly.
The manufacturers responsible for creating PCBs must ensure that each unit is equipped with the four major parts that make up a reliable PCB to guarantee the performance of the PCB over time.
For more information, reach out to a company such as Advanced Circuits.
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