The process of mounting electronic components onto a printed circuit board. This can be done manually with a soldering iron, or automatically using a "Pick and Place" machine.
-2
votes
0answers
56 views
PCB Assembly Services [closed]
Ive been running my own PCB Assembly firm in the UK for a little while, and dealing with mainly hobbyists or inventors and so they dont tend to be to big in batch amount but also not a always a ...
1
vote
4answers
151 views
How do I solder this USB Connector?
I bought this micro usb part: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/10118192-0001LF/609-4613-1-ND/2785378
I need to solder it to a PCB that I designed, but I'm having a ton of trouble figuring out ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Eagle configure autorouter to solder components (except vias) only on bottom layer of double sided PCB
In double sided PCBs it is difficult to solder through hole components like IC bases, headers, etc. in the top layer. Normally the Eagle autorouter places the solder pads on both sides. That is, in a ...
7
votes
3answers
300 views
Circuit works on breadboard but not PCB
I have a fairly simple circuit that works perfectly on the breadboard, but I am having a lot of trouble transferring it to a PCB. I am seeing very strange behavior which lies outside of my current ...
3
votes
2answers
137 views
OK to connect ring terminals directly to a PCB?
I am designing a PCB board and was wondering if there is a reason not to use ring terminals directly to a PCB. The PCB could have a pad surrounding a hole like I often see as ground connections. A ...
11
votes
2answers
172 views
Low volume PCB assembly testing
I've ordered fabrication and assembly of small PCB batches (~100) a couple of times already. Each time, the assembly factory asked me if I wanted to do testing on the boards. Since I'm not a ...
-2
votes
4answers
179 views
Software to design a 2-sided PCB with discrete components [duplicate]
I'm quite new to PCB Fabrication. I have a circuit with discrete components on a breadboard. I would like to fabricate this circuit into a 2-sided PCB containing discrete components. Something like ...
4
votes
1answer
170 views
Heat Sink for SOT223
I am designing PCB a in which I am placing a BSP296 N-channel MOSFET, for switching solenoids:
MOSFET supply voltage is 24V
MOSFET max power dissipation is 1.8W
Max operating temperature is 150°C.
...
8
votes
4answers
474 views
Is wire wrapping still used nowadays?
I know that wire wrapping was used in critical applications where reliability was a major concern because it is more reliable than PCB based assemblies. But is it still true?
The AGC (Apollo Guidance ...
11
votes
1answer
260 views
Solder Mask Color Code
Is there standard that recommend guidance of particular colors of solder mask?
A while back I was told by a local assembler that BLUE typically indicates the circuit is ROHS compliant. Yet my Google ...
1
vote
5answers
208 views
PCB Prototyping and Fabrication
I have been working on a project for the past four months. Most of my development have been on breadboards and prototyping boards. I am now in the stage where I want to get a PCB printed and ...
1
vote
5answers
250 views
How do I dead bug solder this SOT-23 to my PCB?
I swapped the base and emitter of my NPN transistor land pattern. If I flip over the part, the pins are in the correct orientation, although there is a 1mm between the pins and the pads. When I tried ...
5
votes
1answer
250 views
Soldering 0.5mm pitch ICs using stencil and reflow oven
I'm new to SMD soldering, and tried to assemble a couple of boards, using a reflow oven.
I 'm using a stencil (Kapton - mylar) and so far it worked fine except for the LQFP48 devices (pitch 0.5mm). In ...
7
votes
1answer
263 views
Designing Pick-and-Place-friendly CAD library parts
I'm working on a PCB design with surface mount components to be manufactured by a PCB assembly shop. I'm using CADSTAR, and I had to populate the library with some components, from scratch. I'm new to ...
11
votes
5answers
438 views
Conductive object to raise 6mm height off PCB
I am designing a PCB where I expect to have a certain part assembled at the edge of each board (blue in the picture below).
However, this part needs to be at connected/soldered at a height of about 6 ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
Tips for constructing small PCBs with only one SOIC
So I'm going to repackage this breakout module for simple SPI with a bus-powered LED light strip. It seems expensive and unnecessary for advanced SMT assembly equipment and since its a small PCB with ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Manage Software Installs of your Semi Mass Manufactured Product
After you get an assembly house to put together your product:
what are the typical approaches to install your software on every one those product? Is this something the assembly house typically do? ...
10
votes
2answers
845 views
How is this design for a basic PCB pick and place?
I have zero experience with any serious mechanical design, but out of necessity and curiosity, I'm attempting to build a pick and place machine (for my hobby projects as well as low-volume PCB ...
6
votes
2answers
252 views
Fast approaches for Soldering / PCB assembly
Our team (three hobbyists now developing our first serious device) is interested in soldering/assembling approximately 200 PCBs. We've already found a low-cost manufacturer for the raw boards, so just ...
9
votes
1answer
357 views
Is there an insulation compound for exposed leads on a PCB?
The top of the enclosure I am building is going to be the PCB. The PCB has a 7-segment LCD and the leads are somewhat exposed. Is there an insulation material I can brush on or squeeze on that will ...
8
votes
3answers
796 views
Feasibility of PCB edge plating?
How feasible is it to edge plate a PCB or at least a portion of one? I've seen it done but as I understand the outer edge is only cut after plating at most fab houses. Is this something that's ...
4
votes
3answers
713 views
Questions on mass-production soldering
Wave soldering
I am trying to understand how wave soldering works. Unfortunately the Wikipedia article has has left me unsure about the process:
Is the entire board with its components ...
4
votes
2answers
322 views
What equipment and tools can be used to fabricate an 8 layer PCB for a prototype that has a 584-BGA microcontroller
I am in the process of setting up a small design laboratory and one of our first projects include the use of a 584-BGA microcontroller. This means that we'd have to use an 8 layer design, something ...
4
votes
3answers
487 views
Which is easier to solder: TSSOP or QFN?
Which package easier to solder on home-brew PCBs:
TSSOP
QFN
I generally use solder paste and hot-air / hot-plate.
4
votes
1answer
655 views
Attaching a Type K thermocouple to a breadboard / prototype board
I'm looking to prototype a low-cost thermocouple interface board. It needs to output a voltage, as opposed to using SPI like several of the ICs I have looked at, since it would be fed into a 10-bit ...
2
votes
2answers
243 views
Questions About PCBs
I understand what they are but i have a few questions...
What are the multi layers on a pcb (i understand 1 and 2 is front back but what about 3, 4 ,5 etc.)
In ...
6
votes
5answers
334 views
How do we test reliability and quality so as to minimize the risk of board failure in the field?
We are developing a smart cable for a customer. The market potential is hundreds of thousands of units. The vendor who designs and supplies the boards (with firmware) that will be built into the ...
4
votes
2answers
167 views
What does “run a panel” mean in the context of PCB/PCBA fabrication?
A design engineer told me our PCB prototypes would be completed soon and then he would have his assembler "run a panel". Does anyone know what that means?
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Estimating Assembly Cost
I've got a project BOM costed out and I know my PCB costs. Without sending my project out for quote I'd like to be able to estimate the assembly cost by number of SMT components placed and the number ...
-4
votes
1answer
154 views
building thin devices, how to get started? [closed]
I want to build thin devices, just as thin as those ipod touches, how do I get started?
What courses, what machines, what books?
12
votes
4answers
395 views
What is the best way to short adjacent SMD pads?
Which of the three ways shown above would be the best way to short two adjacent SMD pads together, and why? These are TSSOP pads and the assembly process will be lead-free reflow, if that matters. ...
3
votes
2answers
233 views
Do Pick and Place machines check their work?
For example, if a Pick and Place machine accidentally drops a component, will it realize this and grab an identical replacement?
The only reason I can think of as to why it wouldn't do this is to ...
2
votes
1answer
286 views
How do PCB fabrication houses make PCBs?
I know the different ways of making PCBs at home, but I can't seem to find a lot of information on how board houses professionally make their PCBs. Is this how they do it?: ...
3
votes
2answers
200 views
Is this part hand-solderable, or will certainly require reflow soldering?
Here are the mech specs for the part (it is a GSM module) -
Note that all dimension are in "mm".
If hand-solderable do I need to keep some specific precautions in mind (from soldering ...
7
votes
2answers
514 views
Soldering heatsink pad on bottom of IC
I am attempting to make a board for the tlc5951 24-channel led driver to drive an 8x8 rgb led array. I have made what I think is a good eagle library for the sop-38 package, but I am not sure what to ...
3
votes
3answers
470 views
Component alignment, best practice?
I am going to put a part on a board and the position of this component needs to be perfect. I am talking about 1/10th of a mm accuracy. What is the best practice for this type of alignment issues, ...
2
votes
2answers
153 views
What does “Pins are on 0.17” centers" mean?
I'm looking at some switches (here) and the description reads:
Small PC mounting slide switch features SPDT contacts and white
positive action slide lever. Size about 0.56"L x 0.25"W x 0.34"H
...
4
votes
2answers
248 views
Is it advisable to use lead-free PCB and solder paste on a first SMD assembly job?
I am sending my first PCB design to Sunstone for manufacture and I need to decide whether to order the board finish lead-free. All of the components are lead-free, and I have not decided on solder ...
0
votes
1answer
503 views
Why can't I find cheap TQFP 44 sockets?
I am trying to find a reasonably priced socket for a TQFP44 microcontroller but I am having a very hard time.
The only I found so far is this one:
...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
extract components from SMD
I bought a cell phone in China (read chinese iphone), that despite the operational system is awful, when I opened to check the hardware and I found a not so bad hardware. I was able to extract ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Should I worry about the risk of tombstoning?
A colleague has (apparently unsuccessfully :-)) tried to convince me of the risk of tombstoning
in the following situation:
He claims pad 1 for R55 and R59 will lose heat faster during ...
1
vote
4answers
256 views
Preprogrammed IC
I'm curious about the PCB manufacturing, How are they manage the IC preprogramming?
For example
I had designed a PCB, I sent to the manufacturer company, do they preprogramming my microcontroller if ...
8
votes
2answers
174 views
Designing electronics systems with weight constraints
How would you go about designing a PCB with weight constraints? Suppose, the PCB has a weight constraint that say it must weight less than 140grams.
In searching for parts and components, I realized ...
17
votes
8answers
830 views
How do you attack a new board?
You get your PCB back from the manufacturer. It is a new design, you have of course bread-boarded all the major parts, but you know there are going to be problems. There are just too many things that ...
3
votes
4answers
530 views
very low stacking height PCB connector
I need to stack 2 PCBs together, but the stacking height is extremely critical. In terms of board-to-board connectors, the best I could come up with was SAMTEC GFZ series.
Can anyone recommend any ...
3
votes
4answers
600 views
what is an average CPH speed for hand SMD assembly?
What would be the average speed (an experienced) person would assemble surface mount components on to a PCB? Assuming they have desk that is correctly set up (pick and place station) and the PCB has ...
6
votes
5answers
604 views
PCB copper thickness with small pitch SMT components
I typically use 2 ounce copper as rule for all my PCBs. On a recent board I am using a 0.5mm pitch, relatively large micro, and noticed the pads aren't very flat. Assembly went fine with the protos, ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Best practices for production programming of data/NAND flash devices
A project has finally reached the point where prototypes are operational and ducks are lining up in rows for the first pre-production lot of boards. It uses a SOC device that boots its ARM core from ...
7
votes
5answers
361 views
Launching a new product as a student
I'm a student living in the UK.
I have this great idea for a product that fills a niche market and it interests me. It's a powerful on screen display module with datalogging capabilities, and it's ...
3
votes
1answer
647 views
Methods for batch populating PCBs without a pick and place
What are some good methods to populate moderate numbers of pcbs (20-100), without the aid of a pick and place machine?
