As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), your success greatly depends on your products' functionality and durability. In this regard, the printed circuit boards (PCBs) you use are arguably the most important aspect. Serving as the heart of electronic components, PCBs have a wide range of applications, such as connecting various components via a series of related circuits.
So, you’ve made the choice to design a custom PCB for your design. Instead of buying off the shelf electronics.. but what’s next?
While there are many common printed circuit board defects, one of the most notorious is burnt components. It's also, unfortunately, one of the most damaging defects, as it can be difficult to repair and challenging to diagnose where the issue stemmed from.
As electronics have become increasingly embedded in our day-to-day, the manufacturing process for printed circuit boards (PCBs) has adapted. Electronics have become smaller and smaller, and the PCBs that go in those products have had to shrink to keep up. The demand for tiny PCBs has led to a drastic increase in the use of surface mount technology (SMT) -- which has taken over the traditional through-hole manufacturing process that dominated electronics into the 1980s.
When outsourcing electronics manufacturing, there’s more to consider than just price. Often, the best electronic contract manufacturers (ECMs) are the ones that have the necessary industry-specific certifications.
When printed circuit boards fail, you can face costly and potentially disastrous consequences. So how do you pick up the pieces afterward?
Understanding the common causes of PCB failure and the tools available to prevent future failures can minimize the stress and cost of dealing with dead PCBs.
When searching for a reliable electronics contract manufacturing (ECM), one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “What certifications do they have?”
While many ECMs are RoHS, MSHA, or IPC 6011 compliant, not all have Nadcap accreditation.
You’ve heard about the many great feats and discoveries in the aerospace industry. You’ve also heard about the tragedies that have happened when a design has gone wrong.
Prototyping isn’t reserved for high-tech vehicles or revolutionary consumer gadgets. It’s also a great practice for manufacturing printed circuit boards.
With the rise of IoT and technology in general, electronics are featured in myriad environments. This means that sensitive electronic connections are potentially exposed to hazards like extreme temperatures, moisture, and dust that can harm components and disrupt the integrity of the assembly itself.
Confused about REACH vs. RoHS compliance? You’re not alone. These two sets of electronics manufacturing guidelines were born from the European Union’s concern for human health and the environment.
It’s time for your organization to begin production of a new electronic device. For one reason or another, you’re in no position to take care of the work in-house. This means that you need to find a good partner to outsource the effort.
For many companies, the focus on printed circuit board (PCB) production is on-time-delivery and quality. However, just as important to a product’s success and longevity is PCB testing.
The two most acknowledged forms of effective testing are in-circuit testing (ICT) and flying probe testing. Both are effective at finding lapses in production quality, but the flying probe test is proving to be an especially cost-effective method to improve board standards.
Cable jackets serve as the first line of defense for wires and cables – which makes choosing the right jacketing material essential. So, you might be asking, what’s the best material for cable jackets?
You buy your electronic components, your machines are up and running, customers are happy, your workers are happy -- everything is good. Invoice paid, accounts receivable piling up. Paradise.
Let’s face it, soldering is difficult. It takes years of training to get good at the right kinds of solders, and even machines don’t always get it 100% right. It’s inevitable that you’ll run into PCB soldering defects at one point or another.
Plastic waste may snag all of the headlines, but it's not the only type of waste overwhelming landfills and contaminating soil and water.
It seems simple enough. If you’re a manufacturer who uses electronic components to build your products for American or international markets, you need RoHS 3 compliance. The U.S., China, and other countries have established electronics manufacturing standards on dangerous materials, closely styled after the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances.
In 2006, the European Union rolled out a directive restricting the use of certain hazardous chemicals. This directive, Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), would have a far-reaching impact on the electronics industry. Its restrictions on using lead would send manufacturers scrambling to revise their practices or adopt entirely new ones. Thanks to a follow-up directive in 2011, manufacturers now hustle to meet RoHS 2 compliance.
Yes, it’s not a punitive law full of fines and penalties. But if you’re a U.S. company, noncompliance is basically an impassable barrier to entry to the EU trade market. So if you want to do business abroad, don’t mess around -- comply.
In the strict world of printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication and manufacturing, one key factor in the OEM’s success is paying close attention to industry standards. The guiding light for PCB manufacturing is IPC 6011.
When you’re looking for a PCB engineering services provider, there are, of course, multiple things to consider. “Will they be able to meet my specific needs?” is likely your first and foremost concern.
Electronics manufacture and testing are like squabbling siblings. PCB testing is a necessary expense that, when done correctly, prevents much larger and more embarrassing damage control when your product goes to market.
Electronic devices are the sum of their parts, including the box in which you house them.
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