New Strategies for Accelerating PCB Assembly

by PRC Agency PR

Without printed circuit boards (PCBs), the electronic devices that control, monitor, and regulate our daily lives in various environments would not exist. But, this miniaturization of electrical circuits has its challenges when it comes to the manufacturing and assembly of PCBs. Manufacturers must follow industry best practices to ensure these critical components do not fail, even as they speed up the PCB assembly process to meet ever-higher consumer demands.

There exists a close working relationship between PCB designers and manufacturers. Clear communication is one of the most critical drivers for a successful PCB prototyping stage. During this phase, design flaws can be identified, and best manufacturing practices are determined to fit the final product’s schedule, costs, and quality.

This partnership allows all stakeholders to work together as a team to create the desired PCB seamlessly. Read on for tips on creating a great relationship with your PCB maker.

Now, let’s dive into some tips for a successful PCB assembly!

PCB ASSEMBLY TIP 1: PLAN YOUR PCB PROJECT EARLY

Optimizing PCB assembly requires careful planning, including a clear description of requirements such as the following:

Bill of materials (BOM)
Gerber files
Pick and place the file
PCBA testing file

Additional information is often needed for the final PCB manufacture, including assembly drawings, 3D drawings, and schematics.

Manufacturers can prepare the fabrication and assembly phases more quickly with detailed documentation and PCB specifications and purchase the needed materials. It also allows them to improve the entire PCB design and assembly process while partnering with other key service providers, like PCB design software creator Altium Designer, which can help you get started with this process.

Maintaining clear lines of communication with your manufacturer helps ensure that your PCBs are only made with considering your needs. Choosing a manufacturer that matches your communication style and frequency helps ensure a smoother process.

Clear communications are especially important when the printed circuit board design is highly customized and features non-standard specifications. Experienced partners who follow best practices in PCB prototyping should also be able to offer important tips for PCB assembly, such as the latest techniques and best choice of materials. These benefits help minimize duplicate effort, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

PCB ASSEMBLY TIP 2: DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURABILITY (DFM)

DFM is a general engineering practice for designing products to make them easy to manufacture. This process allows for easier detection of potential problems in the design phase, which is less expensive than discovering problems during manufacture. Edge clearance, acid traps, layout complexity, and solder masks between pads determine a PCB’s manufacturability.

While DFM is a common practice in virtually all engineering disciplines, the ways it is implemented can vary. For example, each PCB manufacturer uses its guidelines and procedures to address possible production problems during the design phase.

These include consideration of the manufacturers’ capacity and capabilities, along with industry-wide best practices that are continually evolving. The trend towards greater automation in PCB assembly means design and manufacturing processes are generally becoming less costly. For example, using robotics for component placement and soldering of surface-mount technology (SMT) can significantly reduce the cost of PCB manufacturing.

DFM guidelines should include measures to avoid delays. This problem often occurs when you need additional interactions with the assembler to ensure the PCB’s manufacturability. The best approach is to work with the manufacturer early in the PCB prototyping phase so the PCBs are DFM-compliant from the beginning. Understanding the manufacturer’s DFM requirements is particularly important, allowing you to optimize the PCB design for efficient assembly.

Common factors to consider are circuit routing, panalization, and component placement. Minimize the use of comple