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What is box build assembly service?

Electronic production involves many parts and components, and we need to coordinate with suppliers to coordinate the materials needed one by one. When we carry out mass production, some manufacturers can help you complete the assembly task more efficiently. The box build assembly service is a good way.

The box build assembly service is not suitable for all electronic products. Fortunately, you have a choice. Electronic box manufacturing is a fairly new development in the electronic manufacturing industry. For complete system integration, box construction may be the right choice for your next project.

What Is Box Build Assembly?

Box build assembly refers to the process of assembling, integrating, and testing various electronic components and modules into a fully functional product inside an enclosure or “box”. It involves taking printed circuit boards loaded with components (known as PCB assemblies), interconnecting them with wiring harnesses, and adding in power supplies, connectors, electromechanical parts like switches and sensors, and other hardware. All these pieces get assembled and mounted into frames or enclosures made of metal or heavy-duty plastics that can withstand demanding physical environments.

The end result of the box build process is a completely assembled electronic product unit that is ready for integration into the final application, such as medical devices, industrial control systems, telecom equipment, and many other electronic products we use daily. Box build assembly requires collaboration between design engineers, sourcing specialists, and manufacturing technicians to take a product from initial concept through prototyping, testing, pilot runs, and final mass production.

What Are Some Common PCB And Box Build Assembly Applications?

Image Of Box Build Assembly In ProductionEverything from your cell phone to your computer monitor requires printed circuit board assembly. Common examples of box build assembly applications include the following.

Box Builds As Panels
Control panels are integral to the manufacturing industry and drive the operation of heavy machinery. In addition to circuit boards, a control panel may contain switches, transformers, motor drives, contractors, breakers, and other electrical components that keep the machinery running safely and reliably. NAI can manufacture whatever control panel your business requires.

Use Box Builds For Integrated Circuits
ICs are used in virtually everything, from computers to cell phones to home appliances. An integrated circuit (or IC) is the fundamental building block of all modern electronic devices.

An IC is an integrated system of numerous miniaturized and interconnected components embedded into a thin substrate of semiconductor material. ICs allow for faster speeds and greater capacity all while evolving into smaller and smaller sizes. View our full electro-mechanical design capabilities to see how NAI can assist in your next project.

Choose Your Box Build Assembly Cable Assemblies
You can find cables in industries ranging from utilities, manufacturing, technology, and more. By working with LST, a custom cable assembly manufacturer, they can help you choose the best cable type, connector options, terminal blocks, insulation materials, and more. We offer product options for copper, fiber optic, and hybrid cable assemblies.

The Box Build Process

The box build process can vary as much as the design calls for. It is specific to each project. However, it typically includes the installation of sub-assemblies and other components, routing of cabling or wire harnesses, and fabrication of enclosures. It is all the assembly work involved in an electromechanical system complete with moving parts and sub-assemblies.

The most common box build assembly process also includes configuration and testing, as well as warehousing and shipping. You provide the drawings or the device for your CM to reverse engineer, and they do the rest. This is why it is imperative to choose the right electronic manufacturer.

Benefits of Using box build assembly service

Using a box build assembly approach offers several benefits, especially when compared to assembling products using separate components or in-house manufacturing. The key benefits include:

Simplified Supply Chain Management

One big advantage of box build assembly is streamlining your supply chain. Instead of managing a bunch of different vendors sending you individual components and subassemblies, you’re sourcing a complete, ready-to-go product from just one supplier.

Save Time and Money

Outsourcing box build assembly streamlines production and reduces costs. Instead of handling multiple vendors, assembly, testing, and quality control processes separately, you streamline these activities by relying on a single provider.

Expertise and Specialization

Rather than trying to master the many intricate assembly and test processes yourself, you can lean on the assembler’s seasoned knowledge. Take advantage of the skills they’ve perfected over years of box build production. Their engineering teams have tons of experience to ensure a high-quality end product.

Ensure Quality

Reputable box build assembly providers maintain strict quality control. This can result in a higher-quality final product since the provider focuses on consistent assembly and thorough testing.

Scalability

A great advantage of using a box build assembler is their flexibility to scale production up and down. For both small prototype batches or massive production runs, reputable assemblers have the capabilities to manufacture any number you need. With extensive facilities, advanced equipment, and skilled staff, they can handle any quantity of box build assembly. They can easily adapt to produce exactly the volume you need when you need.

If you are looking for a box assembly manufacturer, LST is a very good choice. We have more than 10 years of experience in electronic manufacturing. We have a very professional technical team that can quickly and efficiently start your box building manufacturing business. Contact us and get the offer for free.

Design analysis of PCB power supply system

Today, it is difficult to successfully design high-speed electronic systems without a thorough understanding of the power supply system characteristics of the chip, package structure and PCB. In fact, in order to meet the requirements of lower supply voltages, faster signal flip-flops, higher integration, and many more challenging requirements, many companies at the forefront of electronic design have invested a lot of money, manpower, and resources in the analysis of power supply systems to ensure the integrity of power supplies and signals during the product design process.

Power supply system (PDS) analysis and design is becoming increasingly important in the field of high-speed circuit design, especially in the computer, semiconductor, communications, networking and consumer electronics industries. With the inevitable further isotropic shrinkage of ultra-large-scale integrated circuit technology, the supply voltage of integrated circuits will continue to decrease. As more and more manufacturers move from 130nm technology to 90nm technology, it is expected that the supply voltage will drop to 1.2V or even lower, while at the same time the current will increase significantly. From DC IR voltage drop to AC dynamic voltage fluctuation control, this development trend poses a great challenge to the design of power supply systems as the allowable noise range becomes smaller and smaller.

The design of PCB power supply system mainly involves the following aspects:

➤ Circuit design: according to the needs of the equipment, design a reasonable power supply circuit. This requires consideration of factors such as circuit stability, efficiency, safety and cost.

➤ Component selection: According to the circuit design, select appropriate components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc. to meet the performance and cost requirements.

➤ Wiring Arrangement: Determine the layout and alignment of components on the circuit board to reduce the internal resistance of the power supply, avoid electromagnetic interference, and improve the reliability of the system.

➤ Heat dissipation design: Considering that the power supply generates heat during operation, it is necessary to design a reasonable heat dissipation scheme to ensure the stability and reliability of the power supply system.

Technical Challenges

In the design of PCB power supply system, the following technical challenges may be encountered:

▲ Circuit stability: The stability of the power supply circuit directly affects the performance of the entire device. Unstable or fluctuating power supply circuits may cause the device to malfunction or not work properly.

▲Component durability: Components in the power supply system may wear out or fail during operation. How to improve the durability and reliability of components is an important issue to be addressed in the design of the power supply system.

▲System anti-interference ability: power supply system in the working process, may be subject to electromagnetic interference from the outside world, how to improve the anti-interference ability of the system in the power supply design, is also an important technical challenge.

Solutions

In response to the above technical challenges, the following are some possible solutions:

〓 Circuit Design Optimisation: Adopt reasonable circuit topology and component layout to improve the stability and efficiency of the power system. For example, power supply circuits that require high stability, mature and stable power supply topologies such as LDOs (Low Noise Linear Regulators) or switching power supplies can be used.

〓 Component Quality Assurance: Select components with reliable and durable quality, and consider factors such as component tolerance and thermal characteristics in the design process. For example, grade X and Y resistors and capacitors are selected to meet the needs of high temperature, high humidity and harsh environments.

〓 wiring arrangement is reasonable: in the circuit board layout and alignment design, the power supply internal resistance and electromagnetic interference should be fully considered. For example, the main power line and ground line should be thickened to reduce internal resistance; at the same time, a reasonable signal line layout and filtering design should be adopted to reduce electromagnetic interference.

〓 heat dissipation design: according to the actual working condition, choose the appropriate heat dissipation scheme. For example, for power modules with large power, active heat dissipation methods such as heat sinks or fans can be used; for power chips with small power, natural heat dissipation can be used.

Conclusion

PCB power supply system design is an important part of electronic equipment. In the actual design, we must give full consideration to technical challenges such as circuit stability, component durability and system anti-interference ability, and improve the performance and reliability of the power supply system by optimizing circuit design, ensuring component quality, and rationally arranging wiring and heat dissipation design. In the future electronic equipment, with the continuous progress of technology and the continuous expansion of application scenarios, the design of PCB power supply systems will face more new challenges. Therefore, we need to constantly update our design concepts and methods to adapt to changing market demand and technology trends.

Cost and Price of Flexible PCBs

Flexible PCB, also known as FPC, is a flexible PCB made of polyimide or polyester film as a substrate. It has the characteristics of flexibility, light weight, compactness, folding and bending, three-dimensional wiring , etc., relative to the traditional PCB hardboard, with higher production efficiency, wiring density and light weight, thin thickness and other advantages.

Flexible PCB in the electronics industry intelligent, portable, thin and light trend is widely used in flexible displays, wearable devices, smart phones and other fields, but also in recent years PCB industry segments in the fastest growing category. The main raw materials in the upper reaches of the industry chain include Flexible Copper Clad Laminate (FCCL), covering film, components, shielding film, adhesive paper, steel, plating additives, dry film and other eight categories, of which FCCL sheet film is commonly found in polyimide film (PI), polyester (PET), polyethylene glycol naphthalene dicarboxylate (PEN), LCD high polymer (LCP), and other polymer materials such as plastic film. The midstream is FPC manufacturing, and the downstream is for various applications, including display/touch modules, fingerprint identification modules, camera modules, etc. The final applications include consumer electronics, communications equipment, automotive electronics, industrial control medical, aerospace and other fields.

What are the components of a flexible PCB?

Flexible PCB is mainly composed of the following parts:

    1. Flexible substrate: The substrate of a flexible PCB is usually made of polyimide film or other polymer materials, which are flexible and flexibile.
    2. conductive layer: flexible PCB usually contains one or more conductive layer, these conductive layer made of copper or other metals, used to transmit signals and electricity.
    3. Insulation: Insulation is used to isolate the conductive layers to prevent short circuits and electromagnetic interference. The insulating layer can be made of polyimide, polyester or other polymer materials.
    4. Protective Layer: A protective layer can be added to the surface of the flexible PCB to prevent environmental factors (such as moisture, dust, contaminants, etc.) on the circuit board.
    5. Connectors: Flexible PCBs usually contain connectors to make connections with other circuit boards or components.
Together, these components make up the flexible PCB, allowing it to conform to a variety of curved and twisted shapes while maintaining reliable electrical performance

Factors affecting the price of flexible PCBs include the following:

1. Substrate and material: The substrate and material of flexible PCB have a significant impact on its price. For example, the use of high quality FR-4 materials is more expensive than the use of low quality materials, and special materials (such as PTFE) will also affect the price.

2. Number of layers: The number of layers of a flexible PCB is also one of the factors that affects the price. Fewer layers are usually less expensive than more layers.

3. Line width and spacing: Flexible PCB line width and spacing will also affect the price. Narrower lines and spacing require higher manufacturing precision and technology, so the price is higher.

4. Production quantities: The price of flexible PCBs usually increases as the number of flexible PCBs decreases, and mass-produced flexible PCBs are usually cheaper than small quantities of flexible PCBs.

5. Delivery time: The delivery time of the flexible PCB is also a factor in the price. If a flexible PCB needs to be delivered quickly, the manufacturer may need to work overtime or use more expensive manufacturing methods, so the cost will be higher.

6. Design complexity: The design complexity of flexible PCB is also one of the factors affecting the price. Complex designs require higher technology and more manufacturing steps, and therefore cost more.

7. Copper trace width and size

Copper trace width is another key factor in the cost of flexible PCBs. Since copper traces play a vital role in signal transmission and current conduction, proper space is needed to improve flex design and reduce flex PCB costs. If the alignment is too tight, the cost of the flexible PCB will be high and difficult to design; therefore, the copper alignment should be kept at a proper distance from each other to improve the cost and reliability of the flexible PCB.

8. Copper trace thickness

The thicker the copper traces, the higher the cost of flexible PCBs. Since the inner layer of the flexible PCB requires a thicker copper layer, more prepreg is needed to complete the lamination, which increases the cost of the flexible PCB. To control the cost of flexible PCBs, use thin copper alignment. You’d better use a half ounce. Copper trace on the inner layer and 1 oz. on the outer trace.

How to Reduce the Cost of Flexible PCBs

To reduce the cost of flexible PCBs, you can consider the following aspects:

1. Optimize design: Optimizing PCB design can reduce costs. For example, reduce the number of components, reduce the number of layers, reduce the width and spacing of the line. In addition, considering PCB maintainability and repairability is also an important aspect of optimization.

2. Choosing the right material can reduce the cost of flexible PCBs. For example, choose cost-effective substrate and wire materials, as well as insulation materials that meet your needs.

3. Reduce waste in the manufacturing process: When manufacturing flexible PCBs, waste should be minimized as much as possible. For example, optimize the cutting and splicing process, reduce the generation of defective products, and improve material utilization.

4. Consider mass production: Mass production of flexible PCBs can reduce costs. Because mass production can achieve economies of scale, improve production efficiency, while reducing material waste.

5. Choose a reputable manufacturer: choosing a reputable manufacturer can ensure the quality of flexible PCB and after-sales service, but also can reduce costs. Because manufacturers can improve manufacturing efficiency and optimize the production process to reduce costs.

6. Consider transportation and delivery time: transportation and delivery time are also factors that affect the cost of flexible PCBs. Choosing fast, reliable transportation can reduce delivery time and transportation costs. At the same time, minimizing inventory can reduce inventory costs.

Flexible PCB is very commonly used in smart electronic devices and wearable devices, in which the advantages of flexible PCB are fully utilized, such as flexible, thin, light, compact, high reliability, high stability , etc., which provide important support for the development of electronic products.

If you are looking for Flexible PCB, then you can contact us. Our company specializes in the production and processing of flexible PCB, more than 10 years of experience in the industry, and provides flexible PCB assembly services for companies around the world.

The Benefits of PCB Copy Board

Circuit board copy board, that is, under the premise of having electronic products and circuit boards, reverse analysis technology is used to reverse analyze the circuit board, as well as PCB original product files and bill of materials (BOM)) documents, schematic files and other technical documents and PCB silkscreen production documents according to 1:1 recovery, and then these technical documents and production documents for PCB boards, circuit board soldering, flying probe test, circuit board debugging. The original circuit is finished. A complete copy of the circuit board template.

Purpose of PCB copying board

1. Through the analysis of existing product technical documents, in terms of design ideas, structural features, process technology, etc.. It can provide feasibility study and competitive reference for its own new product development and improve competitiveness.

2. Through the extraction and modification of technical data files, it can update and further develop various electronic products. According to the document diagram and schematic diagram, PCB can also be optimized according to customer requirements, and a more balanced solution can be found directly between demand and cost.

3. You can quickly add new functions and upgrades on the original basis, improve the competitiveness of the product and further gain an advantage in the market.

What are the benefits of PCB copy boards?

1. Accelerate product development and time-to-market: The traditional product development process requires design and manufacturing from scratch, while PCB copyboards greatly shorten the development cycle by copying and improving others’ designs, so that the product can be brought to market more quickly and seize the first opportunity.

2. Reduce R&D costs: PCB copying can avoid the high R&D costs of designing and manufacturing from scratch, while saving human, material and time resources. This fast and efficient method can greatly reduce R&D costs and improve the competitiveness of enterprises.

3. Simplify the production process: PCB copy can directly refer to existing PCB samples or design drawings, which reduces the research and development costs of the production process, reduces the error rate in production, and greatly improves the production efficiency and product quality.

4. Optimization of product performance: by copying and improving the original product, it can be combined with market demand and technological development, to further optimize product performance and functionality. Not only can we improve the characteristics of the product in terms of hardware, but we can also optimize the software to enhance the overall user experience.

5. Market Opportunity: In a competitive market environment, PCB copy can help companies quickly launch similar or better products to seize the first opportunity in the market. By analyzing and copying competitors’ products, we can better understand market demand and trends, and promote product innovation and progress.

PCB copy board application fields

PCB copy board technology is widely used in various industries. For example, consumer electronics, communication equipment, automotive electronics, medical equipment and other industries can realize the rapid development and production of products through PCB copy board. Especially in some high-tech products, the application of PCB copy board is more common, such as artificial intelligence devices, drones, robots and so on. It can be said that PCB copy board has become an indispensable technical means in the modern electronics industry.

Double-sided plate copying method

1. Scan the upper and lower layers of the board and save two BMP images. 2.

2. Open Quickpcb2005 board copying software, point “file” “open bottom picture”, open a scanned picture. Use PAGEUP to enlarge the screen, see the pads, according to PP to place a pad, see the line according to PT line… Like a child tracing the same, in this software tracing again, point “Save” to generate a B2P file.

3. Then point “File” to “Open the bottom of the map”, open another layer of scanning color map; 4. Then point “File” to “Open the bottom of the map”, open another layer of scanning color map.

4. And then click “File” “Open”, open the previously saved B2P file, we see just copied board, stacked on top of this picture – the same PCB board, holes in the same location, only the line connection is different. The same PCB board, holes in the same location, just different line connections. So we press “Options” – “Layer Settings”, where we turn off the display of the top layer of the line and the silkscreen, leaving only the multilayer vias.

5. The perforations on the top layer are in the same position as the perforations on the bottom layer. Now we trace the lines on the bottom layer as we did in childhood. Now we can trace the lines of the bottom layer as we did in childhood. Then click “Save” – the B2P file will have information about the top and bottom layers.

6. Point “File” “Export as PCB file”, you can get a PCB file with two layers of information. You can then change the board or schematic or directly to PCB board factory production.

Multilayer board copying method

1.scan the item layer board, save the picture, name it top.jpg .

2.Scan the bottom layer board, save the picture, name it bottom.jpg.

3.the middle layer 1 with coarse sandpaper grinding out, leaking copper skin, getting clean and scanned, named mid1jpg

4.The middle layer 2 with coarse sandpaper to grind out, leak copper skin, clean scan, named mid2.jpg.

5.In PHOTOSHOP at each picture level, will be the bottom of the map to do horizontal mirroring, and the top and bottom of the map in the same direction, the upper and lower holes in the same position; and then each picture will be saved as a BMP file, such as: top.bmp, bottom.bmp , etc.

6.Open the color copy board software, enter the main menu “file”, “open BMP file”, select the top.bmp file to open.

7.Set up a good DPI, you can copy the top layer of the map, the first layer selected to the top layer, and then start putting components, holes, wires and so on.

8.The top layer to put everything in, save the temporary file, named top-1.dpb.

9.Close the current picture window (only one picture at a time, do not open more than one picture).

10.Enter the main menu “File”, “Open BMP file”, select the bottom of the picture bottom.bmp, and then open the temporary file top-1.dpb, then you will find that the top layer of the picture and the bottom of the picture are not aligned with the background picture, press Ctrl A combination, the top layer of the picture and the bottom of the background picture is not aligned. Ctrl A combination of keys, put all the selected pictures, according to the keyboard cursor keys or numeric keys to move the whole, select a few reference points and the corresponding point of the aligned background map, then you can choose the current layer for the bottom, then go to the bottom of the line, pad, fill and so on. After copying the bottom layer, save the temporary file as bottom-1.dpb, or save the PCB file as bottom-1.pcb, this time the file is already a two-layer alignment, combined layer of the file.

11.The same intermediate layer of the board copying process is the same, repeating steps 9 to 10, the final output of the PCB file, is the same as the four-layer PCB board diagram.

How to build a prototype PCB?

Before a circuit board is mass produced, it is important to ensure that the entire product functions properly. This requires a complete product test before mass production. If you want to achieve this function, then you need to make a prototype PCB. Next, we introduce the PCB prototype information in detail.

What is a prototype PCB

PCB prototypes are models or samples of the appearance and function of the final PCB, and are mainly used in the experimental stage to prove the feasibility of the design and detect any potential problems. With PCB prototype assembly, manufacturers can get a snapshot of the entire process and eliminate errors before a full production run to ensure everything works as expected when it comes to mass production.

Why do I need to build a PCB prototype?

The main purpose of PCB prototyping is to verify the design idea and test the product function, mainly in the following aspects:

1. Design and functional testing: The prototype PCB board can help engineers in the development process identify defects as early as possible. The more accurate the design, the more ready the defect identification is to minimize the design cost, but also shorten the project time. Through the prototype, engineers can perform functional testing to assess whether the product’s function meets expectations.

2. Conditional testing: Many products need to be applied to special environments, so PCB products must be properly tested to ensure proper operation in the environment. For example, prototypes are usually subjected to temperature change tests, power change tests, impact resistance tests, etc. to ensure the reliability and stability of the product.

3. Accelerate overall production: Highly accurate PCB prototypes help minimize iterations and rework that can occur during the production phase. With prototypes, vendors can more easily communicate with customers so they understand key design elements. If the customer requires changes or modifications, the supplier can also make adjustments accordingly in the later stages of production to better meet customer needs.

PCB prototype production process

1. Planning and Design:First, create a circuit design layout using paper or computer-aided design software. Consider carefully component layout and alignment routing to minimize interference and crosstalk.

2. Component Sourcing:Gather all the components needed for the circuit. Double-check their values, ratings, and quantities to ensure accuracy.

3. PCB Preparation:After cleaning, check the PCB surface for any errors or signs of cracking. Smooth any rough edges with a small piece of paper or sandpaper. Place the components on the board and plan their positions accordingly.

4. Component Soldering: Solder the components one by one to the prototype board. Use a soldering iron to heat both the component leads and pads to promote proper solder flow and create a strong electrical connection.

5. Testing and troubleshooting: After selling all components, use a multimeter to test conductivity, verify voltage levels, and detect potential shortfalls. Double-check solder joints and component values to identify and resolve any problems.

How to Choose a Prototype PCB Fabricator

The following factors can be considered when choosing a prototype PCB fabricator:

1. Manufacturer qualification and certification: Choose a manufacturer with relevant qualifications and certifications, such as ISO 9001 quality management certification, UL certification, etc., to ensure product quality and compliance with relevant standards.

2. Production capacity: Consider the production capacity of the manufacturer, including the number of production lines, the modernization of equipment, and the skill level of employees, etc., to ensure that the production tasks can be completed within a limited period of time and delivered on time.

3. Experience and reputation: Choose a manufacturer with rich experience and a good reputation, which can be understood by checking the manufacturer’s order history and customer evaluations, etc., to ensure the reliability of product quality and delivery time.

4. Price and service: choose the manufacturer with reasonable price and good service. You need to consider the manufacturer’s price, after-sales service and delivery methods and other factors, in order to reduce the procurement cost and enhance the procurement experience.

5. Technical ability: choose manufacturers with high technical ability. You can consider factors such as the manufacturer’s technical research and development strength, innovation ability and the number of patents to ensure product quality and compliance with technical requirements.

When choosing a manufacturer, you also need to specify the relevant keywords, such as PCB illustration, PCB quality, PCB price, PCB delivery time, PCB manufacturing capacity, etc. according to your own needs and project requirements in order to make a selection.

What is FR4 PCB board ?

There are many types of PCB substrate, such as fiberglass board, paper substrate, metal substrate, ceramic PCB, etc., different environments use different materials of the basic. Next, I will share with you the details of FR4 PCB board.

What is FR4 PCB board?

FR4 is a PCB substrate that is a glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminate in the form of raw material and substrate for circuit boards. Due to its robust nature and flame retardant properties, FR4 is a common laminate substrate used on printed circuit boards and it is vital to provide the required insulation to circuit boards.

FR4 boards have largely replaced G-10 boards.FR4 materials use bromine, a halogen chemical element that is fire-resistant and therefore valuable in providing flame-retardant properties.It is also unable to absorb water and maintains a high level of mechanical strength in addition to incredible insulation capabilities, especially in wet or dry environments.FR4 materials also have high glass transition temperatures ranging from 115 to 200 degrees Celsius, and its FR-4 flame-resistant material class code, which meets UL94V-0, ensures that it will not spread and extinguish the material as soon as it begins to burn.

Typical single, double-sided, and multilayer PCB circuit boards are made of FR-4, which is so strong and flame-resistant that most circuit boards choose FR-4 as a substrate. FR in FR-4 stands for flame retardant, and the number 4 distinguishes the material from others in this category.FR-4 is a fiberglass reinforced epoxy laminate, which looks like a thin, woven-cloth sheet. The term FR-4 also stands for the grade used to make these laminates. Fiberglass construction provides structural stability to the material. The fiberglass layer is covered with flame retardant epoxy resin. This brings durability and strong mechanical properties to the material.

What are the advantages of FR4 PCB boards?

1. High insulation: FR-4 material has high insulation performance, which can effectively prevent current leakage, thus ensuring the safety and stability of electronic products.

2. High heat resistance: FR-4 material has high heat resistance and can maintain good performance at high temperatures, thus showing good stability in some high temperature environments.

3. High moisture resistance: FR-4 material has good moisture resistance, can maintain good performance in humid environments, so it has a wide range of applications in some humid environments.

4. Good machinability: FR-4 material has good machinability and can be drilled, cut, ground and other machining operations, thus facilitating the production and processing of PCBs.

5. Low-cost materials

FR-4 printed circuit board materials are widely available and inexpensive. Nevertheless, they provide excellent functionality. However, high glass transition temperatures and high relative leakage trace index materials are somewhat expensive.

Applications of FR4 PCB boards

FR4 PCB boards are used in many electronic products, such as cell phones, TVs, and stereos. Due to its high strength, high rigidity and flame retardancy, FR4 PCB board can be adapted to a variety of circuit board design shapes and sizes, and has excellent dielectric constant and dielectric loss performance, so it is also widely used in the field of radio frequency circuits and high-speed signal transmission.

In addition, FR4 PCB boards are also used in the field of industrial control systems. Due to their excellent high frequency characteristics in electrical performance, they can be used for high frequency circuit design such as production line control and robot control.

In some specific areas, such as the military field, FR4 material flame retardant performance has also reached strict standards. Both high performance and safety can be used for surveillance systems, missile systems and other military equipment, high frequency routing and control circuit design.

How to choose FR4 thickness

The thickness of the circuit board is easily overlooked when designing, but it has important properties. The thickness of a circuit board affects the proper use of the entire circuit.

When ordering laminates for a PCB project, the designer or electrical engineer must specify the FR4 thickness. This is measured in inches, such as thousandths of an inch, thousandths of an inch, or millimeters, depending on which unit is most suitable for the setup. Depending on the needs of the project, the thickness of FR4 sheet varies widely, but is usually between 10,000 and 3 inches.

1. Space: The thinner the better

Some electronic devices have less space available, such as Bluetooth accessories, use linkers, etc. For these products, smaller FR4 PCBs are often preferred to save space inside the device.

2. Controlled Impedance

Some high-frequency/high-speed boards require controlled impedance. We know that a stable dielectric constant (Dk) and a low dielectric constant thermal coefficient help achieve controlled impedance. Maintaining the thickness balance of FR-4 material is critical. Thin PCBs face high heat and an increased thermal coefficient of dielectric constant (TCDK), which leads to fluctuations in dielectric constant (DK). Therefore, maintaining PCB thickness is critical to achieving a low dielectric constant (Dk).

3. Connections

Two PCBs need to be connected to each other by an edge connector or another matched socket. Connectors are only available in a limited number of sizes. Therefore they are only suitable for a specific PCB thickness. This can be a limiting factor for PCB thickness. If an existing PCB is being redesigned and is part of an older system, the PCB thickness must be checked twice. This is the fundamental reason why it is important to pay attention to the thickness of the board after the circuit design is completed and before ordering for manufacturing.

4. Impact matching should be good

Each multilayer board acts as a capacitor on an adjacent layer. This is why the thickness of the circuit board is so important. PCB FR4 material thickness determines the thickness of the dielectric, which in turn affects the capacitance value.

This is a particularly critical factor for some high-frequency PCBs, such as RF and microwave designs. High frequency designs focus on inductive quenching as an important component to maintain optimal board functionality, and getting the right capacitance for each layer is critical.

5. Flexibility Options

Flexibility is another important factor to consider when choosing the thickness of FR-4 PCB material. The thinner the board, the more flexible it is. Due to heat, highly flexible and thinner PCBs are often at high risk of soldering due to bending and angle changes during use. Heat management should be a priority in these designs.

Because thinner PCBs show effective performance against conventional stresses on flexible products. They have a wide range of applications in medical and automotive equipment.

6. Design and weight requirements

Thin PCBs are lightweight and small in size, thus facilitating consumer electronics. It is easy to carry out and also reduces the transportation cost of the material. But thin boards are not the answer to large boards. Increasing the size of thin boards can lead to PCB breakage and bending. However, extra thick boards take up a larger surface area and increase the total weight of the module/device, which has its own consequences.

What can an LST company do?

LST Technology has several years of experience in PCB manufacturing and can meet the needs of most customers. Compared to other manufacturers, we offer a wider range of options, such as various thicknesses and layers, multiple surface treatments, and different substrate materials. This makes it more advantageous for you to customize FR4 PCB to your specific requirements.

Regarding materials, we source our laminate and prepreg materials from top suppliers such as Isola, Taconic, Panasonic, and Shengyi Technology. This ensures that we provide high-quality materials that are consistent and reliable, resulting in superior circuit board.

We are a reliable company that can provide various industry certifications, including the conventional ISO9001 and 14001, as well as the “International Automotive Industry Technical Specifications” IATF16949 and “Medical Device Quality Management System for Regulatory Requirements” ISO13485. However, at LST Technology, qualification certification is only one aspect of demonstrating our capabilities to customers. We also formulate stricter operating specifications and testing services, which are essential in ensuring the smooth progress of your PCB project.

Materials and processes for PCB potting

There is a PCB board in all electronic devices, and the service life of these products basically depends on the service life of the PCB. Therefore, protecting the PCB well has become an important item. Here, LST introduces a technology that can protect PCB well, it is PCB potting.

What is potting PCB?

Potting is a way of protecting PCBs from heat, environmental hazards, and chemicals. This is mainly due to the fact that the outer shell of the PCB is filled with a substance that is used to protect the entire PCB and components.

1.Potting enhances electronic performance and circuit dependability by protecting PCBs from tampering, moisture, and voltage leaks. Potting also shields electronics from the effects of vibration and stress, preventing wiring disconnections and early system failure.

2.Additionally, the PCB and PCB case’s vibration waves may pair, intensifying stress on the PCB and causing early failure. PCBs become stress and vibration resistant through potting.

3.Also, Encapsulation protects PCBs from dirt and dust, which can cause overheating, signal interference, and decreased speed or performance.

4.Lastly, PCB board potting improves the security and privacy of the electronic device. The nature of potting makes accessing your PCB and reverse engineering your device incredibly challenging, thereby enhancing the privacy and security of your PCB board.

5 types Potting Compounds

One option is epoxy, which is a durable material with great chemical resistance and high adhesion strength. However, epoxies require a long time to fully cure and set.

Polyurethane is another choice – it is softer and more pliable than epoxy. This makes polyurethane useful for protecting fragile electronic components that may not work well with rigid potting compounds. However, polyurethane tends to have lower heat and moisture resistance compared to some alternatives.

Silicone can also be used for potting PCBs. It is extremely flexible and can withstand extreme temperatures. The downside is that silicone tends to be more expensive than other potting materials, so it may not be practical depending on the application.

Acrylic adhesives are readily soluble in many organic solvents, making it easy to complete repairs to panels and often providing only selective chemical resistance. Acrylic adhesives offer the advantages of quick drying, good mold and mildew resistance, no shrinkage during curing and good moisture resistance. The disadvantages, however, are low abrasion resistance and susceptibility to scratching, chipping and peeling.

The last species is urethane, which is very protective, hard and highly resistant to solvents, providing excellent abrasion resistance and low moisture permeability. It also has good low-temperature adaptability, but does not work well in high-temperature environments and most cannot be repaired or reworked.

Various materials have different pros and cons that should be considered, choosing the right material is determined by applications. For example, silicone and epoxy are perfect for the circumstances under high temperatures; however, urethane would have the better protection performance to chemicals. So the key point that we should notice when selecting the material is that we need to have a clear thought about what kind of protection we want to achieve.

How to choose PCB potting materials

The following factors need to be considered when choosing a coating material for circuit boards:

1. Heat resistance: circuit boards usually operate at high temperatures, so the coating material must be able to withstand high-temperature environments.

2. Insulation: The coating material should have good insulation to prevent the circuit board from short-circuiting or other electrical failures.

3. Chemical resistance: Since the circuit board may come into contact with various chemicals during use, the coating material needs to be chemically resistant.

4. Solderability: The coating material should be solderable to facilitate the soldering and repair of the circuit board.

5. Wear resistance: the circuit board may be subject to wear and tear during use, so the coating material needs to have a certain degree of wear resistance.

6. Cost: The cost of the coating material is also one of the factors to be considered when selecting the material.

Process flow of PCB potting board

Prepare
▶The potting compounds
▶A container or a bucket
▶A stirrer
▶Precision scales
▶Whenever the resin is ready, you will need the following materials for the PCB ▶board potting process:
▶Protective mask
▶Protective neoprene gloves
▶Protective clothing
▶Protective glasses
▶To ensure high-quality results, you need to control the resin. This step requires:
▶A hot air oven
▶Hardness tester (analog shore a)

Circuit board potting can improve its stability, reliability, extend its service life, but also to protect it from the impact of the environment. In the specific operation of the time we have to choose according to the performance requirements of the product with what materials and methods, about PCB potting more knowledge, you can consult our online customer service.

Quick turnover manufacturing service: Electrical & PCBA

Electronic rapid turnover manufacturing services refer to the efficient management system and advanced production technologies used by enterprises to produce products in a short period of time to meet customer needs. This service is a very important service for companies that need to produce and process products in a short period of time.

At LST, we provide fast turnaround services, including circuit design, PCB manufacturing and PCB assembly, to provide customers with end-to-end support from concept to final PCBA manufacturing. In the field of PCBA, we provide the most professional fast manufacturing services. Our engineers will develop a perfect production process plan for each product based on the characteristics of the customer products.

Quick turnover manufacturing service

Electronic rapid turnover manufacturing services require manufacturers to have effective design, manufacturing and supply chain management capabilities, as well as professional technical support teams to provide high quality products and services.

1. Rapid design and manufacturing: The manufacturer of electronic products will quickly design and create electronic products that meet the requirements according to the specifications and needs provided by customers. This process usually requires efficient production lines and advanced manufacturing technologies.

2. Quick Supply Chain Management: In order to ensure the efficiency of fast turnover manufacturing services, manufacturers need to establish an efficient supply chain management system. This includes procurement management, inventory management and logistics of raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products.

3. Customized service: According to customer needs, manufacturers can provide customized services, including customization in design, manufacturing, packaging and transportation.

4. Quick Response: Manufacturers need to establish a quick response mechanism to solve problems on time. This includes the establishment of a professional technical support team to provide 24-hour technical support and after-sales service.

PCBA Production Process

Fast turnaround in the project does not entail eliminating any essential steps in the conventional PCB assembly process. Instead, it focuses on eliminating unnecessary time wastage, automating processes to replace manual labor, and minimizing overtime to increase efficiency. FS Technology offers a fast prototyping PCBA service that follows the following process:

1.Order Receipt: To initiate the process, please provide us with your email address for communication. A dedicated account manager will then contact you to discuss the project requirements in detail and review the PCB design and specifications.

2.Circuit Design: If required, we can provide circuit design services or support for electronic manufacturers lacking design capabilities.

3.Component Procurement: We will procure the necessary components for the PCBA. This involves placing orders with suppliers or pulling components from our inventory.

4.Stencil Creation: A stencil, a thin metal sheet with openings corresponding to the PCB pads, is created. This stencil is used to apply solder paste, which holds the components in place during assembly. The quick full PCB assembly service provider, such as FS Technology, will generate a stencil based on the PCB design.

5.PCB Preparation: The fabricated PCB boards are thoroughly cleaned and prepared for assembly.

6.Solder Paste Application: The solder paste is precisely applied to the PCB using the created stencil.

7.Component Placement: Our skilled technicians meticulously position the components on the PCB in strict accordance with the design and specifications. During prototype manufacturing, manual placement is often employed to minimize time delays associated with programming automated equipment. However, for mass PCB assembly, our state-of-the-art production line is equipped with automated high-speed placement machines and AI plug-in machines, enabling efficient and precise component placement without sacrificing speed or accuracy.

8.Reflow Soldering/Wave Soldering: The PCBA board, with the components securely attached, undergoes reflow soldering or wave soldering in an oven. The high temperature melts the solder paste, forming permanent connections between the components and the PCB.

9.Assembly Inspection and Rework: A thorough inspection is conducted to identify any defects, such as incorrect component placement or solder bridges. If necessary, rework is performed to rectify any issues.

10.Function Test: The assembled PCB undergoes comprehensive testing to ensure it functions as expected.

11.Packaging and Shipping: The finalized PCBA is carefully packaged and promptly shipped to the customer.

Advantages of Fast PCBA

Time Constraints: When facing project deadlines or the need for speedy product launches, opting for fast prototype PCB assembly is a strategic choice to ensure on-time delivery. The ability to complete projects swiftly serves as a testament to a manufacturer’s capabilities, making it particularly valuable for businesses with time-sensitive projects.

Large Quantities: Quick turn PCB fabrication allows electronic manufacturers to save time in screening and selecting PCBA suppliers, establishing long-term partnerships with reliable service providers for batch projects. This is particularly advantageous when there is a requirement to generate a significant number of PCBA quickly.

Cost-Effectiveness: For businesses lacking the necessary personnel or equipment to efficiently manufacture PCBA in-house, engaging the services of a China quick turn PCB assembly factory can be more cost-effective. Outsourcing assembly services eliminates the need for significant investments and overhead costs associated with assembling PCBA board independently.

Flexibility: Rapid PCB assembly services offer flexibility in terms of production quantities, catering to businesses with varying needs for small-scale or high-volume PCBAs. At FS Technology, we provide valuable design and component selection advice, ensuring that the final circuit board meets the required specifications and functions as expected.

Expertise: Manufacturers specializing in high-volume quick turn PCBA services employ skilled technicians and designers who contribute to the success of the project and ensure compliance with quality standards. To meet customer demands for rapid turnaround, FS Technology leverages cutting-edge technologies, highly skilled labor, and the latest tools and procedures to deliver high-quality PCB fabrication and production within short timeframes.

Get fast PCBA service from LST

For customers, the most important thing about choosing a PCBA manufacturer is to obtain high-quality products, and at the same time, it can also obtain a certain cost advantage. LST is such a manufacturer, and choosing to do Chinese manufacturing has more advantages.

Competitive pricing: Fast turnover and fast service must pay a higher price. For European and American countries, local manufacturers may not be able to provide the most cost-effective solutions. China, known for its manufacturing strength, has provided cost advantages for fast service due to low labor costs.

Excellent quality: Although China’s PCBA industry may start later than European and American countries, it has made great progress in quality and speed. China’s fast PCB manufacturer provides the best combination of price, quality and speed, and often surpasses the quality of other countries, such as India.

Effective communication: Among the major foreign trading countries, the English level of the Chinese is worth noting, and exchanges are caused by language differences to the greatest extent. Taking LST technology as an example, our sales team is proficient in English, Russian, Spanish, etc., and can conduct detailed project discussions with customers through video conferences.

There are fewer limitations: the need for fast turnaround sometimes limits the PCB design. Some parts or design elements may not be readily available or are not suitable for assembly methods. Chinese manufacturers are good at finding solutions to these challenges to help you overcome these constraints.

Why Choose PCB Contract Manufacturing Services

OEM circuit board is the production model of many companies. They will look for PCB manufacturers all over the world, and sign PCB contract manufacturing services after determining cooperation. If you are looking for a PCB partner, then learn about LST and maybe you will stop your search and work with us.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, LST PCB Contract Manufacturer provides PCB manufacturing services to our customers across multiple industries. We strive to build close relationships with all our customers, taking the time to understand not only their technical needs, but also their broader business needs. Ultimately, our goal is to help you bring better products to market, and foundry manufacturing is a key part of that.

Why choose to contract a PCB manufacturer

There are many benefits to working with a PCB manufacturer that can help group companies save more money and get their products to market quickly. Benefits are listed below:

Accuracy and Production Speed: High product quality and minimum lead time are two important requisites to succeed in making a PCB assembly. With the advancement of technologies and facilities, experienced, trusted, and knowledgeable contract circuit board manufacturing companies assure both shortened lead time and high quality. To avoid further malfunctioning, the circuit boards are tested in real environments under the guidance of experts.

Minimum Designing Time: The circuit board designing time can be a big concern for many electronic component manufacturers. This is because the PCB assembly and fabrication process require time depending upon the complexity, layers, number of components, and other factors. However, a contract manufacturer will overcome such issues and some other design difficulties as they have the required experience and expertise.

One-Stop-Shop for Circuit Board Manufacturing: This is one of the important benefits of employing a contract PCB manufacturer. Highly experienced companies will offer end-to-end solutions for all your PCB manufacturing needs, right from the ideation stage to installation and beyond. This means you don’t need to contact different companies for assembling different components. They are responsible for handling everything ranging from the circuit board designing to the final production process. They also guarantee supply chain logistics, which is a major issue for several electronic parts manufacturers out there.

Low Operational Costs and Improved Production: For startups or small electronic firms it is a big deal to make such a huge capital investment. Therefore, partnering with contract manufacturers helps keep their operating expenses low. They can also be assured of improved time to market and increased volumes.

Quick Component Sourcing: Many small electronic manufacturers are worried about the overall costs associated with components and parts used in PCB assembly. Contract manufacturing helps them in several ways. Initially, they will review the circuit board design and assist compact and value-efficient designs that suit their application needs. Also, most of these manufacturers can source the right component from their supply chain network easily.

Reduces Costly Rework: The PCB design needs to be flawless and if there are any changes or errors they need to be fixed in the early stages. Contract manufacturers use thorough inspection and testing techniques at every stage of the PCB manufacturing process. These may include a combination of manual and automated testing techniques. Early testing and fixing bugs reduces costly replacement work and waste of production time.

Our Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Services

Our electronic contract manufacturing expertise encompasses a range of services:

Electronics component assembly: We provide surface mount and through-hole electronics assembly to IPC-A-610 standards in both leaded and ROHS technologies. An extensive selection of component placers, screen printers, soldering tools and other equipment drives both automated and semi-automated assembly processes. Our team works in two shifts to expedite orders while ensuring a high standard of quality control and circuit board assembly.

Box building and turnkey final assembly: We are unique from other local competitors in our box build capabilities, making us an ideal partner for contract electronic manufacturing in Pennsylvania. We’ll work with you to source a metal or plastic enclosure for your product, as well as any necessary wire harnesses or other components. We can also provide custom overlays and install them as part of the final assembly process to leave you with a finished electronic product design that’s ready for immediate drop shipment.

Testing: Your customers demand a high level of quality control — working with a contract manufacturer that can deliver in-house final testing is critical to both your reputation and your peace of mind. We have AOI test, ICT test, PCB function meter, flying probe test, etc. We can detect 100% of the problem parts.

Areas we serve

Over the past few years, LST has provided PCB contract manufacturing services to several customers in the following areas:

Medical: Medical equipment has always been a key manufacturing area for us. We have medical equipment manufacturing certificates to meet a variety of customer needs.

Intelligent home: Intelligent home products include microwave radar sensor lamps, intelligent air conditioners, intelligent stereos, and so on.

New energy fields: solar inverter, photovoltaic control system, electric vehicle charging pile are representatives of new energy PCB.

Consumer electronics: wearable devices, cell phones, audio devices, video devices. We also have many representative products.

PCBA function test guide

pcba Functional testing, which is performed to ensure that the product meets the design requirements both in terms of product description, user plans and operating programs, is performed according to the characteristics of the product description, user plans and operating programs. Functional testing ensures that the program works properly, tests the software against functional requirements, and tests all features and functions of the system to ensure that it meets the requirements and specifications.

Functional testing is also known as black box testing or data driven testing because only the various functions need to be tested one by one from the software product interface, the test case architecture based on written requirements, and the evaluation of the input data between the expected results and the actual results one by one, not the internal structure and code of the software.

PCBA functional testing will cover both hardware and software. The customer must send the test plan to the manufacturer to guide the test engineers. You need to list the behaviors and results (e.g., if you press, for example, button one, the green light comes on).

Why need Functional Testing

The purpose of PCBA functional testing is to ensure the quality of the product, improve the product qualification rate, improve the production process and get a better user experience. Functional testing can gain these following benefits:

·By simulating the operating environment for the PCB assembly under test, functional testing minimizes the cost for the customer. It is not necessary to provide the real and expensive testing equipment.

·It helps to avoid expensive system tests that often save the customer time and financial resources.

·It is possible to test 50-100% of the product before shipping, thereby minimizing the customer’s time and effort to test and debug the PCB assembly.

·It is possible for skilled professionals to extract the maximum productivity with a functional test, making this the most effective testing apart from a full system test.

·Along with ICT and flying probe tests, functional testing can make the PCB assembly error free and more robust.

PCBA function test method

1. Manual Test Fixture

Manual test fixtures use baking paint and acrylic pinboard output PCB input/output and power supply, and manually simulate input/output. The results are confirmed by the tester.

Due to high labor costs and low efficiency, manual testing is gradually replaced by manual test fixtures, which are only part of the test, but less demanding and less costly for manual participation.

2.MCU control function test

Make the fixture lock or pneumatic fixture and pull out the probe. Then connect the input/output power supply to the microcontroller circuit so that the microcontroller can run the test program and automatically measure the analog input/output.

This method is characterized by moderate price, high test efficiency, guaranteed test quality and less human intervention. However, this method lacks versatility is generally only applicable to machines equipped with fixtures.

3.PCBA Universal Automated Test System

PCBA universal automated test system designed for most manual testing and design. Because the test system is powerful, you can test a variety of PCBA and become a universal test system.

Humanized test principle: By sampling the model parameters, setting the error range, and comparing with the test board to determine whether it is qualified or not.

Simplicity test: Press the needle bar manually and the system automatically handles it. Product quality can be judged by the system, excluding the influence of human judgment factors. Moreover, its speed is incomparable to manual testing.

The system consists of acquisition, control board and test software. It is connected to a programmable AC/DC power supply and DC load. High sample rate products can be equipped with an external oscilloscope.

The system can test PCBA synchronization signals, user interfaces, modular programming environment models and conversions.

This method is costly, but testing is fast and requires no human intervention. It is versatile in its application and provides more comprehensive testing.

PCBA function test content

PCBA function test content voltage, current, power, power factor, frequency, duty cycle, position determination and other functional parameters of the measurement.PCBA function test contains content: general part:

1: The power supply part of the test–whether the power supply is working properly, test the voltage of each point–use a comparator or other.

2: Port (interface) test, whether there is Short & Open, resulting in abnormalities.

3: Integrated circuit module IC I/O read/write function test – Flash & EEPROM & CPU & SDRAM & logic IC etc.

4: Special function tests (different board requirements are inconsistent) – such as infrared, the need for external receivers.

Conclusion

At LSTPCB, we provide customers with complete PCB testing solutions and test all products. We have experience testing a wide range of PCBA products and can quickly provide test solutions to our customers to help them find the best test methods to improve performance, quality, manufacturability, reliability and reduce costs.