Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange
Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [pcb-assembly]

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.

Sometimes an assembled board will be referred to as a PCA, a Printed Circuit Assembly.

491 questions
16
votes
3 answers

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 of through holes (for connectors) requiring hand…
Jason
  • 1,933
  • 1
  • 20
  • 31
11
votes
2 answers

Supplier advising age of 74HC173 SOIC parts

I put in an order for 50 Nexperia 74HC173D,652 with JLCPCB for some kits I'm having built and assembled by them. These are going into electronics kits that are sold to high schoolers as part of a digital electronics curriculum, so there are no…
Kevin McQuown
  • 495
  • 3
  • 12
7
votes
3 answers

Excessive brown flux post reflow

I've been assembling low numbers of reasonably complicated PCBs professionally for a few years now, and while I can get good results eventually, one thing that's dragging the process out is the need for post-reflow cleaning. I always find quite an…
LordTeddy
  • 2,360
  • 2
  • 18
6
votes
4 answers

Do pick & place machines require reels of components, or can cut tape be used?

If I wanted to have a PCB assembled, would I have to give the manufacturer reels of components, or will pick & place machines also work with cut tape? I ask because I'm thinking of having a low quantity of boards assembled (100-200), but most reels…
Nate
  • 4,536
  • 12
  • 57
  • 75
5
votes
2 answers

Any software for helping hand place components by listing 'by group'? i.e. all 10k resistors so they can be placed at one time

Sorry for the convoluted title but what software do people use when placing physical components on PCB's? Looking for something to highlight all 10k resistors or 1nF capacitors as examples to speed picking and placing by hand. Impossible to Google…
jak
  • 51
  • 2
4
votes
2 answers

How to solder USB-A female socket to PCB?

Sorry I have tried many google searches but can't find anything directly relevant. A USB Type-A female socket, through-hole, right-angle PCB mount has small 45-degree bent pins for soldering the shield to PCB. What should be done with these pins?…
O'Rooney
  • 177
  • 10
4
votes
0 answers

Can flux residue affect sensitive ADC circuitry?

I have designed a product that uses a T.I. ADS1230 20-bit Delta-Sigma ADC. I've assembled 20 prototype boards. Two of those boards are having completely insane oscillations (+30/-30 raw values) with inputs connected to a stable VREF/2. I've changed…
RHaguiuda
  • 1,141
  • 1
  • 13
  • 26
4
votes
3 answers

Steps to ensure greatest success in PCBA production runs?

We periodically get some boards produced and assembled in small runs of 50 - 200. The PCBA company just makes and loads the boards (SMD reflow), we do the programming and testing after delivery Sometimes there will be one or two boards with a…
geometrikal
  • 4,931
  • 2
  • 24
  • 41
3
votes
0 answers

Remove IC Markings

We are shooting 9,000 boards a month in China, and want to remove the markings on several keys ICs so our competitors don't know what parts we are using. I spoke with our IC manufacturers and for custom non-marked ICs, the MOQs are higher than we…
Leroy105
  • 1,887
  • 4
  • 23
  • 36
3
votes
2 answers

Pcb Colour and AOI equipment

Can anybody tell me whether the colour of the Solder Resist on a PCB makes any difference when using AOI equipment to recognise the components placed on it??
Mike
  • 31
  • 1
3
votes
4 answers

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, what precautions I can take to ensure this accuracy…
Frank
  • 2,852
  • 5
  • 30
  • 37
2
votes
3 answers

Economical way of manufacturing PCBs

I am developing a new open source device which consists of several functionalities. My plan is to get it printed from a PCB manufacturing company and get it assembled from the same company. I have discussed with several people and came up with the…
Padmal
  • 352
  • 5
  • 12
2
votes
0 answers

Thermal relief pads with through holes shall be soldered on top and bottom

I would like to know what is the right and correct process for Thermal relief pads for double component sides PCBA. Should the Thermal relief pad fill with solder on the opposite side of the components? If solder fillet is done from second side (as…
M. Dang
  • 21
  • 1
1
vote
2 answers

What files do you need for PCBA?

Just a quick one. It seems that for PCB manufacture, the industry-standard way to specify what you want is so-called “Gerber files”. If you want PCB assembly as well (i.e., loading components onto the board), is there an industry-standard way to…
MathematicalOrchid
  • 1,711
  • 3
  • 19
  • 23
1
vote
1 answer

PLM management and PCBA numbering strategies

I was wondering if people here have their own ways of board numbering and how they keep a track of it? For e.g Unique Number-Revision Number-Board Description. I have used team centre in the past to create unique numbers for the boards I am working…
Hasman404
  • 747
  • 6
  • 19
1
2