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What is Reflow Soldering?
Reflow soldering works differently than wave soldering: Step 1: Apply solder pasteA special sticky paste (containing both solder and flux) is spread onto the circuit board using a stencil (like a template). Step 2: Place partsA machine picks up electronic parts and puts them on the paste. The paste acts like glue, holding parts in […]
What is Wave Soldering
Soldering is a vital step in making circuit boards (PCBA) because it actually connects electronic parts to the board.The two most popular ways to do this are: Wave soldering and reflow soldering are the two most popular ways to solder electronics.But many beginners and new buyers wonder: what do these terms actually mean? What is Wave […]
What factors influence the price of PCB?
Unseen Expenditures in Custom PCB Development Beyond apparent design-related expenses, custom PCB projects often encounter overlooked financial considerations: Strategic mitigation involves consolidating prototype batches, negotiating volume-based tooling credits, and implementing automated test jigs. Partnering with full-service vendors offering combined engineering/procurement services can reduce transactional costs by 15-25%. How to Lower Expenses for Custom PCB Production? […]
How to protect circuit boards: Full encapsulation (potting) or thin coating?
PCB potting is a way to protect circuit boards by completely surrounding them with a special protective liquid or gel (called potting compound). There are three common types used for different needs: epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone. How it works: This creates a protective barrier around the electronics. PCB potting protects electronics in three key ways: Why bubbles […]
How far can I safely bend a flexible circuit?
The most common inquiry we receive concerning flex circuits pertains to the extent to which a flex circuit can be bent: “How far can I safely bend a flexible circuit?” According to IPC standards, the recommended minimum bend radius is 10 times the thickness of the material. IPC-2223 includes a section that provides reasonable guidance […]
Understanding Impedance: Key Points Explained Simply
Like rigid PCBs used in high-speed devices, flexible and rigid-flex circuit boards also need carefully controlled electrical pathways (impedance). They use the same target values – usually 50 ohms for single wires and up to 120 ohms for paired wires. But achieving these values is trickier for flexible boards. Why? Because they must bend during […]
Understanding Multilayer PCB Layer Structure
There are two basic kinds of circuit boards: When you need more space for wires or better signal quality, multi-layer PCBs are the better choice. Unlike single or double-layer boards, multi-layer PCBs are built by stacking many alternating layers of copper and insulation together. This creates a complex wiring network inside the board. This stack […]
Key Considerations for Flexible Circuit Wiring
Problems like designing the layers, placing parts, and cutting the circuit are usually easy to spot. However, flexible circuits also face several common material weaknesses. These can include adhesives that expand too much, thin copper layers peeling off flimsy plastic bases, or copper hardening or cracking. Keeping Flex Circuits Flexible You must decide how bendable the flexible […]
Fixing RTS Temperature Profile Issues
Let’s continue from the previous article: How Temperature Changes Solder Your PCB Troubleshooting RTS works the same way as RSS: adjust temperatures and timing until results improve. You’ll need some trial and error –nudge temperatures up/down and check what happens. Below are common RTS soldering problems and how to fix them: Problem: Solder Balls You see many tiny balls of solder […]
How Temperature Changes Solder Your PCB
Understanding Solder Paste Reflow Stages When solder paste heats up during reflow, the process goes through five distinct stages. This article focuses on two key aspects: How Ramp-to-Spike (RTS) Profiles Solve Heating Problems Older reflow ovens often heat circuit boards unevenly. Here’s why this happens and how RTS helps: The Problem: How RTS Helps:The Ramp-to-Spike […]
