RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

How To Order PCB with components in the Right Way?

The contents of this repository comprise all the necessary files for the

production and assembly of b-parasites. Typically, the fabrication process

involves placing an order with a company capable of manufacturing the

PCB and performing surface mount technology (SMT) assembly, which

consists of mounting various components such as capacitors, resistors &

oscillators. This page overviews the required files, functions, and

locations.

PCB manufacturing headaches are universally disliked, but there are

numerous steps you can take to ensure a smoother production process.

By adhering to the following printed circuit board production advice, you

can reduce costs, minimize production faults, and enhance the overall

quality of your PCBs.

If you have never ordered Printed Circuit Boards for the product before,

the process can be pretty daunting.

If you are delegating your electronics layout to an outside engineer, they

will typically handle most of this process for you. However, if you plan to

undertake this task independently, you will quickly realize that numerous

intricate terms & specifications require your comprehension.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Regardless of your approach should possess, at the bare minimum, a

fundamental comprehension of the prerequisites to order new PCBs.

This article aims to dissect all of the specifications & terms to assist you in

comprehending the different tradeoffs.

While certain manufacturers may employ unique terminology for these

specifications, most will apply universally, regardless of the location where

you order circuit boards.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Table of Contents

Basics of Ordering Printed Circuit Boards

Order Quantity

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Creating a fully functional PCB comprises two primary phases: the

production of the bare board and the subsequent soldering of all the

elements. This article categorizes all the diverse specifications into two

stages.

To order the printed circuit board fabrication for the bare boards, you

must provide the producer with Gerber files, which are made from your

printed circuit board layout software.

To facilitate the printed circuit board assembly process, you must provide

the manufacturer with a BOM that contains a comprehensive list of all the

components. Additionally, a file must be submitted, which includes the

exact coordinates of each element that will be employed to program their

soldering device. Your printed circuit board layout software creates these

files.

PCB with Components

Standard Specifications

 Board type: Typically, you will opt for “single pieces” when placing

your order. PCBs are not created individually but produced in large

panels with many copies of the circuit board. This approach allows

for better production of smaller committees. Following the printed

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

circuit board assembly or final testing, the boards on every panel

are depaneled.

 In the majority of cases, penalization will not be a concern for you,

as the producer will provide you with fully assembled PCBs that

have been separated.

 Different Design in Panel: It is feasible to consolidate various boards

on the already present panel. Whether your product necessitates

multiple boards, you can place them all on a single panel to reduce

costs. However, there is an extra charge for a discussion with

diverse board designs.

 Size: If you are ordering single pieces, the dimensions of the PCB are

a crucial factor in determining the printed circuit board cost.

Alternatively, if you order panels, the panel dimensions will play a

significant role.

 Quantity (single): Commence with five boards for your initial version,

and gradually escalate the amount as the confidence in the layout

improves.

 Layers: The number of routing layers utilized in your printed circuit

board design is a crucial factor. Apart from a single layer, it is

typically an even number. A basic PCB design employs 1 to 2 layers.

Most moderately complex structures, such as those containing

microcontrollers, require four to six layers. In contrast, more

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

intricate designs, like those containing microprocessors, necessitate

eight layers. The no. of layers directly impacts the price of the

printed circuit board.

 Material: The base substance employed in the printed circuit board

between stacked layers is the substrate. FR-4 is the most widely

used substrate material, which is adequate for most layouts.

 FR-4 is available in various Tg versions, where Tg denotes the

transition temperature. It indicates the temperature or heat at

which the substance loses its rigidity and becomes more flexible.

For most layouts, TG150-160 is the suitable choice without any

additional cost. However, upgrading to TG170-180 results in a

significant cost increase.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

If your design comprises custom RF circuitry, including transmission lines,

you may require an RF-specialized substrate material. The substrates from

the Rogers R4000 series are widely utilized for RF designs. The R4003C

substrate material is halogen-free and more eco-friendly compared to

R4350B. Both materials exhibit comparable RF-related specifications.

If your design necessitates effective dissipation of heat, a substrate with

a metal core may become imperative. This is exceptionally ordinary in

high-power applications, such as LED lighting.

An HDI board is a type of printed circuit board that has a higher trace

density, miniaturized features, and more layers than a commonly printed

circuit board. This advanced technology is typically used for very complex

or small layouts, and it can be considerably more expensive than a

standard printed circuit board.

Buried vias and Blind vias are typically utilized when mini size is essential

as they increase the cost of the board. In comparison, standard vias are

PTHs, meaning they traverse through all layers, even if they are

unnecessary on particular layers. Standard vias connect through all layers

of the PCB, even when they are not required on specific layers, taking up

extra space. Conversely, a blind via establishes a connection from an outer

layer to the inner layer and is solely visible on one terminal of the ultimate

board. A buried via connects between two inner layers and is completely

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

invisible on a final circuit board. Both blind and buried vias are used when

space is critical, but they significantly increase the board’s cost.

 Thickness: The board thickness is the final dimension of the PCB.

The most commonly used density is 1.6mm. If space/weight is a

critical factor, then a thin board would be preferred. On the other

hand, if the strength of a circuit board is a concern, then a thicker

board would be the best choice.

 Min track / Spacing: This refers to the minimum width of routing

traces or tracks and the less space allowed between them,

measured in miles. The standard minimum width is six mils, but in

layouts where the area is essential, the minimum width may be

reduced to 3-5 mils. However, going below six mils will significantly

increase the price of the board.

 Min hole size: The minimum size of the hole refers to the minor

diameter that can be pierced on the PCB. This is particularly

relevant for creating vias that route connections between layers. A

smaller hole size can allow for tight packing of elements and reduce

the amount of space taken up by the vias.

 Solder mask: The solder mask is like a coating that is put on the top

and bottom layers of the board to protect against oxidation and

prevent solder bridges between adjacent pads. Although green is

the most ordinary color, you can choose other options.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

 Silkscreen: Silkscreen is the coating that allows you to add text and

basic images, such as logos, to your circuit board. Its primary use is

to indicate component identifiers.

 Gold fingers: If your board includes edge connectors, it is

recommended to opt for gold plating to enhance corrosion &

abrasion resistance.

 Surface finish: The surface finish is a coating that is put on the metal

pads on the outside layers of the PCB to make it easier to attach

components and protect them from damage caused by

rusting. Previously, Hot Air Solder Leveling (HASL) was the most

widely used surface finish, but it has now been replaced mainly

by Immersion Gold (ENIG) due to its lead-free nature. Immersion

Silver is also a non-toxic option for surface finishing.

 Via Process: Typically, the vias remain unsealed, but there may be

situations wherever you need them to be shut. Tenting the via is the

simplest & most cost-effective option, as it covers the via with a

solder mask coating. However, tenting works best with minimum

diameter vias.

 Sometimes, when Ball Grid Array packages are very close together,

the tiny holes called vias near the chip pins can cause problems with

soldering. This can result in bad connections between the chip and

the circuit board. To fix this issue, the vias can be filled with a

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

material to prevent the solder from being drawn away from the chip

pins. This solution is more expensive but necessary in some cases.

 Finished copper weight: The copper weight measures how much

copper is on each square foot of a circuit board. It tells you how

thick the copper is. When we say 1oz of copper, the copper is 1.4

thousandths of an inch thick. In designs with a lot of power, thicker

copper makes narrower paths for the current to flow through. This

specification is essential for the outside layers of the circuit board.

 Inner copper weight: It is the weight of copper (as described in the

Finished copper weight section) for the interior layers of the board.

It is generally recommended to route significant current traces on

the exterior layers of the board as they offer excellent heat

dissipation.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

PCB Assembly with Components

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Standard Specifications

 Component sourcing options: There are three options

available: Turnkey, Kitted, or Combo. Turnkey involves the supplier

sourcing and providing all components, Kitted requires the

customer to provide the features, and Combo is a blend of both

Turnkey and Kitted options.

 Board type: This option determines whether the boards will be

assembled individually or as some panel. If the board count

exceeds twenty pieces or the board size is smaller than fifty million

meters per side, penalization is recommended to optimize the

production process for efficiency.

 Quantity:

 This refers to the number of PCBs that will be assembled separately

 The number of Unique Parts: This indicates the number of distinct

elements that will require soldering on your PCB. For instance, if

your layout utilizes five identical capacitors in different locations, it

would be considered one unique element. This count encompasses

every discrete chip, resistor, inductor, capacitor, connector, etc.

 Several SMT Parts: This refers to the number of elements

necessitating Surface-Mount Technology. This count encompasses

all components, not unique. For instance, if you have identical SMT

capacitors, it would be counted as 5 SMT parts.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

 Many Through-Hole Parts: This indicates the number of

components necessitating the through-hole manufacturing

procedure. PThs parts are infrequently used in

contemporary electronic designs, except when a more robust

attachment is required, like for the connector that will endure

recurring forces.

Conclusion

Suppose you’re interested in ordering expertly created boards, whether in

small numbers for prototyping or larger volumes for creation; my

preferred manufacturers include PCB way, Seeed Studio & Bittele, located

in China. For manufacturers located in the United States, I would

recommend Sunstone Circuits Board.

While you also have the option of manually assembling your boards, I

usually don’t advise it unless you possess advanced soldering skills. Most

modern microchips are not amenable to manual soldering.

Another major drawback of manual soldering is that if you encounter

issues with your layout, it can be difficult to distinguish between poor

soldering and fundamental layout problems. By procuring boards &

assembly services from an expert manufacturer, it will considerably make

simple the testing and debugging of your layout.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

 RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

While there are numerous technical things that you should be familiar

with to place an order for PCBs, this article hopefully assisted you in

comprehending those prerequisites more thoroughly.

Related Posts:

1. Difference between Active and Passive Components (in Electronics)

2. How to Order PCBs

3. How to do PCB Assembly Order? RayPCB

4. Be a Savvy PCB Shopper: Tips for How to order a PCB with The Best

Deals

https://www.raypcb.com/order-pcb-with-components/

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/