12 Major Causes of Foaming on Copper Plating of the PCB Board

PCB Plated Though Holes
12 Major Causes of Foaming on Copper Plating of the PCB Board

The blistering of the board is one of the more common quality defects in the production process of the PCB circuit board. Because of the complexity of the production process of the PCB circuit board and the complexity of the process maintenance, especially in the chemical wet processing, the prevention of the blistering defects on the board surface is compared. difficult. Based on years of actual production experience and service experience, the author makes a brief analysis of the causes of foaming on the copper plate of the circuit board, and hopes to help the industry peers!

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The blistering of the board surface is actually a problem of poor bonding of the board surface.

The extension is also the surface quality problem of the board surface. This includes two aspects:

1. The problem of board cleanliness;

2. The problem of surface micro-roughness (or surface energy); the problem of blistering on all boards can be summarized as the above reasons. The bonding between the coatings is poor or too low, in the subsequent production process and PCB Assembly process It is difficult to resist the plating stress, mechanical stress and thermal stress generated during the production process, and finally cause different degrees of separation between the coatings.

Some factors that may cause poor quality of the board during production and processing are summarized as follows:

1. The problem of substrate processing; especially for some thin substrates (generally 0.8mm or less), because the substrate is poor in rigidity, it is not suitable to use a brush to brush the board, which may not effectively remove the substrate production and processing. In the process, in order to prevent the oxidation of the copper foil on the board surface, the protective layer is specially treated.

Although the layer is thin, the brush plate is easy to remove, but there is a great difficulty in chemical treatment, so it is important to control the production and processing, so as not to cause the board surface. The problem of blistering of the board caused by the poor bonding force between the substrate copper foil and the chemical copper; this problem also occurs when the thin inner layer is blackened, and there is also blackening and browning, uneven color, and partial black brown. Not getting better

2. The surface of the board is contaminated by oil or other liquids caused by machining (drilling, laminating, milling, etc.).

3. Poor copper plate: The pressure of the plate before the copper sink is too large, causing the hole to deform and brush the copper foil round hole or even the hole to leak the substrate. This will cause the copper plating and pcb soldering process. Foaming of the orifice; even if the brushing plate does not cause leakage of the substrate, the excessively heavy brushing plate will increase the roughness of the copper of the orifice, so that the copper foil is easily liable to excessive coarsening during the microetching roughening process. There will also be certain quality hazards; therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the control of the brushing process. The process parameters of the brushing plate can be adjusted to the best through the wear scar test and the water film test;

4. Washing problem: Because the copper plating treatment is subject to a large amount of chemical syrup treatment, all kinds of acid-base and non-polar organic solvents are more, and the surface of the board is not cleaned, especially the copper-adjusting degreaser will not only cause cross-contamination. At the same time, it will cause partial treatment of the board surface or poor treatment effect, uneven defects, causing some problems in bonding; therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to strengthen the control of water washing, mainly including cleaning water flow, water quality, washing time And the control of the dripping time of the board; especially in the winter, the temperature is lower, the washing effect will be greatly reduced, and more attention should be paid to the control of the washing;

5. Micro-etching in the pre-treatment of copper sinking and pattern plating; excessive micro-etching will cause the pores to leak to the pcb substrate, causing foaming around the pores; insufficient micro-etching will also cause insufficient binding force and foaming Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the control of micro-etching; the general micro-etching depth of copper pre-treatment is 1.5–2 micron, and the micro-etching before pattern plating is 0.3–1 micron. It is best to pass chemical analysis and simple conditions.

The test weighing method controls the micro-etching thickness or the etch rate; under normal circumstances, the surface of the board after the micro-etching is bright, uniform pink, and no reflection; if the color is uneven, or there is reflection, there is a quality hazard in the pre-treatment of the process; Strengthen the inspection; in addition, the copper content of the micro-etching tank, the bath temperature, the loading amount, the micro-etching agent content, etc. are all items to be noted;

6. The activity of the copper immersion liquid is too strong; the content of the three electronic components in the newly opened cylinder or bath liquid is too high, especially the copper content is too high, which will cause the bath liquid to be too active, the chemical copper deposit is rough, hydrogen, sub Copper oxides and other defects in the chemical copper layer caused by excessive inclusion physical properties and poor adhesion; can be appropriately adopted as follows: reduce copper content, (replenish pure water into the bath) including three groups To appropriately increase the content of the complexing agent and the stabilizer, and appropriately reduce the temperature of the bath;

7. The surface of the board is oxidized during the production process; if the copper plate is oxidized in the air, it may not cause copper in the hole, the surface of the board is rough, and the surface may be foamed; the storage time of the copper plate in the acid solution If it is too long, the surface of the board will also oxidize, and this oxide film is difficult to remove; therefore, the copper plate should be thickened in time during the production process, and it should not be stored for too long. Generally, the copper plating should be thickened within 12 hours at the latest. Finished

8. The copper is reworked poorly; some of the copper or the reworked board after the transfer of the pattern will be foamed due to poor fading during rework, improper rework method or improper control of micro-etching time during rework or other reasons. If the copper plate is reworked, if the copper is found to be bad on the line, it can be directly reworked after degreasing from the line after washing with water.

It is best not to re-de-oil and micro-etch; for the plate that has been thickened by the plate, Now the micro-etching groove is faded. Pay attention to the time control. You can use a plate or two to measure the fading time to ensure the fading effect. After the fading is finished, apply a brush to the soft brush and then press the normal production. The process sinks copper, but the etch time is to be halved or adjusted as necessary;

9. Insufficient water washing after development during the graphic transfer process, too long after development or excessive dust in the workshop, etc., will result in poor surface cleanliness and poor fiber treatment, which may cause potential quality problems;

10. Before picking the copper, the acid pickling tank should be replaced in time. The contamination in the bath is too much, or the copper content is too high, which will not only cause the cleanliness of the board surface, but also cause defects such as rough surface;

11. Organic pollution, especially oil stains, in the plating tank is more likely to occur for automatic lines;

12. In addition, in the case that some of the plants in the winter are not heated, it is necessary to pay special attention to the charging of the plates in the production process, especially the plating tank with air agitation, such as copper and nickel; Before the nickel plating, add a warm water washing tank (water temperature is about 30-40 degrees) to ensure the compactness of the initial deposition of the nickel layer is good;

In the actual production process, there are many reasons for the blistering of the board surface. We can only do a brief analysis. For different manufacturers, the technical level of the equipment may cause blistering caused by different reasons. The specific situation should be analyzed in detail, and it is not possible to generalize. The above reasons are analyzed regardless of the priority and importance. Basic analysis is based on the production process. It is listed here in detail. It only provides a direction for solving the problem and a broader vision. I hope that the process production and problems for everyone. In terms of solution, it can play a role in attracting jade!

How to Analysis PCB If Circuit Board Failure

ENEPIG pcb

Introduction

Despite best efforts during design and manufacturing, printed circuit board (PCB) failures still occur in electronics products. When boards fail prematurely or pass testing but then fail in the field, systematically analyzing the PCBs is key to identifying root causes so corrective actions can be taken.

This article provides a comprehensive guide on processes for analyzing failed PCBs including:

  • Signs indicating PCB failure modes
  • Tools for inspecting boards non-destructively
  • Techniques for performing failure analysis
  • Methods for isolating and capturing faults
  • Failure analysis lab capabilities
  • Examples of common PCB failure mechanisms
  • Steps for performing root cause investigation
  • Documentation and reporting on analysis results
  • Implementing corrective actions

By leveraging rigorous PCB failure analysis procedures, companies can improve product reliability, reduce associated costs, and strengthen customer satisfaction.

Signs of PCB Failure

What Are the Common Factors That Cause PCB Circuit Board Failure

Prior to detailed analysis, certain signs indicate likely printed circuit board issues:

Field Failures

  • Performance degrades or functionality stops after a period of use
  • Suggests failure mechanisms like:
    • Thermal cycling fatigue
    • Corrosion
    • Contamination
    • Signal or power integrity issues

Testing Escapes

  • Units pass manufacturing test but fail in the field
  • Indicates:
    • Incomplete test coverage
    • Faults triggered only under certain use conditions
    • Intermittent or latent defects

Manufacturing Defects

  • Failures during production testing
  • Caused by defects like:
    • Soldering errors
    • Contamination
    • Assembly errors
    • Handling damage

Thorough failure analysis then confirms failure modes and pinpoints root causes.

Tools for Inspecting PCBs

Several tools allow non-destructive inspection of boards:

Visual Inspection

  • High magnification inspection microscopes
  • Reveal component damage, contaminants, discoloration

X-Ray Imaging

  • See inside components and PCB structure
  • Requires only simple sample preparation

Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI)

  • Imaging systems scan board features
  • Detect missing or malformed components and solder

Boundary Scan Tests

  • Leverage on-board test structures
  • Verify interconnect integrity and basic device functionality

Quick screening using these tools guides more detailed analysis on probable fault locations.

Techniques for Failure Analysis

To isolate causes after identifying suspect regions, several laboratory techniques are employed:

Electrical Testing

  • Probe stations perform in-circuit tests on nodes
  • Functional testers exercise system behavior

Signal Integrity Analysis

  • Oscilloscopes probe waveforms and signal integrity
  • Time and frequency domain analysis

Emission Microscopy

  • Captures infrared emission from operating board
  • Hot spots indicate elevated resistance

Thermal Profiling

  • Scan surface temperatures under operating power
  • Find hot components suggesting power or thermal issues

Chemical Analysis

  • Chemical stripping followed by microscopy
  • Reveals buried traces and vias with defects

Cross-Sectioning

  • Cutting through defect area
  • Inspect thinly-sliced cross section under microscope

Electron Microscopy

  • SEM provides high-resolution images of traces and solder
  • EDX detects contaminants down to ppm level

These proven techniques isolate faults and determine the physics of failure.

Methods for Capturing Intermittent Faults

Capturing transient or intermittent faults presents challenges:

Temperature Cycling

  • Rapidly heat and cool board
  • May trigger temperature sensitive failures

Vibration Testing

  • Subject board to shaking across a spectrum of frequencies and amplitudes
  • Can precipitate latent mechanical failures

Accelerated Aging

  • Apply excess voltage and temperature over time
  • Encourages early manifestation of latent defects

Signal Monitoring

  • Logic analyzers or oscilloscopes monitor nodes
  • Capture glitches suggesting loose contacts or noise

With persistent testing modifying conditions, transient issues can be observed, isolated, and analyzed.

Failure Analysis Lab Capabilities

Dedicated failure analysis labs boast extensive capabilities to investigate complex faults, including:

  • Electrical probing stations
  • Emission microscopy systems
  • Temperature forcing chambers
  • X-ray imaging tools
  • Focused ion beam circuit editing
  • Scanning electron microscopes
  • Transmission electron microscopes
  • Vibration testing systems
  • Nanoprobing and picoprobing
  • Sample decapsulation and cross-sectioning
  • Advanced chemical analysis tools

Experienced technicians leverage this array of equipment to uncover failure mechanisms.

Common PCB Failure Mechanisms

During analysis, many common failure causes may be discovered:

Thermal Cycling Issues

Contamination

  • Conductive debris shorting traces
  • Corrosion from flux residue or environmental agents

Manufacturing Defects

  • Solder bridging
  • Missing or reversed components
  • Plating voids in vias

Power Integrity

  • Unacceptable voltage drops under load
  • Ripple or noise disrupting circuits

Signal Integrity

  • Uncontrolled impedance causing reflections
  • Crosstalk or ground bounce exceeding margins

EMI/EMC Problems

  • Radiated interference above acceptable limits
  • Susceptibility to external fields disrupting operation

Awareness of these and other common mechanisms guides investigation.

Performing Root Cause Analysis

To identify underlying root causes rather than just physical defects, a rigorous process is followed:

Replicate and Monitor Failure

  • Trigger failure modes discovered earlier
  • Use tools like emission microscopes to watch propagation

Map Sequence of Events

  • Construct timeline of effects culminating in failure
  • Look for initiating sources and chains of secondary effects

Evaluate Design Margins

  • Review stress models and margins of safety
  • Narrow down weak points with inadequate guard band

Assess Manufacturing Variability

  • Characterize typical distribution of assembly variations
  • Failures often trace back to outliers

Reconstruct with Physics-of-Failure

  • Develop hypothesis using established failure models
  • Check against sequence of events and forensic evidence

Identify Process Gaps

  • Look for shortcomings in design rules, modeling, parts selection, assembly processes that allowed defect
  • Strengthen weak links in development chain

The root cause may have origins across design, manufacturing, parts, testing, field conditions or other domains.

Documenting and Reporting Findings

How to repair Lifted Pad on PCB
How to repair Lifted Pad on PCB

Clear documentation and reporting ensures knowledge is retained and findings are actionable:

  • Document analysis details in lab notebook
  • Photograph defects from multiple angles before and after manipulation
  • Record microscope imagery and measurements
  • Note test configurations and procedures
  • Organize findings and supporting evidence in report
  • Summarize key conclusions and priorities for corrective action
  • Present to stakeholders and solicit feedback

Complete records aid root cause validation and process improvements.

Implementing Corrective Actions

Failure analysis is ultimately only valuable if it spurs needed improvements such as:

Improved Design Practices

  • Tightened design rules
  • Expanded modeling
  • Wider safety margins

Material and Parts Changes

  • Higher grade substrates
  • Screening or derating components
  • Change at-risk materials

Manufacturing Process Refinements

  • Tighter process controls
  • Improved operator training
  • New test coverage
  • Tools maintenance and calibration

Product Specification Modifications

  • Relaxed operating temperature range
  • Lower derated voltages
  • Additional shielding

Customer Guidance

  • Installation or operation guidelines
  • Handling and storage recommendations
  • Periodic maintenance advice

By driving changes, failure analysis efficacies company processes and products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about PCB failure analysis:

Q: What tools allow non-destructive inspection of boards?

Optical inspection, x-ray imaging, automatic optical inspection, and boundary scan tests are common techniques.

Q: How can latent intermittent failures be identified?

Methods like temperature cycling, vibration testing, and burn-in can precipitate failures under accelerated conditions.

Q: What types of chemical stripping expose buried traces and vias?

Chemical etchants like nitric acid or ferric chloride preferentially attack copper allowing inspection of underlying features.

Q: When would emission microscopy be used over thermal profiling?

Emission microscopy offers higher spatial resolution useful for small components, but thermal profiling allows observation of the entire board.

Q: How long does a comprehensive failure analysis usually take?

From initial electrical test, fault isolation, physical analysis, and root causing, 1-2 weeks depending on complexity.

Conclusion

Rigorous failure analysis is crucial for improving product reliability, customer satisfaction, and ultimately the company bottom line. While a systematic investigative process requires investments in tools, training and technician time, the dividends include reduced costs from returns and enhanced process excellence across the product lifecycle. By leveraging the guidelines described here when boards fail, engineers can elevate the maturity of designs, manufacturing methods, and quality standards.

The Difference and Role of PCB Paste Mask and Solder Mask

PCB hot air solder leveling

Introduction

Printed circuit boards integrate a wide array of materials and coatings beyond just traces and laminates. Two of the most important additional PCB layers are paste mask and solder mask. While their names sound similar, these materials serve distinct roles in the PCB fabrication and assembly processes.

This article provides an in-depth look at PCB paste mask and solder mask including:

  • The composition and properties of each material type
  • Key differences between paste mask and solder mask
  • The roles and purposes they serve in PCB manufacturing
  • Typical application and patterning methods
  • New developments in these materials
  • Examples illustrating paste mask and solder mask usage
  • Guidelines for designing and applying these layers
  • Common defects to avoid
  • FAQs about these critical PCB coatings

Developing a strong understanding of paste mask and solder mask enables electrical engineers to apply them optimally during design and production to improve manufacturing yields, long-term reliability and product quality.

PCB Paste Mask Overview

Low Temperature Solder Paste
Low Temperature Solder Paste

Paste mask, also referred to as solder paste mask or solder resist, is a temporary coating used during the SMT assembly process to facilitate solder paste application. Key properties include:

Composition

  • Polymer materials like epoxy or acrylic resins
  • Solvent carriers for deposition
  • Filler particles for rheology

Key Characteristics

  • Excellent solder paste release and wetting
  • Solder bleed resistance during reflow
  • Easy stripping and cleaning after soldering

Patterning Methods

  • Liquid photoimageable mask exposed via lithography
  • Laser direct imaging of dry film masks
  • Screen printing of liquid masks

Paste masks provide a low-cost, processing-friendly material optimized for the demands of high-yield SMT manufacturing.

Solder Mask Overview

Solder mask serves as a permanent protective coating on PCBs. Typical properties:

Composition

  • Epoxy or acrylic polymers for adhesion, toughness
  • Solvents carriers to enable coating
  • Fillers like silica for rheological properties

Key Characteristics

  • Electrical insulation and corrosion resistance
  • Repairability and chemical compatibility
  • Soldering heat resistance
  • Color options from green to black to white

Patterning Methods

  • Liquid photoimageable solder mask is dominant
  • Also dry film laminates and screen printed masks

Solder masks safeguard PCBs throughout long-term use across demanding operating environments.

Key Differences Between Paste Mask and Solder Mask

Solder paste stencil frame

While both materials facilitate soldering, there are significant differences:

ParameterPaste MaskSolder Mask
PurposeDefine solder paste regionsLong-term protective coating
LocationsOnly on pads/landsAcross conductors and board surface
Typical MaterialsWater soluble epoxiesSolvent resistant epoxies
Deposition MethodLamination, screen printingLiquid coating, curtain coating
Patterning ProcessPhoto, laser imagingPhotoimaging
Soldering Process RoleConfine pasteProtect underlying features
After SolderingRemoved by cleaningRemains as permanent coating
Reliability ConsiderationsMinimize solder ballsWithstand environment; prevent corrosion and dendrites

These distinct roles mandate different material properties and processes for optimal results.

The Role and Purpose of PCB Paste Mask

Paste masks provide several key functions:

Defines Solder Paste Regions

  • Mask openings expose pads for paste printing
  • Eliminates solder beads between pads

Facilitates Consistent Paste Deposit

  • Apertures act as stencil for uniform paste release
  • First article inspection confirms coverage

Confines Paste During Reflow

  • Prevents solder spreading across board
  • Reduces bridging and solder balls

Enables Solder Paste Recovery

  • Easily wipe and clean after reflow
  • Retrieving unused paste minimizes waste

Protects Board During Soldering

  • Mask prevents solder adhering where unwanted
  • Guards against pad etching or lifting during reflow process

Thoughtful paste mask design is crucial for defect-free SMT assembly.

Solder Mask Key Roles and Functions

Conversely, solder masks provide long-term protection:

Electrical Insulation

  • Isolates conductors from unintended connections
  • Prevents short circuits across board surface

Corrosion Resistance

  • Barrier against environmental contaminants
  • Guards against tin whiskers, dendritic growth

Mechanical Protection

  • Cushions board against impacts
  • Stabilizes conductors against vibration loads

Soldering Heat Resistance

  • Withstands repeated soldering and desoldering
  • Prevents pad lifting or separation

Marking

  • Mask color contrasts with metal
  • Allows component designators and identifiers

Aesthetics

  • Color coats board
  • Branding or camouflage options

Robust solder masks are integral for PCB durability across product lifetimes.

Typical Paste Mask Application and Patterning

Applying paste mask requires compatible processes:

Liquid Photoimageable Mask

  • Mask deposited by curtain coating
  • Dried then exposed through lithography artwork
  • Developed to reveal solder paste regions

Laser Direct Imaging (LDI)

  • Dry film laminate applied
  • Laser scans image directly based on CAD
  • Etchant dissolves exposed mask

Screen Printing

  • Screens transfer mask material
  • Print, dry, clean, inspect steps
  • Well-suited for high volume

Tenting Vias

  • Mask coats over vias
  • Prevents solder wicking into holes

Automated optical inspection after patterning validates paste mask registration and expected openings.

Typical Solder Mask Application and Patterning

Solder mask requires similar steps:

Liquid Photoimageable Mask

  • Deposited by curtain coating
  • Dried then exposed through artwork
  • Developed then cured at elevated temperature

Laser Direct Imaging (LDI)

  • Same dry film process but with different dedicated material
  • Laser defined openings based on CAD data

Screen Printing

  • Screens transfer solder mask ink
  • Used for high volume or simple boards

Covering Copper

  • Mask coats over remaining exposed copper
  • Windows opened over connectors, testpoints etc.

The solder mask process is refined for smooth, complete coverage and adhesion.

Recent Advances in Paste Masks and Solder Masks

Developments in materials and processing aim to enhance performance:

Laser Ablatable Solder Masks

  • Excimer laser removes mask in precise locations
  • No additional coating/imaging steps

Flexible Solder Masks

  • Withstand repeated bending and flexing motions
  • Enable flexible PCBs

Reworkable Masks

  • Designed for selective removal
  • Replace components without full mask strip

Thermally Conductive Masks

  • Filled epoxies dissipate heat
  • Aid thermal management

Hydrophobic Masks

  • Repel water, moisture and fluids
  • Improve reliability

High Aspect Ratio Masks

  • Allow coating high topography and cavities
  • Protect complex surface mount parts

Electrically Insulating Anisotropic Pastes

  • Prevent solder bridging
  • Redirects current flow from paste

Innovation continues expanding capabilities.

Paste Mask Design Guidelines

To maximize manufacturing yield and quality solder joints, engineers should:

  • Provide sufficient registration margins between paste mask and pads
  • Account for potential mask misalignment and smearing
  • Surround pads with mask to limit solder spreading
  • Tent vias to prevent solder wicking
  • Include generous fillets spacing pads
  • Keep openings large enough for even paste release
  • Follow manufacturer design rules for minimum apertures
  • Verify adequate paste opening coverage through inspection
  • Test stripability to avoid pad lifting

Thoughtful paste mask layout prevents defects for optimized SMT assembly.

Solder Mask Design Guidelines

For robust solder mask performance:

  • Maintain adequate overlap over traces and spacing from pads
  • Account for misalignment margins in design rules
  • Include generous fillets spacing between traces
  • Surround exposed copper with mask to prevent oxidation
  • Cover all unused board surface area
  • Mask bottom side if components mounted on both sides
  • Leave openings only where required like connectors
  • Follow minimum trace/space rules for coating coverage
  • Test final adhesion, hardness, and dielectric strength

Careful solder mask design ensures complete insulation and protection.

Common Paste Mask Defects

Some potential paste mask flaws to avoid:

Misalignment

  • Apertures shift from pads
  • Causes missing or blocked solder paste deposition

Undersized Openings

Smearing

  • Mask material partially covers pads
  • Hinders solder wetting and adhesion

Delamination

  • Mask lifts from board during soldering
  • Allows solder leaching under mask

Poor Strippability

  • Mask leaves residue after cleaning
  • Contaminates pads prior to next process steps

Following design guidelines and inspection helps prevent defects.

Common Solder Mask Defects

And some potential solder mask flaws:

Insufficient Overlap

  • Exposes copper traces to corrosion and contamination

Excessive Spacing

  • Allows solder to bridge between features
  • Reduces insulation resistance

Misalignment

  • Opens up keepout regions to solder leaching

Voids

  • Creates uncoated regions without insulation
  • Allows traces to lift during soldering

Cracking or Peeling

  • Permits moisture ingress degrading insulation

Discoloration

  • Aesthetic issue suggesting material degradation

Proper process controlsCoupled with design rule checks minimizes defects.

Paste Mask and Solder Mask Example Applications

Here are some examples highlighting use cases:

Sensors Product

  • Epoxy-based black solder mask provides electrical insulation and water resistance for reliability
  • Acrylic paste mask on pads prevents solder bridging between fine pitch leads

Automotive Control Module

  • High temperature solder mask withstands heat cycling in engine bay
  • LPI paste printing on top side opens pads for component placement

HDI Telecom PCB

  • Photoimageable solder mask coats 6 mil traces spacing microvias
  • Tented vias prevent solder wicking into holes

Large LED Video Display

  • Screen printed solder mask quickly coats boards in high volume
  • matching black paste mask provides cosmetic surface

Medical Diagnostic Kit

  • Flexible, biocompatible solder mask enables repeated bending
  • Water-soluble paste mask simplifies post-reflow cleaning

Proper selection and integration secures performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions regarding solder mask and paste mask:

Q: What are some typical minimum clearance gaps for paste mask apertures?

A minimum 2-3 mil overlap onto pads or clearance between openings is typical. High tolerance processes allow smaller 1-2 mil gaps.

Q: How do you determine the right solder mask overlap over traces?

The overlap margin is dictated by design rules, with 3-5 mils typical. Mask misalignment tolerance must also be considered.

Q: What are key parameters used to specify solder mask properties?

Adhesion strength, dielectric breakdown voltage, surface insulation resistance, thermal conductivity, and flammability are typical specifications.

Q: What are some methods to improve solder mask adhesion?

Surface treatments, cleanliness, proper curing, thermal cycling testing, choosing compatible mask and substrate materials, and roughening surfaces help adhesion.

Q: How does solder mask color impact manufacturing?

Light backgrounds like white make inspection easier. Dark masks can require longer exposure times and risks lower cure depth.

Conclusion

Although their names sound similar, paste mask and solder mask provide distinct capabilities essential to PCB fabrication and reliability. Leveraging the in-depth overview provided in this article, PCB designers can apply these materials optimally to secure manufacturing yields while enhancing circuit protection, insulation and product lifetimes.

How Are Double Sided SMD Boards Assembled? Full Process and Comparison

pcb vs pcba

turkey PCBA

We make thousands of boards every week, we know what’s involved in the prototype pcb assembly of all types of boards. So if you’re considering a board for your projects, we thought we’d share an overview of the production process and considerations with you in advance.

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If you’re unsure about any particular part of the process then certainly get in touch with us. Otherwise, we hope the following outline helps improve your understanding of how double sided SMD boards are assembled.

How are double sided SMD boards assembled? It’s very simple. First, assemble and solder one side and then, flip it over to do the other side. When the solder paste is applied to the other side the melting point needs to be a bit lower. So it doesn’t affect the flip side. Then it needs to be run through pick-n-place and vapour phase soldering again.

The Difference Between Single and Double Sided Assembly Boards?

Both these PCBs are widely used in different types of electronics. Starting with computers, smartphones, radio controls to other everyday consumer electronics, PCBs are an integral part of the electronic equipment we use in our everyday lives. However, single and double-sided PCBs have different uses and are manufactured a bit differently as well.

Single side PCB are part of many different types of electronics while double-sided PCBs are generally used in more advanced technologies. Depending on the need, output and cost, manufacturers choose the type of PCB.

Single-sided PCBs usually has conductive metal and components mounted on only one side of the board. Conductive wiring, generally of copper, is used to connect through the other side. Double-sided PCBs are a bit more complex. They have electronic components mounted on two sides and the wiring crosses over both sides. It is difficult to produce but its uses outweigh the cons and the labour-intensive process.

double side PCBA

PCB Assembly and Manufacturing Process

There are various stages that form part of the assembly and pcb manufacturing process. The solder paste needs to be applied, then the components will be placed onto the board, then soldering, review and testing. All these steps are carefully performed to ensure the best possible quality in the final product. Here’s more information on what each step entails:

Solder Paste

This is the first step of the pcb assembly process. This paste needs to be applied to those sections of the board which will be soldered. Generally, these are the component pads. The solder paste is a mixture of small grains of solder and flux. This can be deposited into a particular location using a process similar to the printing process.

Then a solder screen is used to place it directly on the board and at the correct position. A runner pushes across the screen ejaculating small amounts of paste on to the board. Since the screen is generated from the PCB files, it has holes in exactly the same locations as the component pads on the boards.

Pick and Place

Next, is the pick and place. It is referred to as a machine that helps put the components together with the board. Once the board with the solder paste is ready, it is run through the machine. The machine already has the components loaded into it. It will use dispensers to position the components in their respective area on the board.

The components will be held together due to the tension of the solder paste. In some assembly process, small dots of glue are also used. However, that is a practice usually reserved for wave soldered boards. Practicality suggests that using glue makes any kind of repair work difficult. However, some glues are made to degrade during the soldering process.

Soldering

Now that the paste is added and components have been placed on the board, it’s time to get them soldered. This is done by passing them through the soldering machine. Some boards are also passed through a wave soldering machine in this part of the process, but that is not widely used in surface mount assembly. The solder paste is given a miss when wave pcb soldering is used. Reflow soldering is more common than wave soldering in contemporary manufacturing.

Review

This step is also known as inspection. After the boards have been soldered, they are inspected. For surface mounted assemblies, it is not possible to perform a manual inspection. The automatic optical inspection is more practical in this regard. Machines generally inspect the boards to detect joints, component placements and if the right components have been placed.

Testing

After the inspection, the boards are tested to ensure that they’re in proper working condition. As a result, they’re tested in numerous ways. There’s a wide range of instruments used to test the boards including an analogue multimeter, oscilloscope, digital multimeter (DMM), frequency counter, pulse generator, etc.

Feedback

Finally, to ensure that the entire process remains true, the feedback from the current batch is reinstituted into the process. This helps keep the process and the components on track to ensure an efficient process.

The process is inspected to find errors and any failures detected during these steps are reinvestigated. The inspection stage is the ideal time for finding issues. As a result, defects can be detected rapidly and corrections reincorporated.

pcb-assembly-process-1

Manufacturing Difficulties and Risks

PCBs form the main backbone for the electronics that they’re incorporated in. As a result, when the board malfunctions, it affects the entire device. That’s why we’re constantly checking our production process to ensure we minimize any of the difficulties that many other PCB manufacturers struggle with.

Errors can also be due to regular wear and tear or manufacturing defects. But in the case of manufacturing defects – predominantly produced by less reputable sources, companies should be identifying the errors or gaps and address them. Here are a few of the most common issues faced in production if you don’t have the kind of quality control systems installed that we do.

Burnt Circuit Board

During the manufacturing and assembly process, the board is exposed to varying degrees of temperature. Some are very high. So high, that they can burn the board. Each component of the board has its own durability and breaking point. As a result, if there’s not enough space on the board, it might burn the board.

Poor Component Manufacturing Quality

Poor manufacturing quality is referred to as a variety of quality issues that happen during the assembly. Generally, issues such as connection troubles, bad solder or loose components.

Another risk if the proper care isn’t taken during soldering is if there’s residual flux. Flux is used during soldering and can damage components if it’s left behind on the board. When selecting a PCB manufacturer to work with you need to ensure they have quality control processes in place to mitigate against these issues, if in doubt, get in touch with us to ensure a quality checked board every time.

Effect on Costs

This has always been a question when it comes to manufacturing PCBs. Do we go with single sided or double sided boards? Which one costs less? However, answering that is easy. But the main question should be which one costs less for you.

Single sided boards pcb cost less invariably simply because there’s less to do. Double-sided boards fit more components and there’s two sides fitted with components and then soldered. As a result, it’s obvious that double-sided boards will be more expensive.

However, what do you do when your needs are more acute towards a double-sided board and a single sided board just won’t do? That’s why you need to consider which one costs less in your case. Cost management is an essential part of ensuring an efficient process. More errors or defects mean more wastage and more costs, especially since double-sided assembly is more tricky.

Cost Comparison

It’s difficult to compare the actual cost of the two boards without knowing the exact setup, so it’s worth contacting us for a quote.

Both the boards are made up of the same material, same insulator and conductor. The main difference between the two is the conductor placement and thru-holes on each board.

However, there are three main categories which decide the costing – Primary, Secondary and Overhead. Here’s an overview of what components fall in each category:

Primary or Fixed Production CostsSecondary or Dependent CostsOverhead Costs
Board SizeToolingFacility
Number of PCBs produced in a production runLayout – trace design, hole size, and hole countLabor – salaries and benefits
Number of layers beyond double-sidedLaminationEquipment
Lead timeChange needed from mechanical drill type to laser drill typeRaw materials
Hose size and countQuality assuranceChemical processes
Material type and thicknessVia fillWastewater treatment
LayoutFabricationRegulatory permits
 FinishCost of delays due to design or fabrication changes

Advantages of Double Sided SMD Boards

There are two main advantages that a double-sided SMD board provides over a single sided board:

1. Since the board has two sides to mount components, there is a higher density of components. This means that the board can carry more components but without congesting the space since there are two sides. As a result, this makes the process of laying tracks easier.

2. The second advantage is that there’s increased heat dissipation due to the added layer of copper. During the etching process, the copper is removed to create tracks but then reinserted instead of leaving it out completely.

 

Common Uses for Double-Sided SMD Boards

Single-sided PCBs are generally used in a wide variety of electronics and applications, including camera systems, printers, radio equipment, calculators, and much more.

Similarly, double-sided PCB is also used in a wide spectrum of electronic products including lighting systems, vending machines, amplifiers, car dashboards, and many more.

PCB Assembly

Conclusion

In conclusion, both single sided and double sided are important – but in different applications. Their uses are different since both boards are built in different manners. Similarly, their costing is different due to the same reason. Based on the application, cost and other factors, a manufacturer can decide on a single sided or double sided board.

If you’re not sure which board you need, then get in touch with us here at RayPCB and we’ll be happy to talk through your requirements, provide the best method for your needs and ensure you get quality manufactured PCB boards.

Difference Between Cold welding and Pseudo Soldering

Soldering Circuit Boards

Introduction

Joining metal parts is critical in manufacturing across industries including electronics, automotive, aerospace, machinery and more. Soldering is the most common electrical interconnection method used to attach electronic components to printed circuit boards (PCBs). However, emerging direct solid-state joining techniques like cold welding and pseudo-soldering are gaining attention as lead-free solder alternatives.

This article provides an in-depth comparison between cold welding and pseudo-soldering processes encompassing the bonding mechanisms, joint microstructures, applicability for electronics assembly, processing considerations, joint strength and reliability. By understanding the capabilities and limitations of both methods, engineers can select the right approach for manufacturing robust metal-to-metal interconnects.

What is Cold Welding?

Cold welding refers to solid-state joining of metals well below their melting points by applying high pressures to create intimate contact between atomically clean surfaces. This allows interatomic bonding across the interface without fusion of the base metals or use of filler alloys.

The bond initially forms due to Van der Waals forces between surface atoms. Further plastic deformation under pressure breaks up surface films and contaminants enabling actual metallic bonds between the virgin parent metal lattices.

What is Pseudo-Soldering?

Pseudo-soldering produces solder-like intermetallic joints through solid-state interdiffusion between metal foils and substrates at temperatures below the bulk metal melting points. Specially formulated multi-layer composite foils are placed between parts and heated under pressure. Interdiffusion between the intermediate reactive layers and the substrates creates intermetallic phases that join the parts.

The intermetallics grow similar to transient liquid phase bonding in soldering, but without becoming molten. Hence the name pseudo-soldering. The intermetallic joint resembles solder in appearance and meets process requirements for electronics assembly.

Bonding Mechanisms Comparison

ParameterCold WeldingPseudo-Soldering
Bond FormationMetallic bonds between cleaned metal surface atomsInterdiffusion creates intermetallic phases
Base Metal StateRemains solidRemains solid
Intermediate PhasesNoneIntermetallic transient liquid phase
Pressure NeededHigh (25-100 MPa)Lower (3-10 MPa)
Bonding TemperatureAmbient to 300°C180°C to 350°C
Surface Finish DependencyHighly dependentDepends on interlayer
Reactivity with MetalsLowHigh due to interlayers

Joint Microstructure Comparison

Cold Welded Interface

The interface preserves parent metal microstructures with minimal heat affected zones. Direct metallic bonds reform across the interface. Some trapped oxides or voids may remain.

Pseudo-soldered Interface

Intermetallic compounds form across the interface analogous to soldered joints. The intermetallic thickness depends on thermal exposure. Minimal heat affected zones are present.

Electronics Assembly Comparison

ParameterCold WeldingPseudo-Soldering
Process TemperaturesUp to 300°C180°C to 350°C
Pressure NeededVery highModerate
Tooling ComplexityHighLow to moderate
Throughput SpeedSlowModerate
Surface SensitivityHighLow
Component MetallizationsLimited material compatibilityWide material compatibility
Defect SensitivityLowHigher voids, bridges
Design AdaptabilityRequires major redesignDrop-in solder alternative
Equipment InvestmentVery highModerate modifications

Bond Strength Comparison

Well bonded joints exhibit parent metal fracture strengths proving the interface is stronger than the base metals. Joint strengths over 200 MPa are easily achieved for many material combinations with both cold welding and pseudo-soldering.

However, actual bond strengths depend significantly on surface cleanliness, flatness, pressure consistency, metallurgical compatibility, and process parameter control. Defects like trapped oxides, voids, and poor interdiffusion lower bonding strength and reliability.

Reliability Considerations

Cold Welded Joints

  • Prone to stress corrosion cracking along trapped oxide zones
  • Subject to fatigue failure under thermal cycling due to high elastic modulus mismatch across interface
  • Hermetic seals can be achieved

Pseudo-soldered Joints

  • Intermetallic compounds may suffer thermal fatigue and brittle failure
  • Interdiffusion quality affects electromigration resistance
  • Lower hermeticity due to defects
  • Comparable to solder joint reliability with intermetallics

Cost Analysis

What is Solder Beading?
What is Solder Beading?

Cold Welding Equipment

Requires high tonnage presses, precision tooling, surface preparation equipment, and automation. Overall capital equipment cost is very high.

Pseudo-soldering Equipment

Moderate modifications to existing soldering infrastructure like ovens, conveyors and simple tooling. Capital equipment cost is low to moderate.

Consumables

Cold welding has no recurring consumable costs. Pseudo-soldering requires proprietary foil stacks resulting in moderate consumable costs.

Pros and Cons Summary

Cold Welding

Pros

  • Strong direct metallic bonds
  • No intermetallics or heat affected zones
  • Hermetic capability
  • No fluxes or volatiles

Cons

  • Very high pressure needed
  • Limited material compatibility
  • High surface cleanliness needed
  • Slow process speed and throughput
  • High equipment and tooling costs

Pseudo-soldering

Pros

  • Solder-like bonds with wide material compatibility
  • Lower pressures sufficient
  • Adaptable process requiring minimal changes
  • Fast process analogous to soldering
  • Lower equipment costs

Cons

  • Intermetallic reliability concerns
  • Potential for voids and bridges
  • Recurring consumable costs
  • Hermeticity challenges
  • Thermal fatigue susceptibility

Conclusion

Cold welding can produce exceptionally strong metallic joints but requires significant process development and equipment investments. Pseudo-soldering offers more accessible solder-alternative capabilities but shares common concerns with intermetallic solder bonds. Engineers can utilize this comparative knowledge of both technologies to select the optimal solid-state bonding process for their manufacturing needs after factoring in joint performance requirements, production volumes and equipment costs trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FQA)

Q1: What metals can be successfully joined through cold welding?

A1: Most ductile metals like gold, silver, aluminum, copper, mild steels can cold weld readily while brittle metals like cast iron and titanium are not suitable. Hardness mismatch and metallurgical incompatibility can also limit bondability between certain material combinations.

Q2: What are some common applications of cold welding?

A2: Cold pressure welding is used to make welded metal bellows, hermetic seals, electrical contacts, metal assemblies in aerospace, automotive and medical products. Micro-scale cold welding is used in MEMS device fabrication.

Q3: How does the surface roughness of the metals to be joined impact the pseudo-soldering process?

A3: Minimal impact since the interlayers deform and diffuse into the base metals to form intermetallic bonds. However, highly polished surfaces allow better interfacial contact enabling faster interdiffusion. Excessively rough surfaces may trap more voids.

Q4: What types of intermetallics form in a typical pseudo-soldered joint between copper substrates?

A4: Intermetallics like Cu3Sn and Cu6Sn5 form during solid state interdiffusion between copper and tin across the joint interface, similar to conventional copper-tin solder joints. The final intermetallic distribution depends on bonding time and temperature.

Q5: What are some methods used to clean metal surfaces prior to cold welding?

A5: Chemical etching, electrochemical polishing, sputter cleaning, ion beam cleaning and precision machining are typically employed. The goal is to remove all surface oxides, films and organic residues to enable direct metal-to-metal bonding.

Definition of PCBA cold welding

When the minimum required wetting temperature is not reached between the electronic component and the PCB during soldering; or although the local wetting occurs, the phenomenon caused by incomplete metallurgical reaction can be defined as cold soldering. Popularly speaking, it is caused by low temperature.

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SMT PCBA

The difference between PCBA cold welding and pseudo soldering

1.The color is different

Cold soldering is generally a color difference,the color will be black, and even serious can see tin particles.

2.The mechanism of formation is different

The pseudo soldering is caused by the oxidation, vulcanization or contamination of the surface of the soldered metal and becomes non-weldable, while the cold soldering is caused by insufficient heat supplied by the PCBA board during soldering.

3.There are differences in connection strength

In the case of soldering, the solder and the metal surface of the substrate are separated from each other by an oxide film. After bonding, the adhesion of the solder is poor, and the bonding effect is weak. The IMC layer formed on the interface of the cold solder joint is very Thin and incomplete development, and the interface of solder joints with severe cold welding is often accompanied by penetrating cracks, and there is no strength at all.

4.Metallographic structure is different

The microstructure of the metallurgical structure after the virtual welding is relatively fine; the microstructure of the metallographic structure after cold welding is not uniform.

Both PCBA and cold soldering directly affect the reliability of prototype PCB Assembly soldering. It is necessary to detect and prevent it in time to effectively reduce the repair rate of PCBA board.

High Thermal Conductivity PCB Material Will Solve The Heat Dissipation Problem

fr4 thermal conductivity

With the development of integration technology and microelectronic packaging technology, the total power density of electronic components is increasing, while the physical dimensions of electronic components and electronic devices are gradually becoming smaller and miniaturized, and the generated heat is rapidly accumulated, leading to integration. The heat flux density around the device is also increasing, so the high temperature environment will definitely affect the performance of electronic components and equipment, which requires a more efficient thermal control scheme. Therefore, the heat dissipation problem of electronic components has evolved into a major focus of current electronic components and electronic device manufacturing.

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In response to this situation, engineers have come up with some thermal management strategies: for example, by increasing the thermal conductivity of the PCB (high TC) to improve heat dissipation; focusing on allowing materials and devices to withstand higher operating temperatures (high Thermal Decomposition Temperature) Strategy; need to understand the operating environment and the thermal adaptation of the material to the degree of thermal cycling (low CTE). Another strategy is to use more efficient, lower power or lower loss materials to reduce heat generation.

thick copper pcb

There are three general heat dissipation methods: heat conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer. Therefore, the commonly used thermal management methods are as follows: when designing the circuit board, deliberately increase the thickness of the heat-dissipating copper foil or use a large-area power supply, ground copper foil; use more heat-conducting holes; use metal heat dissipation, including heat sink, local Inlaid copper block. Or in the assembly, add a heat sink to the high-power device, the whole machine is added with a fan; either use thermal conductive adhesive, thermal grease or other thermal conductive material; or use heat pipe cooling, steam cavity radiator, high efficiency radiator.

At present, a new thermal solution has emerged on the market: it is advocated to use high Thermal Decomposition Temperature (TD) and high thermal conductivity (TC) plates for circuit board design. For example, Rayming currently represents ROGERS’s 92ML series laminates. As a global leader in high-frequency circuit materials, Rogers’ high thermal conductivity PCB material 92 ML series has several excellent features, the most notable of which is that the thermal conductivity of rogers 92ML is 4 to 8 times that of standard FR-4 (epoxy).

special pcb

The characteristics of the high thermal conductivity PCB material rogers 92 ML are as follows:

  • Thermal conductivity (Z-axis) is 2W/M.K (ASTM E1461)
  • Glass transition temperature Tg: 160 °C
  • Thermal Decomposition TemperatureTd: 400 ° C (5%)
  • Z-axis thermal expansion coefficient (50-260 ° C): 1.8%
  • UL maximum operating temperature: 150 ° C
  • The same medium thickness withstand voltage is higher, the stability is good, suitable for high power and high pressure design
  • Halogen free
High-Frequency-PCB

Then, compared with the general thermal management plan, where is the Rayming rogers pcb 92ML material solution winning?

In standard industrial test methods and models, it is assumed that the material is isotropic and only passes through the thermal conductivity of the plane; planar heat dissipation is usually used to reduce the hot spot temperature and increase the heat transfer throughout the region. The Rayming 92ML solution not only reduces the junction temperature of the device, but also increases the power output by about 15% or higher. Compared to the conventional FR-4, the 92ML can be further reduced by 30 ° C to 35 ° C (depending on the specific design).

It can also reduce the hot spot peak temperature by increasing the Z-axis heat transfer and increasing the thermal diffusion of the X and Y axes. With a 1⁄4 brick DC-DC converter that does not exceed the recommended temperature of the device, it also has a higher power output, and an increase in heat transfer also increases power capacity. Moreover, the rogers 92ML solution has a very strict design for flatness and improves the flatness of the PCB. Its lower Z expansion factor also increases PTH reliability. The 92 ML series is available: prepreg, copper clad, metal substrate (SC92®); and the test sample has passed the Interconnect Stress Test (IST).

What Is The FPC Board Manufacturing Process?

one layer flex pcb board

Introduction

Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) enable reliable interconnects and circuits in applications where rigid boards are impractical. Producing high quality FPCs requires specialized fabrication processes tailored for flexible substrates.

This article provides an in-depth look at the end-to-end FPC manufacturing process. We’ll explore the step-by-step sequence from material preparation through final fabrication. Understanding the considerations at each stage allows designers to optimize designs for manufacturability and achieve consistent results.

By the end, the full progression for transforming raw materials into complete FPC assemblies will be clear.

FPC Board Materials

Creating the flex board begins with selecting suitable substrate and coverlay materials:

Base Dielectric

  • Polyimide films like Kapton are most common
  • Other options include PET, PEN, PI composites

Bonding Adhesives

  • Acrylic or epoxy adhesives
  • Thermally activated bonding films

Coverlay

  • Liquid photoimageable solder mask (LPI)
  • Adhesive coated polyimide laminates

Stiffeners

  • Polyimide, FR4, aluminum inserts

Materials are certified to IPC specs ensuring consistent quality and performance.

Copper Clad Laminates

Rolls of copper clad flex laminate formed through adhesive bonding:

  • Available in single or double sided
  • Standard 1/2 to 2 oz copper foils
  • Available on quick-turn rolls or panels
  • Cut to size for specific designs

Large volume cost savings result from maximizing material utilization.

Inner Layer Preparation

Multilayer FPCs require individually imaging inner layers:

  • Copper patterning using lithography
  • Etch away unwanted copper
  • Strip photoresist masks
  • Visually inspect layer quality
  • Electrical testing checks shorts and opens

Completed inner layers are interleaved during layup and lamination.

Layup and Lamination

FPC material layers are stacked and bonded together:

  • Cut materials to size for each design
  • Clean all layers to remove debris
  • Precisely align films and foils
  • Load into thermal presses
  • Apply heat and pressure cycle
  • Cool under controlled pressure

Result is a solid laminate with all layers fused into a monolithic board.

Drilling

Holes drilled through the laminated stack:

  • Tooling holes for alignment
  • Through vias for interconnection
  • Depth controlled vias in multilayer boards
  • Precise process prevents barreling or tearing
  • Deburring cleans up hole walls

Hole walls prepared for subsequent plating process.

Hole Metallization

Coat drilled holes with conductive material using electroless and electrolytic plating processes:

  • Electroless copper builds initial seed layer
  • Electrolytic copper plates up conductive hole barrels
  • Copper thickness from 0.5 to >25 microns
  • Optional tin or gold finish over copper

This creates electrical connections between layers through drilled vias.

Patterning

With substrates fully prepared, photolithographic imaging defines circuit conductors:

  • Apply photoresist layer onto copper
  • Expose with UV through patterning artwork
  • Develop to selectively remove resist
  • Etch exposed copper regions
  • Strip remaining resist after etch
  • Repeat for double sided circuits

Result is the complete desired conductor pattern on the flex board.

Solder Mask

Solder mask is applied to prevent solder bridging and protect traces:

  • Liquid photoimageable mask (LPI) typically used
  • Screens away mask from desired exposed pads
  • Cures mask into tough permanent layer
  • Optional selective openings for test points

Provides electrical and environmental insulation to the circuitry.

Silk Screening

Printed silkscreen legends help identify components and connectors:

  • Ink applied through patterned screens
  • Denotes polarity, part numbers, text
  • Highly durable epoxy ink resists wear
  • White legend on black mask is common
  • Also used for board outlines/scoring

Silkscreen guides assembly and identifies the board.

Stiffener Attachment

FR4 Stiffener

Optional stiffeners added to reinforce boards:

  • Cut metal or laminate layers to size
  • Bond in place with adhesive films
  • Improves connector durability
  • Located only in required high stress areas

Stiffeners prevent flexing damage but increase cost.

Electrical Testing

Each board validated electrically after completion:

  • Tests check for short and open circuits
  • Validates design connectivity
  • Detects any fabrication defects
  • Testing may also include loaded capacitance and impedance measurements

Confirms properly functioning boards before shipment and assembly.

Final Processing

FPCs undergo final steps before shipment:

  • Route scores for break-apart boards
  • V-score flexing joints
  • Edge bead removal along routed edges
  • Cleaning removes residues
  • Package boards to avoid damage during shipment

Resulting finished FPCs are ready for customer assembly.

Conclusion

While requiring tight process control, the sequence of FPC fabrication steps enables reliable flexible printed circuits. Understanding the progression from raw materials through finished boards allows designers to optimize designs for manufacturability. The specialized fabrication processes produce high performance FPCs able to withstand dynamic mechanical environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are typical FPC substrate and copper thicknesses?

A: Polyimide dielectric films commonly range from 1 to 5 mils. Copper foil is usually 0.5 to 2 oz (18 to 70 microns).

Q: How many FPC circuit layers can be fabricated?

A: Practical limits are typically around 12 layers. More than 20 requires special processes with limited suppliers.

Q: What minimum trace/space is achievable on FPCs?

A: 3/3 mil lines/spaces are typical on outer layers. 5/5 mil tolerances for buried traces. Even smaller features possible with advanced equipment.

Q: What types of connectors mount to FPC boards?

A: Common connectors are pressure-contact ZIF types or flex-tail soldered terminals into plated through holes.

Q: What are recommended design for assembly guidelines for FPCs?

A: Allow tolerance for misalignment, provide strain relief, keep components small and low-mass, and minimize mechanical stress points.

The Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Process: Step by Step

Ceramic PCB and Substrate

Introduction to Ceramic PCBs

Ceramic PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) have revolutionized the electronics industry with their exceptional thermal conductivity, superior electrical insulation, and strong corrosion resistance. These unique properties make ceramic PCBs ideal for demanding applications involving high temperatures, high frequencies, and high power.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the ceramic PCB manufacturing process in detail, providing insights into how these advanced circuit boards are made and why they’re gaining popularity in various industries.

Learn more about:

Understanding Ceramic PCBs

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What Are Ceramic PCBs?

Ceramic PCBs are circuit boards that use ceramic materials as the base substrate instead of traditional materials like FR-4 (fiberglass-reinforced epoxy laminate). The most common ceramic materials used in PCB manufacturing are:

  1. Alumina (Al2O3)
  2. Aluminum Nitride (AlN)
  3. Beryllium Oxide (BeO)

Advantages of Ceramic PCBs

5050c ceramic board
5050c ceramic board

The ceramic PCB manufacturing process results in boards with several advantages over traditional PCB materials:

  1. Excellent Thermal Conductivity
  2. High Temperature Resistance
  3. Superior Electrical Insulation
  4. Low Dielectric Constant
  5. Dimensional Stability
  6. Chemical Resistance

Applications of Ceramic PCBs

Due to their unique properties, ceramic PCBs find applications in various industries:

The Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Process: Step by Step

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Let’s dive into the detailed ceramic PCB manufacturing process, which requires precision and expertise to produce high-quality, reliable circuit boards.

1. Material Selection and Preparation

Selecting the Ceramic Material

  • Alumina (Al2O3): Most common, balances cost and performance
  • Aluminum Nitride (AlN): Higher thermal conductivity, more expensive
  • Beryllium Oxide (BeO): Highest thermal conductivity, but toxic when processed

Preparing the Ceramic Substrate

  1. Powder Preparation
  2. Mixing
  3. Tape Casting
  4. Drying

2. Via Formation

Types of Vias in Ceramic PCBs

  • Punched Vias
  • Laser-Drilled Vias

Via Formation Process

  1. Designing Via Patterns
  2. Punching or Drilling
  3. Via Filling

3. Metallization

Metallization Techniques

  • Screen Printing
  • Thin Film Deposition
  • Thick Film Technology

Metallization Process

  1. Pattern Design
  2. Paste Preparation
  3. Screen Printing
  4. Drying

4. Lamination

Lamination Process

  1. Layer Alignment
  2. Stacking
  3. Pressing
  4. Pre-Firing

5. Surface Finish

Chemical plating with gold or silver to enhance solderability.

6. Laser Profiling

Using lasers to profile the PCB outline.

7. Electrical Testing

Testing Procedures

  • Continuity Testing
  • Insulation Resistance Testing
  • High-Potential (Hi-Pot) Testing
  • Functional Testing

8. Final Inspection and Packaging

Final Quality Control

Packaging

  • Cleaning
  • Moisture-Proof Packaging
  • Shock-Resistant Packaging

Types of Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Processes

1. Thin Film Circuit Process

Key Steps in Thin Film Process

  • Magnetron Sputtering
  • Pattern Lithography
  • Dry/Wet Etching
  • Electroplating

Direct Plate Copper (DPC) Variation

2. Thick Film Circuit Process

  • a. High-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (HTCC)
  • b. Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC)
  • c. Direct Bonded Copper (DBC)

3. LAM Technology Process

Key Features of LAM Technology

  • High Bonding Strength
  • Excellent Conductivity
  • Customizable Metal Layer Thickness
  • High Resolution
  • Superior Thermal Management

Advantages of LAM Technology

Comparison of Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Processes

ProcessResolutionThermal PerformanceCostTypical Applications
Thin FilmHighest (< 10 μm)GoodHighRF/Microwave, High-Density Interconnect
Thick Film (HTCC/LTCC)Moderate (50-100 μm)Very GoodModerateMulti-layer designs, Sensors
DBCLow (> 100 μm)ExcellentLowPower Electronics, LED Lighting
LAMHigh (10-20 μm)ExcellentHighAerospace, Advanced Power Modules

Choosing the Right Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Process

Factors to consider:

  1. Application Requirements
  2. Design Complexity
  3. Production Volume
  4. Budget Constraints
  5. Environmental Conditions

Challenges in Ceramic PCB Manufacturing

  1. High Processing Temperatures
  2. Material Shrinkage
  3. Cost
  4. Limited Repairability
  5. Brittleness

Future Trends in Ceramic PCB Manufacturing

  1. 3D Printing
  2. Nano-Ceramic Materials
  3. Green Manufacturing
  4. Integration with Flexible Electronics
  5. AI and Machine Learning

Conclusion: The Growing Importance of Ceramic PCBs

As electronic devices become more powerful and are used in increasingly demanding environments, the role of ceramic PCBs continues to grow. Their unique combination of thermal management, electrical performance, and reliability makes them indispensable in cutting-edge applications.

Understanding the ceramic PCB manufacturing process is crucial for engineers and designers looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible in electronic design. While challenges remain, ongoing research and technological advancements are continuously improving the manufacturing process, making ceramic PCBs more accessible and versatile.

As we look to the future, ceramic PCBs will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in enabling the next generation of high-performance electronic devices, from advanced aerospace systems to revolutionary medical technologies. The ceramic PCB manufacturing process, with its precision and complexity, stands as a testament to human ingenuity in the ever-evolving world of electronics.

FPC lamination process and its main compaction material introduction

2 layer flex pcb board

FPC circuit board is also called flexible circuit board, or “flexible board”. In the industry, FPC, is a printed circuit board made of flexible insulating substrate (mainly polyimide or polyester film), which has many advantages that hard printed circuit boards do not have. For example, it can bend, roll, fold, use FPC can greatly reduce the volume of electronic products, meet the needs of electronic products in the direction of high density, miniaturization, high reliability, therefore, FPC in space, military, mobile communications, Laptop computers, computer peripherals, PDA, digital cameras and other fields or products have been widely used.

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FPC machine

FPC lamination process: lamination and opening die feeding / closed die prepressing / cooling / opening / cutting process ready TPX detached film\ steel\ silica gel and dust adhesive cloth or dusting paper to clean steel before the production of the following process: 1. Board\ silica\ off film surface dust, Sundries, etc. The size of the detached film (500m*500m) is opened and placed in the laminated area. After one cycle of each lamination, 400 pieces of spare steel plates are needed, so that the continuous production will not break the material. When laminating operation, you should wear gloves with both hands or fingers with 5 fingers.

It is strictly forbidden to touch soft plates with bare hands. D. When the plate is stacked, the steel plate is placed first. Keep this stack of 10 layers (except for special requirements), with the number of FPC placed on each layer to determine the number of pendulable FPC layers per 1PNL plate size (the distance from the plate to the four sides of the silica gel should be maintained above 7cm), The FPC should be placed in the middle of the silica gel as far as possible, and each plate should be spaced at a distance of 2 cm.

The thickness of the FPC should be consistent in each layer (for example, the single panel cannot be mixed with the multilayer pcb), and every opening and every layer of FPC should be the same. And the position and order of the pictures are roughly the same. When placing, the FPC coating surface or the paste reinforcement surface should be faced up, and the detached film should be flat and covered on the soft plate without wrinkling or folding. After the operation, the stacked FPC should be laid flat on the transport belt. To the next procedure.

FPC lamination material

1.Detached membrane

With the aid of strict quality control and curing through the back stage, it has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, good separation effect and no pollution in the pressing process. The detached film can be supplied in the form of rolls and customized sizes to meet the different specifications of the customer and provide the appropriate and onlook-applied liquid pressure required to drive the laminate electronic components to the dense lamination. It eliminates air entering the bottom of the protective layer and between the circuit board.

2.TPX detached membrane

the effect is similar to that of the above type membrane, but some manufacturers of FPC circuit board have strict requirements. TPX detached film is a kind of high performance molecular material and can be used for all kinds of applications of high performance demoulding film. It is used as the main circuit board and cutting edge material of flexible printing substrate (FPC) by its excellent demembrane and heat resistance. Demoulded film for various occasions, with single-layer and multi-layer products, can be selected according to the use.

3.Steel plate

pcb material

4.Silicone cushion / silicone cushion

divided into red rubber pad and green rubber pad, it is a kind of synthetic elastic cushion made from silicone gel and polymer. The intermediate layer is glass fiber substrate, which greatly improves the strength and times of use of red silicone cushion. It has the characteristics of buffer, detachable, thermal equalization and so on. It is mainly used in hot pressing situations with high buffer requirement, such as: circuit board (FPC,PCB, soft and hard bonding board), solar energy, aerospace, power locomotive, die pressing, etc. Busbar compression and other fields.

5.The cushioning pad used repeatedly

it is developed and produced in accordance with the ultra-high temperature press used in the PCB industry at present. When the pressing temperature of the circuit board exceeds 260 ℃, the general auxiliary materials such as Kraft paper, cushioning pad and other auxiliary materials can no longer meet the high temperature pressing demand. Higher temperature resistant fibre must be used

What is PCB Tab?

Low Volume PCB Assembly Manufacturer in china

Introduction

A PCB tab, also sometimes called a printed circuit board tab, refers to a simple rectangular extension of the PCB material beyond the edge of the circuit board. Tabs serve several functions in PCB design and manufacturing.

In this article, we’ll provide a full overview of PCB tabs including their purpose, typical dimensions, placement guidelines, and impact on fabrication and assembly processes. We’ll also describe alternatives to tabs and situations where minimal or no tabbing is recommended for optimal manufacturing results.

Functions of PCB Tabs

PCB tabs primarily serve two roles:

1. Maintaining Panel Stiffness

During fabrication, PCBs are produced in large panels consisting of multiple boards for efficiency. Tabs help keep these panels rigid through all processes. The small tabs bridge the spacing between boards. This retains stiffness that would be lost if boards were completely separated from each other.

Stiff panels prevent warping and damage during shipment and handling. Retained panel strength also allows easier loading and transfer through equipment.

2. Holding Boards in Panel

In addition to stiffness, tabs prevent individual PCBs shifting around or falling out of a panel prematurely before depaneling. Placement of tabs ensures each board remains fixed in its location within the panel matrix.

Tabs must be strong enough to withstand machine insertion forces and acceleration without tearing or releasing.

Typical PCB Tab Design

While tab parameters can vary between PCB fabricators, typical specifications are:

  • Width: 0.2” to 0.4” (5mm to 10mm)
  • Length: 0.4” to 1.2” (10mm to 30mm+)
  • Corner Radius: 0.06” (1.5mm)
  • Pattern: Repeating sets of tabs distributed along panel edges

This provides short, robust tabs able to withstand fabrication stresses while retaining board positioning and panel rigidity.

Longer or wider tabs increase strength but use up more board space. Smaller tabs save space but risk tearing during handling. Optimized tabbing balances both considerations.

PCB Panel Tabbing Guidelines

To function effectively, PCB panel tabs should follow certain design guidelines:

  • Place tabs at least every 3” to 5” (75mm to 125mm) along edges
  • Locate tabs at corners and vocational panel separation lines
  • Areas under high router forces require closer tab spacing
  • Radial tab sets help hold circular boards
  • Larger or thicker boards need bigger, stronger tabs
  • Match tab width to router blade width for cleanest cut

Tab placement is designed cooperatively between PCB designer and board fabrication house based on specific panel sizes, shapes, and equipment.

Alternatives to Full Tabbing

In some cases, full tabbing along all panel edges may not be beneficial or even feasible:

Low Tab Density

For simple boards with large spacing, minimal intermittent tabs maintain position without compromising stiffness.

Breakaway Tabs

Rather than rectangular tabs, thin fracturable tabs or score lines work as break points.

Tooling Holes

Round tooling holes used in combination with partial tabs secure panel alignment.

No Tabs

Some panel and board sizes ship successfully without tabbing. Reduces fabrication work.

Specialty Shielding

For metal shielded boards, plated tabs may short shielding. Insulating sections or adhesives are used.

Castellated Edges

Instead of tabs, interleaved castellation along edges maintains positioning.

The optimal tabbing scheme balances panelization requirements, board design, and equipment capabilities between designer and fabricator.

Impact of Tabs on Fabrication

PCB panelization

PCB tabs influence considerations across the fabrication process:

Panel Layout

Tab spacing and size affects quantity of boards per panel. Larger tabs reduce panel utilization.

Imaging

Tabs spacing impacts tooling image sizes. Closer spacing allows smaller tools.

Stress

Tabs absorb shear forces rather than boards themselves during handling and drilling.

Drilling

Drill bits must cleanly penetrate any tabs without cracking or leaving residuals.

Routing

Router passes slice tabs precisely without tearing or leaving burrs on boards.

Masking

Liquid photoimageable solder mask must coat tab edges without bridging between boards.

Testing

Fixture contacts avoid tabs during in-circuit testing. Ground tabs may impact probing.

Assembly

Components avoid tabs. Tabs considered in pick and place programs.

Depaneling PCBs

Most often tabs get removed along with the rest of the panel remnants during PCB depaneling:

Tab Rout

A final routing pass slices tabs flush with board edges in one action.

Tab Punch

Pneumatic punch dies cleanly snap off tabs leaving smooth board edges.

Break Tabs

Operators manually snap off thin breakaway tabs after routing.

Leave Tabs

Some applications incorporate tabs as part of board, removing unneeded ones.

Depending on tab design, automated or manual depaneling removes tabs after all fabrication and assembly work is complete.

Conclusion

PCB tabs are simple but serve an important role in panelization and fabrication. Appropriately engineering tabs improves manufacturing yield and quality while minimizing space and cost impacts. When designed well in consultation with PCB fabricators, tabs become an indispensable part of efficient panelized board production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are typical PCB tab thickness?

A: Tabs use the same laminate and thickness as the rest of the boards in a panel. This ranges from 0.005” to 0.125” typically.

Q: Do tabs affect PCB routing density?

A: Intelligently placed tabs route between existing traces so no electrical connectivity is compromised.

Q: How do tabs impact thermal stress on PCBs?

A: Tabs help evenly distribute stresses across panels preventing warpage. Individual boards see minimal effects.

Q: Can solder mask be applied over PCB tabs?

A: Yes, tabs are coated along with the rest of boards. Care ensures no mask bridging between boards.

Q: Are there any electrical considerations for plated tabs?

A: Gold or tin plating can create a short between ground layers if tabs cross internal split planes.

How to Remove the PCBA Break Away Tab

Summary

The article introduces a simple design principle of removing PCBA break away tab. This design can quickly and reliably cut PCB boards of various sizes and pre-engraved with V-grooves. Hope it can help engineering designers.

The development background

PCBA refers to PCB that have been assembled with electronic components and are widely used in various fields such as aviation, numerical control, computers, and automation instruments.

Due to manufacturing and logistics requirements, the edge of the prototype pcb assembly board needs to be reserved, which is not required for the product side. Therefore, the PCBA break away tab needs to be removed after the components are assembled.

The method of removing the PCBA break away tab can be divided into three categories: V-cut depanelizer, milling depanelizer, and manually.

  1. The milling depanelizer has the best function, which overcomes the limitation that the V-cut can only be linearly divided. The high-speed operation of the milling cutter is used to separate the multiple-connected PCBA according to the pre-programmed path, which improve product quality and reduce scrap rate. The disadvantage is that it is very expensive and cumbersome to operate (programming required).
  2. The price of the V-cut depanelizer is much cheaper. It is cut along the PCBA V-groove by the blade, but it can only be cut straight, and the cost of the blade is expensive.
remove tab device

3.Manually removing the break away tab is by hand or needle-nosed pliers and other tools for segmentation, with low cost and easy to use, but it is also easy to damage components.

For small batches, multiple varieties and low cost manufacturing requirements, manually removing break away tab is most practical. But for big batches PCBA orders, how could we remove the PCBA break away tab? In order to solve these problems, we have developed a simple tool for manual removal of the PCBA break away tab.

remove rails process

Tooling design

The tooling achieves the purpose of removing the break away tab through a simple mechanical structure, with low cost, which can meet the requirements of adapting to different sizes and thicknesses of the process side.

he tooling adopts the following technical solution: an adjustable auxiliary device for manually removing the PCBA break away tab side, including a mounting base plate, a slider base, a movable slider, an adjustment button, and a transmission structure.

The movable slider is driven to move along the set track on the base of the slider by manually adjusting the adjustment button. After a suitable distance, the process edge to be removed from the PCBA board is placed in the card slot of the device, and finally the PCBA board is held by both hands. The function of manually removing the edge of the process can be realized by gently applying force in one direction below. Please refer to he specific working principle as below picture.

It should be noted that the hands should not be gripped on the top of the PCBA, which is the most labor-saving from the perspective of the principle of the lever, but the stress is also the largest, which is easy to damage the PCBA.

As a preferred embodiment, the mounting bottom plate of the tooling may be a workbench, or other forms of work surface, not limited to the form of the bottom plate; the slider base and the movable sliding block may be a linear bayonet dovetail groove or other The movement fit and the structural form are not limited to various types of movable fits and structural forms; the adjustment buttons may be manual rotation adjustments or other forms of adjustment buttons, not limited to the form of adjustment buttons; the transmission structure may be a cone Gear transmissions or other forms of transmission structure are not limited to the structural form of the transmission.

Compared with the prior art, the tooling has the following advantages:

(1) Low production costs;

(2) Simple operation;

(3) The quality of the process edge is good, and the components on the PCBA board are under stress;

(4) It has a wide application range and can adapt to PCBA boards with different thicknesses and board margins;

(5) The structure is flexible and convenient, and the PCBA board can be manually adjusted to adapt to various thickness and size process sides.

process of removing breakaway tab

Conclusion

The application of the new manual removal of the PCBA break away tab side auxiliary device not only takes into account the stress control requirements of the PCBA when removing the process side, but also takes into account the cost control of the production. In this way, the tooling can replace the high-cost special equipment, so it is an auxiliary device that is practical, flexible, and can reduce the overall cost, and can be widely used.