Equipment Used in PCB Assembly
PCB assembly is a crucial step in the printed circuit board manufacturing process that ensures all of the components are properly fixed in place. It is also a way to test that the printed circuit board can function correctly as intended in its original design. This is where the right PCB assembly equipment can make all the difference.
Several types of equipment are used in the various stages of PCB assembly. For example, a solder paste inspection machine uses cameras to evaluate the quality of a PCB’s soldering job. It is capable of analyzing the volume, height and alignment of solder connections on a PCB to quickly identify any problems that may be impacting functionality and performance.
This is one of the most important pieces of equipment that a manufacturer can have for error-free production. A reflow soldering machine looks like a giant oven and is used for the majority of the soldering in today’s pcb assembly. The reflow soldering machine heats the surface of the PCB to a precise temperature and allows for consistent, high-quality soldering across all of the small components that are often used in modern PCBs.
After the soldering and testing & inspection processes are complete, a final phase of PCB assembly involves the application of a protective layer to the surface of the board. This protects the board from damage and makes it easier to handle for future steps in the manufacturing process.
Types of Equipment Used in PCB Assembly
Another piece of equipment commonly found in PCB assembly is a rework station that is equipped with tools to perform precise desoldering and resoldering of the components on the circuit board. This can be a difficult task, as these components often have delicate parts that require specialized knowledge to remove without damaging them.
Once the PCBs are prepared, they can be sent on a conveyor belt to a pick and place machine that adds the small surface mount components. This is a highly automated process that can be done in large quantities for rapid production.
After the pick and place machines finish their work, the larger through-hole components are inserted into holes drilled in the circuit board. The lead wires are then melted using a special metal alloy called solder, which helps create the necessary electrical connections between the parts and their respective pads on the PCB.
An automatic optical inspection machine, or AOI, is an effective way to inspect the finished product for any errors or defects. The AOI machine utilizes a series of cameras arranged at different angles to view the PCB from multiple perspectives. The machines are able to recognize differences between good and bad solder connections by the way they reflect light at different angles. This is a much faster and more reliable method of inspection than looking at the PCBs manually, which can result in optical fatigue and errors. The AOI machine can also detect defects that might not be visible to the naked eye, including solder connections that are too small or too low to see with a human eye.