How to Choose the Best PCB manufacturers

 

Choosing the right PCB manufacturer can be extremely troublesome, especially when there are several cheap Chinese PCB manufacturers. You will be surprised to learn that not all of these manufacturers design and develop high quality Printed Circuit Boards.

Yes, they do offer competitive prices; however, they compromise on the quality. Therefore, it is important to choose only the best manufacturer. Several factors come into play while choosing the right PCB designer and developer.  Spending time on research will ensure that you make the right decision the first time, after all, the future of your business is dependent on this particular deal.

Since a wide variety of PCB manufacturers is available, thus you should consider every aspect in order to make the right decision. You should verify the information given by the company before finalizing something. You might think that researching a company’s claim is not worth the effort, but the fact is that it will save you money, time and energy in the near future.

In the course of this article, we will provide you with complete information to guide you on choosing the best Printed Circuit Board manufacturer. Here is what you will learn by the end of this article.

 

 

• What is a Printed Circuit Board?
• Tips to Choose The Best Printed Circuit Board
• Why choose us as your PCB supplier?
• Summary

 

What is a Printed Circuit Board?

 

Before we get down to effective tips to choose the best Printed Circuit Board manufacturer, let us first focus on the basics. You need to understand what exactly a PCB is.

PCB, or formally known as the Printed Circuit Boards are an important part of all modern electronics today. PCB tends to electrically connect and mechanically supper different electronic components via pads, conductive tracks wrapped wires and much more.

A PCB comprises of several layers; you will see one or more copper laminated layers between the non-conductive substrate. The more layers you have, the more expensive PCB becomes. In addition, the layers add to the thick as well as the weight of the Printed Circuit Board.

 

 

Tips to Choose the Best PCB manufacturer

 

Initially, the Printed Circuit Board technology was very expensive, but with constant development, we know have affordable PCB.  The modern manufacturer offers a flexible PCB Prototype, making it possible for you to have a complete understanding of the circuit before you make the final purchase.

Since PCBs are extremely important for the functionality and longevity of your electronics, therefore, you need to choose a manufacturer that offers high-quality chips at a low price. So, make sure that you do your research before deciding on the manufacturer.

Below are some effective tips to choose an outstanding Printed Circuit Board manufacturer.

 

Never Compromise on the Quality

 

 

 

Of course, quality is the first thing that you need to consider. If you buy quality chips, only then can you offer quality electronics. There is no exact definition of quality as it is slightly abstract. Under quality, we tend to focus on multiple things.

Nonetheless, we can say that by quality, we mean a board should be error-free and is according to the requirements. Some of the other factors that come under the quality category are the board to the right dimensions, passes bare board test, properly drilled holes, properly positioned holes, minimum board warping among others.

For an affordable and cheap PCB manufacturer, it is important that every chip meets the standards. There should be consistency in terms of quality, and it should remain the same regardless of the number of orders they get.

Since a bad Printed Circuit Board will have a direct impact on the equipment manufacturer’s business, thus PCB supplier needs to ensure the quality of the chip. So, a good idea is to look around and compare chips from different companies to find the best one.

 

Can meet Requirements

 

The second thing that needs consideration is the Chinese PCB manufacturer’s ability to meet the highest possible standards. You need to enquire whether your desired PCB supplier has the capability to deliver chips that are in accord with your specifications.

In other words, do they have in them to deliver what they promised? The good news is that usually the formats and the standard are generic, so it is possible to meet these requirements effortlessly. A supplier needs to understand the number of layers requires the tolerances of the PCB, the core material and any other special request.

To, fully enjoy the success of your business; we suggest you run through the detailed checklist to ensure you have not missed something of importance.

 

Cost of Development

 

Cost plays a vital role when deciding the right kind of Printed Circuit Board manufacturer. You need to understand that the cost has a direct impact on the quality of the PCB. You need to figure out that if a supplier is reducing cost, does it mean that he is also decreasing the quality.

Usually, good and effective Chinese PCB manufacturers have the ability to balance price and quality. They let you take the best of both worlds. Yes, we understand that low cost attracts, however, the bad quality will lead to additional expenses. Therefore, you need to balance the quality and the cost.

 

Meet the Deadline

 

Most PCB companies promise to deliver the boards on a certain time, some of these PCBs manufacturers, fail to do what they promised. So, it is extremely important to pick a company that can meet deadlines.

The important question here is, how can you find out that certain companies meet deadlines? Simple, you need to get in touch with their previous clients. You need to check out their reviews, not only on their website but also on their social media as well as third party bloggers.

The supplier should have the right turn around time, it should not offer a quick turnaround at the expense of quality, and neither should it delay the delivery, just because the company wanted to meet the highest standards.

 

Avoid the Brokers

 

The news might come shocking to you, but it is true. Several online PCB manufacturers are actually the intermediary. These brokers will take orders from you and they outsource it. This makes it difficult for you to ensure whether they will deliver quality or not.

Therefore, you need to ensure that you stay clear of the brokers. Yes, we agree, you might come across good brokers, however, is the risk worth taking. So, the safe option is that you choose an actual Printed Circuit Board manufacturer and work with them directly. Doing this will ensure that you get good quality and on-time delivery.

 

Ability to Work Together

 

For good companies, the customer is their top priority. They would go to great lengths in order to make the customer happy. The same is the case with the PCB industry, a PCB supplier should have the ability to cooperate and create a strong relationship with its consumers.

We simply can’t quantify of exactly what a good relationship is, but it does involve several factors. A reliable Printed Circuit Board manufacturer should be able to work effortlessly with the PCB assembly, and design areas.

When the company has a cooperative relationship with others, they will be able to handle and resolve issues in an effective and efficient manner.

 

Material Sourcing

 

The source of the material plays a vital role when choosing a good Chinese PCB manufacturer. Some manufacturers offering lower prices might acquire the source material from cheap places. Thus, they will not be able to deliver and maintain standard quality.

The performance may vary from batch to batch. Therefore, choose a company that will meet the necessary board-specific regulations. It will ensure that everything is right and on time. In addition, ensure that the supplier delivers UL approved Circuit Boards.

Below are the standards that a good PCB manufacturers should meet:

Conflict Materials: This is an imperative regulation for companies that are supplying to the United States of America. In certain countries, you might not have to meet these regulations. The regulation lets you have a clear image of the raw material supply chain.

Reach(Registrations, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals): The programs allow you to have better visibility in terms of chemical used during the manufacturing of the electronics. These chips are evaluated for their contribution to the population and their impact on the environment.

RoHS( Restriction of Hazardous Substance): RoHS has been in place for many years, and it tends to govern the number of hazardous substances that are allowed in the manufactured electronics worldwide.

 

Board Testing

 

To ensure that you get the best quality, both the suppliers and the PCB manufacturers will test the boards. Mostly, they rely on sample testing, as testing all the boards is not feasible.

Sample testing allows them to conform. So, before deciding upon your supplier, just make sure that the company is willing to do board testing in the way that it should be done. If they agree, only then take on the company.

Read More:  MCPCB manufacturer: A comprehensive Guide

 

Order Quantities

 

The order capability of a Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer gives you the idea of its ability. Just make sure that the company is able to manage orders of all sizes. For instance, if you start with a small order, the company should be able to deliver that effectively.

Likewise, if the number order increases drastically, the company should be capable enough to manage big orders as well. Sometimes, companies that are made for accommodating large orders, are unable to take on a small number of orders.

Similarly, small companies might not be able to take on big orders and deliver them efficiently. These companies will be overwhelmed by a large number of orders, therefore, select a company that can meet your needs perfectly.

 

Industry Relevant Manufacturing Experience

 

Experience is an important factor that you should consider when choosing a PCB supplier. This factor tends to separate the generic PCB manufacturer from the ones with years of experience. But, how can you find an experienced manufacturer?

A manufacturer with experience has the ability to change with the changing requirements. It will innovate and adopt modern technology and its trends.

 

Customer Care Services

 

To see if the company pays heeds to quality, check out their customer support. If they have outstanding customer support, it means that they are willing to resolve their client’s problems. Their client’s matter and they will go to all lengths to satisfy them.

On the contrary, a company with bad customer service is definitely fishy. Of course, when they are not willing to listen to your issues, you can hardly expect them to resolve these issues. So, make sure that your PCB manufacturer offers outstanding customer care service.

 

Customer Support

 

In addition to customer care services, the company should also offer customer support. Of course, the customer care representative can only listen to your problems, to resolve these issues; you need to have customer support at your disposal.

So, when you decide on a PCB supplier, just make sure that they have support staff intact. After all, their support staff will resolve your problems. Having a support staff also adds credibility to the company as you would know that they take their consumers and their respective problems seriously.

 

All for minute details

 

It is important to find out complete information about the PCB Company; therefore, you need to focus on small details as well. For starters, ask them where do they produce their PCBs. The physical production setup will ensure that they are not brokers.

After all, you do not want to deal with the brokers. You would rather deal with the company directly.

 

Why Choose Us as your PCB Supplier

 

We, KingPCB, have been in the business long enough to understand all its ups and downs. We promise to deliver high quality printed circuit boards, and for that, we work day in, day out. To ensure that we meet the highest possible standards, we have only the best onboard.

Our experienced team can design and develop state of the art circuit boards. These PCBs will improve the performance of your electronics and it will make them efficient and long-lasting. Unlike companies, they do not deliver what they promise; we will provide you timely delivery within your desired budget.

KingPCB will meet all your requirements and ensure that not even a single chip is faulty or damaged. We take full responsibility of our product from end to end. In addition, to provide a prompt solution for our client’s problems, we have an outstanding customer care service.

You can reach out to us, any time you want and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Choosing us as your PCB manufacturer ensures high quality Printed Circuit Boards.

 

Summary

Printed Circuit boards have become an integral part of modern electronics; therefore, it is important to choose only the best PCB manufacturer on the market. You will come across several Chinese PCB manufacturers, but not all have the ability to deliver high-quality chipboards.

To choose a good PCB supplier, you need to consider things like experience, material source, customer service among others. Just pay close heed to the above-mentioned factors to ensure that you choose a good manufacturer. Paying attention to all the minor details will help you choose a supplier with whom you can have a good lasting relationship. KingPCB is exactly, what you need. So, without wasting your time, contact us right away and we will deliver everything you want with ease.

 

MCPCB manufacturer: A comprehensive Guide

 

MCPCB manufacturers understands Printed Circuit Boards are an imperative part of modern electronics. They know that they are widely used in every aspect of technology today. The huge success of these circuit boards allowed the manufacturer to develop better and refined PCBs.

Today, we have several different types of PCBs, serving different purposes. Every type of PCB has its own merits and demerits. In the course of this MCPCB manufacturer article, we will be focusing on the Metal Core Printed Circuit boards. Below is the breakdown of the article

 

 

• What is Metal Core Printed Circuit Board?
• Three Base Materials for PCB
• Why Metal Core PCBs are important?
• Advantages of Metal Core PCB
• Applications of Metal Core PCB
• Why Choose King PCB Manufacturer?
• Summary

 

What is Metal Core Printed Circuit Board?

 

 

According to MCPCB manufacturer, a Metal Core Printed Circuit Board contains metal as the base material. The idea of using a metal at the core is to redirect the heat away from the part that generates a significant amount of heat.

The Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards use the base metal in order to increase the thermal conductivity. This concept is not common in the standard circuit boards, where they use CEM3 or FR4 as the base material. The core is made up of a metal plate. The plate is thick enough to dissipate heat in an effective and efficient manner.

 

 

Three Base Materials for PCB – MCPCB manufacturer

 

According to the MCPCB manufacturer, there are three main metals that they use as the base material for the MCPCB including Iron, Copper, and Aluminum. The difference in the peculiar properties of the metals makes them suitable for different applications.

Aluminum is famous among the LED MCPCB manufacturer mainly because of the cost element. Aluminum is cheap in comparison to the other two metals. Besides being affordable, Aluminum comes with an excellent heat-dissipating and transferring ability.

Copper, on the other end, has better performance, but it also has a direct impact on the price. A Copper-based MCPCB is significantly more expensive in comparison to an Aluminum one. Steel is another option; it is more rigid and very low thermal conductivity.

Below is a brief introduction to all three Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards

 

Aluminum PCB

 

 

As we already mentioned that Aluminum is common among the LED MCPCB manufacturers. The basic structure of Aluminum PCB is as follows:

 

Circuit Layer

 

The first layer is the circuit layer, it is a printed circuit copper foil layer. The thickness of the layer greatly depends on you. It can range from 1.0oz to around 8 oz. The minimum trace or trace will be 5/5mil

 

Dielectric layer

 

Then comes the direct layer. The price has a significant decrease if you opt for affordable and cheap Chinese PCB manufacturer.  It is important to choose the right manufacturer, as it will define the life and the quality of the PCB.

 

Substrate Layer

 

For a substrate layer, the MCPCB Circuit manufacturer uses four different types of Aluminum including 6061, 5052, 3001, and 1001. You as the potential buyer can decide the type you want. If there is no requirement, most manufacturers use 5052 due to its high thermal conductivity and affordability.

 

Copper Core PCB

 

Next, we have the Copper Core PCB. The PCB offers more rigidity in comparison to the other two. The copper PCB is about the substrate, insulating layer and copper. Like Aluminum, Copper PCB also comes in varies types and forms.

The MCPCB manufacturer uses a unique process called the laminated disposition in order to create a copper PCB. The process makes it possible for an extreme copper thickness requirement to become, cost-efficient and extremely practical.

To deliver high quality, consistency and high power circuit boards, the manufacturer utilizes a good amount of copper. Despite being used in abundance, copper makes it possible to create finer lines, well-defined edges, refined tracks and finer spaces.

 

Iron-Based PCB

 

The base material in the metal core PCB is from special steel including stainless steel, silicon steel, etc. The iron-based PCB has the capability to dissipate heat away from the circuit board and transfer to areas that are less critical such as the metal heatsink backing or the metallic core.

Manufacturing of iron PCB is a tricky task, however, KingPCB, are a professional MCPCB manufacturer. They are able to develop a robust and lasting iron-based PCB in no time.

 

 

Why Metal Core PCBs are important? – MCPCB manufacturer

 

The developing technology has led to a significant decrease in the size of electronics, while a definite increase in their functionality. In order to meet the demands of the modern days, MCPCB Circuit Manufacturers are using metal core PCB instead of the standard ones.

The decrease in size somehow has an impact on the amount of heat the electronics produce. Therefore, it is important to have circuit boards that have an innate ability to dissipate heat and transfer it to less critical areas.

Since the main purpose of the metal core PCB is to dissipate heat and act as an excellent heat thermal, thus, they are extremely important for contemporary electronics. By sustaining the heat and maintaining the optimum level of performance, MCPCB increases the lifespan of the components.

This in result boosts the performance of the electronics and makes them robust. A Metal Core Printed Circuit Board is about eight times more efficient in comparison to the regular FR4 PCB. MCPCB manufacturer understands that general cooling method such as the fans is not efficient in terms of applications that generate a lot of heat.  Therefore, they need solutions that are more reliable.

For this reason, they now use metal core PCB instead of the standard PCBs. They firmly believe that Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards are excellent heat conductors and heat dissipaters.

 

 Advantages of Metal Core MCPCBS

 

A Metal Core PCB is the first choice for many modern, affordable and cheap PCB manufacturers. They believe that metal core Printed Circuit boards offer reliability, affordability, and efficiency when compared to the other types of PCBs.

Metal Core Printed Circuit boards offer a number of benefits, and below we have briefly discussed these advantages.

 

 Cost-Effective

 

MCPCB especially the aluminum core PCBs are extremely cost-effective. Since Aluminum is among the few materials that can withstand almost all types of climates, thus it offers longevity and durability. In addition, the Aluminum production process is affordable.

MCPCB manufacturer says that mining and refining of Aluminum are cost-efficient. Thus, it reduces the overall production cost of the printed circuit board. An affordable substrate will lead to a cheap PCB, then in result allow you to offer competitive prices to your consumers.

After all, consumers are always looking for products with low prices, offering high-quality functionality. Metal Core PCB offers the best of both worlds, i.e. you will get a robust and reliable application at less price in comparison to the applications using standard PCBs.

 

Heat Dissipation

 

Another major advantage of a Metal Core Printed Circuit Board is its ability to dissipate heat in an effective and efficient manner. Since heat reduction and transferring is a challenging task especially for double-sided Printed Circuit Boards and for Multi-Layer Printed Circuit boards, therefore, they need to incorporate material that is excellent heat dissipater.

The standard PCB’s material does not have the ability to withstand extreme heat. They are not good conductors nor do they have good heat insulation techniques. The lack of heat dissipation and thermal conductivity leads to failure of the component, which then affects the performance and life-span of the application.

Using a Metal Core PCB, you will not face issues like thermal Throttling, as metals are excellent thermal conductors and heat dissipaters. All three metals used in the MCPCB are outstanding heat conductors and they efficiently transfer the heat to less crucial areas. Effective heat transfer decreases the chances of component failure and increases the lifespan of the applications tremendously.

 

Strong and Durable

 

 

Another advantage of using metal for PCB is that they offer durability. These PCBs are extremely strong, in comparison to the fiberglass. The metal PCBs are perfect for an application that requires strong stress resistance and mechanical stability.

A fiberglass PCB may not be able to dissipate heat properly, thus leading to application failure. Metal Core PCB, on the other hand, will ensure that the applications are able to withstand high temperatures. Likewise, dealing with metals is easier, as they are less likely to be subjected to damage during manufacturing or handling.

Even the day to day use of the application becomes more robust due to metal core PCBs. Durability is the reason, that the LED industry now prefers LED MCPCB manufacturers. They firmly believe that these LEDs using MCPCB are strong and reliable.

 

Resistance to Thermal Expansion

 

 

Most of you might be familiar with the concept of thermal expansion, however, for people who are unaware, below is the formal definition.

Thermal Expansion is a process in which a material expands when the heat is applied to it. After the material cools down, it comes back to its original size.

The continuous expansion and contraction of the material decrease its resistance power and it weakens over time. Thus, the heat dissipation process becomes ineffective. Lack of Thermal expansion is another factor of these metals especially aluminum that increases the reliability factor of the metal core printed circuit boards.

Since metal is less prone to thermal expansion, therefore it has a longer life and offers robustness in comparison to the regular core substrates including Fiberglass and Ceramic.

 

 

Lightweight Material

 

 

Lightweight is among the leading seasons for MCPCB manufacturers to use metal as the core material for Printed Circuit Boards. All three metals are light in weight, thus they add very little to the overall weight of the circuit board.

These metals add more resistance, strength, and durability to PCB without bringing unnecessary weight. In addition, these lightweight metals improve the quality of the product and are mechanically very strong. Thus, they are the best choice when it comes to adaptable circuit boards.

Metals especially aluminum are extremely flexible. You can use it in its liquid form or even after solidifying it. The metal remains substantial and durable in all forms.

 

Read more: Flexible PCB Manufacturer via Aluminum PCB Manufacturer

 

Eco-Friendly Manufacturing

 

One of the major reasons for using metal core Printed Circuit boards is that they are extremely environment-friendly. The metal circuit boards are not only, non-toxic, but they are fully recyclable as well.

After you are done with the Printed Circuit board, you can always reuse the metal inside for another purpose. Using metal also conserve energy, as the manufacturing and assembling process requires less time and energy.  Therefore, KINGPCB, a leading MCPCB Circuit manufacturer prefers metal core printed circuits boards.

 

Application of Metal Core PCBs

 

Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards are imperative for certain applications. For instance, products that use Solid State lighting need to use MCPCB to perform effectively and to retain longer shelf life. Likewise, devices that generate a high amount of heat such as the High Power Light-Emitting Diodes (HP LEDs) or the Lighting Emitting Diodes (HP) should use metal core PCB in order to dissipate the heat.

The amount of heated generated by these devices will have an adverse impact on their performance provided if the heat is not managed properly. Proper diversion of the heat from the critical component of the LED will increase its lifespan and enhance its performance.

MCPCB applications are unlimited, they are commonly seen in computer backlight LCD displays, notebook LCD displays, Desktop displays, general lighting, industrial monitoring systems, and automotive lighting.

MCPCBs are also common in the electric motor control application, hybrid motor control application and photovoltaic. They are also part of different power converters including high voltage regulator, telecom, power supplies, and industrial power needs.

 

Why Choose King PCB as your MCPCB Manufacturer?

 

Choosing the right PCB manufacturer is imperative as the future of all your electrical products greatly depends on having the right PCBs. Therefore, we suggest that you select King PCB as your printed circuit board Manufacturer.

Being the leading cheap Chinese PCB manufacturer, we offer the best quality at the most competitive price. Our years of experience in the PCB manufacturing industry allow us to design and develop products that are robust and reliable.

We promise to deliver high-quality products that will meet your requirements to perfection. King PCB ensures that each PCB meets the highest industry standards. We thrive to deliver only the best quality products to our consumers, as we firmly believe in satisfying our consumers in every way possible.

We use modern, state of the art equipment to ensure high quality Printed Circuit Boards. Regardless, the type of PCB, King PCB, will develop high level, robust printed circuit boards. Here are the reasons for you to choose us as your MCPCB manufacturer

 

• One-hundred Best China-Based Manufacturing
• Quick Turn around
• Quick and reliable Delivery
• 24 Hour Live Tech Support
• Outstanding on-time shipping record
• We have one of the largest teams in the industry

 

Summary

 

The contemporary applications have forced the MCPCB manufacturer to offer something more than just the standard Printed Circuit Boards. They require PCBs have the ability to withstand high temperatures, are robust, lightweight and efficient.

Metal Core Printed Circuit boards are the perfect solution for all your problems. They are reliable, cost-efficient and excellent heat dissipaters. Since they are excellent heat conductors, they are becoming increasingly popular among applications that require high thermal conductivity.

Copper, Aluminum, and Iron are among the three main substrates of MCPCB. Each metal has its own advantages and disadvantages. They are used in different applications, for instance, Aluminum PCBs work best for the LED industry.  Since Metal Core PCBs are now the future of PCBs, thus more and more manufacturers are joining the league and are trying to generate better, more reliable and efficient MCPCBs.

 

 

What is the Difference between Flexible PCB Manufacturer and Aluminum PCB Manufacturer?

The evolution of technology has allowed the PCB manufacturers to come up with a wide variety of Printed Circuit boards. They have altered the standard PCB into finer and better circuits in order to meet the needs of today’s consumer.  Instead of relying on just the orthodox PCB, we now come across manufacturers that excel in designing a single or all types of PCBs. For instance, we have Flexible PCB Manufacturer or Aluminum PCB Manufacturer, or simple standard PCB manufacturers.

The different types of PCBs tend to serve different purposes. Some of them might be effective for consumer products, whereas others might be useful for automotive solutions. No matter what type of PCB, we have invented today, their sole purpose is to aid the electronics and allow them to perform in a more efficient and effective manner.

The variation of PCB is not limited to only these two types. However, the focus of our article will be solely on Aluminum PCB and Flexible PCB. We will be covering the following in the first part of the article.

 

• What is Flexible PCB?
• Manufacturing Process of Flexible PCB
• Advantages of Flexible PCB
• Applications of Flexible PCB

Likewise, in the second part, we will talk about Aluminum PCB.

• What is Aluminum PCB?
• Manufacturing Process of Aluminum PCB
• Advantages of Aluminum PCB
• Applications of Aluminum PCB

 

The Basics about Flexible PCB Manufacturer & Aluminum PCB Manufacturer

Understanding of the standard circuit board is important to comprehend the concept of Flexible and Aluminum PCBs.
 

Standard PCB

Printed Circuit Boards or better known as PCB is an electrical circuit whose conductors and components are put together within a mechanical structure. Conductive Planes, heat sinks, pads, and copper traces are conductive features. The mechanical structure includes the insulating material laminated between layers of conductive material.

To create a robust and strong PCB, layers of nonconductive insulating material alternates with conductive copper layers. For the circuit board connection, PCB manufacturer etches the copper layers in order to leave traces of copper.

For more detail on the basics of PCB, you can read our systematic guide on the Printed Circuit Board.
 

What is Flexible PCB?

As the name suggests, Flexible PCB allows circuitry customization.  Unlike Standard circuit boards, where you need to design the machine according to the PCB requirements, with Flex PCBs, you can now develop circuitry in accord with the needs of the product or the electronic device.

A malleable base material highlights the flex circuit board’s component arrangement and a distinct patterned print characterizes the entire board. Flexible PCB can be either single-sided or double-sided.  Which one is better, solely depends on your requirement.
 

Manufacturing Process of Flexible PCB

Flexible PCB has the ability to satisfy the needs of contemporary electronics as it is lightweight, has an agile structure and offers good quality. Flexible PCB can extend to three dimensional, thus it offers freedom of mechanical structure design and circuit design.

Some Flexible PCB Manufacturers even offer the facility of Flexible PCB Prototype manufacturing.
 

Pre-treatment

A well-designed pre-treatment process prevents low yield caused by defects in the production process including short circuits or open circuits. It can enhance the coarse problems such as cutting, rolling, and drilling to reduce feeding frequency.
 

Single-Sided Flexible PCB Manufacturing Process

The first step is cutting the PCB, after that all the required drilling takes place. Next, is the step for drying film lamination and positioning and exposure? Then, the PCB manufacturer works on the Development and etching of Flex PCB.

Removal of Dry Film comes next, then surface finish,  CoverLay Lamination, Lamination and curing of the circuit takes place. After these important steps come, the surface finishing and the impression Gold. Then the Silkscreen is applied, and scoring or V-cutting happens. Since the circuit is almost ready, electrical tests start along with punching and FQC. Finally, after ensuring `everything is complete, the packaging comes into action. Lastly, the PCB is shipped to its destination.
 

Double-Sided Flexible PCB Manufacturing Process

There is a small difference when it comes to double-sided Flexible Printed Circuit Board manufacturing process.

Like single-sided, double-sided Flex PCB manufacturing process also starts with cutting and drilling. After that, the PTH step takes place, along with the electroless plating. Then it is pretreating, Dry Film Lamination, and Position.

Then comes the exposure step followed by developing and pattern plating. Manufacturers meticulously remove dry film and do the pre-treatment again. They head towards dry film lamination, position, and exposure and then they enter the developing phase.

After developing, come etching and again they remove the dry film. Now, the surface finish and coverlay lamination come into action. Lamination, curing and immersion gold are the next steps in line. Then they use the silkscreen, scoring or v-cutting. Before the punching, comes electrical test and then FQC. Finally, the packing and shipping take place.
 

Advantages of Flexible PCB

There are several advantages offered by the Flexible PCB. However, to ensure that you can fully enjoy these benefits, a Flexible PCB Manufacturer should pay close heed to the production process. They should meet the highest standards of manufacturing.
 

Save Safe

Flex PCBs are a great space saver. They utilize about 10% of the weight and space in comparison to the standard circuit board assembly.  Their small size and lightweight offers numerous packing and installation options. In addition, they offer tighter bend capabilities.
 

Maximum Reliability

You do not need a lot of interconnects for a flexible printed circuit board. A fewer interconnects leads to fewer connection, contact crimps and solder joints. Flexible PCBs manufacturer knows that a flex PCB offers enhanced reliability as it has a less potential source for failure.
 

Enhanced Capabilities

One of the major benefits of Flexible PCB is its ability to work with virtually any type of component or conductor. It even works with Zip connectors. In addition, their performance remains top-notch even under extreme temperatures. They are also super resistant to chemicals and radiation.
 

Cost Savings

Since PCBs are of robust, lightweight and of small size, thus they reduce material and packaging demands and they are in less need of regular repairs.
 

Applications of Flexible PCBs

Flexible PCB is a smart piece of technology. Its usefulness is endless and it can enhance the performance of several devices and consumer products. Flexible PCB Manufacturers believe that Flex PCBs are ideal for a wide range of applications across different industries.

They believe that Flexible PCBs can do wonders in the military. The evolution of technology in the military requires smart circuiting. Likewise, they can be effective in consumer electronics especially with the upcoming trend of shrinking everything.

You will see Flex PCBs in aerospace communication and industry as well as the automotive industry. Usage and applications are endless.
 

Aluminum PCB

There are several different types of metal Printed circuit boards out there, and Aluminum PCBs are among the most famous ones. Since Aluminum PCBs are a part of a good number of modern applications, thus we see a wide range of Aluminum PCB Manufacturers.  Several affordable and cheap PCB manufacturers are also among the biggest Aluminum PCB exporters including KingPCBs.
 

What is Aluminum PCB?

Aluminum PCBs are excellent thermal conductors mainly because they feature metal based-copper clad laminates. These Printed Circuit Boards are famous for being outstanding electrical insulators as well.

The base material of the Aluminum PCB consists of aluminum. The circuit tends to dissipate heat in an effective manner due to its thermal clad layer. In addition, the clay layer is also useful for cooling components and increasing the overall performance of the electronics and other products.
 

Manufacturing Process of Aluminum PCB

The manufacturing of Aluminum PCB is different from the standard Printed Circuit boards.  It is said to a daunting task, manufacturers consider among the most challenging undertakings. The main difference between the standard PCB and the Aluminum PCB manufacturing process lies between the chemical milling steps.

The Aluminum PCB Manufacturers add a fragile layer of dielectric between the circuit layer and the base layer. The reason for adding this layer is to increase the electrical insulation capability and thermal conductivity.

The next step is achieving the pattern. In order to achieve the pattern, you need to etch the copper foil, right after adding the dielectric layer. The thin dielectric layer along with a good metal base layer removes any heat that might exist in the circuit.

The three main production processes including copper etching, solder mask printing and mechanical manufacturing of the circuit require expertise and exposure. They need to be completed to perfection in order to create a robust, reliable and long-lasting circuit.
 

Advantages of Aluminum PCB

Aluminum PCB Manufacturers firmly believe that they have several advantages in comparison to Flexible PCB manufactures as well as standard PCB manufacturers.  Below are the reasons that support their claim.
 

Affordable

Aluminum is a cheap metal in comparison to wrought iron, brass, copper, and stain less steal. In addition, it is extremely easy to mine and refine Aluminum, thus reducing its cost even further. So, the price of products incorporating Aluminum PCBs is less in comparison to products using other types of PCBs.
 

Environmental friendly

The good news is that Aluminum is recyclable. Something, all modern industries are looking for. They want alternatives to toxic materials, and aluminum is exactly what they want. No matter, if you are an Aluminum PCB Manufacturer or an end-user, Aluminum PCB brings about a healthy planet.
 

Head Conductor

Most electronic components bear the brunt of high temperatures. They face massive damage due to high temperatures; however, the Aluminum act has an excellent head transmitter and conductor. The metal transfers the heat from critical areas to reduce the damage to the printed circuit board. These PCBs are famous because of their effective thermal conductivity.
 

Lightweight and Robust

The metal is famous for its durability. It acts as a strong core in comparison to ceramic, and fiberglass. It is also useful for daily use as it is sturdy and minimizes accidental breakage.
 

Heat Radiation

In addition to being outstanding heat conductors, they also possess outstanding heat radiation capability. So, electronics that require a high level of heat radiation, always opt for aluminum printed circuit boards.
 

Application of Aluminum PCBs

Aluminum PCBs are among the world-leading circuit boards. They are widely used across the globe. You will see them incorporated in several applications and they are the developer’s first choice when it comes to high-heat dissipation.

If your application requires outstanding heat conductor and high thermal heat dissipation, we firmly believe that Aluminum PCB should be your first choice. Initially, the idea behind these PCBs was to switch supply components that were in need of extremely high power. However, later, their usefulness came to the surface and they gained rapid popularity.

You can see them in LED applications including general lighting, traffic lights, and even automotive lighting. The Aluminum PCBs are popular among high current circuitry, motor controllers, automotive applications and high power supplies.

You might also find them in a scanner that requires high power, signal beacons, tail light assemblies, surgical lighting equipment, automotive dashboards, and power converters.
 

Which Type of Conductive layer is preferred?

Choosing the right board substrate is imperative, however, it requires indebt research and analysis. You need to pay close heed to all the factors that will help you decide the right substrate for your board. You need to consider both Flexible as well as Aluminum PCB manufacturer to find the right answer.

In general, if your applications require high heat dissipation, it is recommended that you opt for the Aluminum Core PCBs.  Their properties allow for higher density designs and high power in comparison to several other PCBs.

However, in case, you are running short on budget, you should opt for boards with a non-metal substrate such as a flex circuit with a polymer substrate.  Likewise, Flex circuits are a favorite of engineers developing industrial and manufacturing applications. Their size and durable allows them to be incorporated into modern equipment. In addition, they have the ability to withstand UV exposure, radiation, and chemicals.
 

Why choose us as your Aluminum or Flexible PCB Manufacturer?

There are several PCB manufacturing companies out there. So, why should you choose us? The answer is simple, we have years of experience to back up our claims. You will not find a Aluminum or Flexible PCB Manufacturer company that can match our skills and expertise.

In addition, to be an epitome in the field of PCB manufacturing, we are also among the biggest Aluminum PCB exporters. We have clients around the world who can vouch for our authenticity, effectiveness, and reliability.

This means that our products are of the highest quality possible. Our latest and advanced manufacturing equipment allows us to design and develop PCBs that are up to date and robust. We provide services that meet our client’s needs at an individual level.

Our years of experience, allow us to provide support for all product design and manufacturing processes. We are responsive and flexible, thus we promise on-time delivery within the desired time frame and budget. We can assure you that we will provide top-notch quality without any delay.

Our instant online quoting system will get you get the right price efficiently. We understand that there is a lot of competition out there; therefore, we offer the most competitive prices. To ensure we have the lowest price, we keep a close check on all the important aspects including marketing, sales etc.

So, feel free to contact us. We will save your time and energy and provide you with the best guideline on how to go about purchasing your PCBs. We ensure that we will offer timely deliver anywhere you want.

PCB Manufacturer: Excellent Guide on Printed Circuit Boards 

PCB is being a fundamental part of all the computational electronics and it requires to indebt analysis, yet, PCB Manufacturer simply assumes that everyone is familiar with this key concept. Thus, they do not shed light on its effectiveness and importance.

To ensure that you make the right possible decision when it comes to choosing an excellent, yet cheap Chinese PCB Manufacturer, you need to have complete knowledge regarding what a PCB is and its basics. Once you are familiar with the basics, you will be able to make a more knowledgeable decision for the better of your business.

In the course of this article, we will provide you a complete systematic guide on the Printed Circuit Boards. The breakdown of the guide is as follows

• What is PCB?
• Composition of PCB
• Common Terminologies

 

What is PCB – PCB Manufacturer?

Printed Circuit board, or even called Printed Wiring Cards or Printed Wiring boards are an imperative part of all computational electronics. Initially, the process of point-to-point wiring came into play in order to create circuits. However, the laborious process often led to short circuits and wire junctions due to wire aging and cracking.

To make these circuits robust, the designers came up with a significantly advanced concept, wire wrapping. The idea was to wrap the small gauge wire around a post at each connection point. This resulted in the creation of a gas-tight connection. The connection turned out to be extremely durable and efficiently altered.

Initially, the PCBs were expensive. However, the transition of electronics from vacuum tubes to integrated circuits and silicon circuits reduced the overall cost. In addition, to the cost, the size of the electronics decreased significantly. Electronics started to become an important part of consumer good, pressuring the manufacturers to look for effective, cost-efficient and reliable alternatives, thus the PCB was born.

PCB is a board that has pads, and lines interacted at several points.  Various connectors and components electrically connect to each other. With PCB, it is possible to rout signals and power between physical devices. The metal that allows the electrical connection between the electronic components and the surface of the PCB is Solder.

In addition, to form a strong and reliable connection between the device and PCB, the Solder is also a strong mechanical adhesive.

 

Composition of PCB – PCB Manufacturer

Different PCB manufacturers use different composition for the boards. Understanding the composition of PCBs might be a little complicated, as there are layers of different materials that are laminated together using adhesive and heat. These layers and their interconnection form a single object, PCB.

However, you do not have to worry, as we will provide you with complete information on the structure of PCB while keeping the complexity level minimal.

So, let us get to it.

Read More:What is the meaning of Multi-layer in PCB Board?

 

FR4

For years, Fiberglass, especially FR4, has been the common designator for the base material. Mainly because PCB requires a robust substrate and fiberglass act as a solid core. It provides the circuit the thickness and rigidity they require in order to function seamlessly.

The evolution of technology did lead to other flexible materials to act as the base material for PCB. PCBs are built on high temperatures and flexible plastics such as Kapton. Manufacturers tend to use Kapton or other equivalent materials for building strong and long-lasting printed circuit boards.

Since a PCB consists of several layers including epoxy prepreg, di-electric cores, and copper, thus it comes in various sizes and thicknesses. Several Printed Circuit Boards achieve their thickness due to several prepreg sheets and numerous core thickness sheets.

The customers have the option to choose between different laminate thickness including 2.3mm, 2.0mm, 1.5mm, 1.2mm, 1.0mm, 0.8mm, 0.6mm, 0.5mm, 0.4 mm, and 0.2mm among others. In order to achieve an extremely thin board, the manufacturer’s limit themselves to using only one layer of the core, and two copper layers.

In order to incorporate more copper, they will have to use more core and prepreg layers, thus increasing the thickness of the circuit in the end. For a board to be mechanically sound, the layers should be evenly distributed i.e. an odd number of dielectric layers and an even number of copper layers. When boards use thinner copper options, they are able to achieve a high number of layers without adding a lot to their thickness aspect.

The quality of the boards has a direct impact on its overall cost. Using copper or glass fiber will increase the cost; however, it will offer durability at the same time. In case, you choose to look for a cheap alternative such as phenolics or epoxies, you will not get durability.

Usually, a cheap alternative is easy to identify, as it has a strong smell. You might find the smell similar to that of low-end consumer electronics, as the same substrates are present in those electronics.  However, there are PCB Manufacturers, especially some Chinese PCB manufacturers, such as KingSong PCB Technology Ltd, that offer robust Printed Circuits boards at a minimal price.

 

Copper

A thin copper layer comes next. To laminate the thin copper foils to the board, PCB Manufacturers, use heat and adhesive. Usually, a double-sided PCB contains copper on both sides. To reduce the price some manufacturers might limit the use of copper foil to only one side.

By double-sided PCB, we mean it contains two copper layers. A PCB can even have one layer or up to 16 layers. It all depends on the quality, the cost, and the requirement of the circuit. Copper thickness is specified by weight and it can vary.

Usually, the PCB developers use ounces per square foot. Most PCB Manufacturer comes with one ounce of copper per square foot. In case, the circuits are to handle high power, they might incorporate two to three ounces of copper per square foot.  Every ounce translates to about 1.4 thousandths of an inch in terms of copper thickness.

 

Soldermask

Soldermask layer comes on top of the copper foil. It is basically the layer that ads color to the Print Circuit boards. It usually gives them a green color, however, in some cases, you may find it to be of a different color.

To prevent other metals to be exposed to copper traces, the manufacturers overlay a Solder layer on top of the copper layer. This step insulates the copper layer and it helps prevent solder jumpers as well as aid the users to solder in all the right places.

If you look at the circuit picture, you will notice that the entire circuit is covered in green expect the SMD pads and the silver rings. This allows easy and injury less soldering of the SMD pads.

 

Silkscreen

To add the symbols, number, and letters to PCB, Chinese PCB Manufacturers add a while silkscreen layer on top of the solder mask layer. The reason for adding numbers and indicators is to enhance the human understanding of the board.  For instance, a manufacturer might use a label to indicate the function of every pin or an LED on the board.

In general, manufacturers, even cheap Chinese PCB manufacturers tend to use white Silkscreen. However, there are other options available for instance, yellow, red, gray or black. To retain uniformity, it is uncommon to use more than one color on a single board, but there is no hard and fast rule of not using more than one color.

 

Terminology

 

Now that you have an idea of what is a PCB, let’s focus on some of its common terminologies. These terminologies will help you deal with affordable and cheap Chinese PCB Manufacturer in an effective manner.

Annular Ring: The ring is of copper and it is installed via a hole in the circuit board.

DRC: DRC or formally known as the Design Rule Check ensures that the PCB design is error-free. It allows the manufacturer to find problems such as small drilled holes, skinny traces or traces that might get touched incorrectly.

Drill Hit: The actual place of the drill-hole on the board. The design specifies the place; however, drill hits are among the most common manufacturing defects.

Finger: To create a connection between two circuit boards, these boards come with exposed metal pads located along their edges.  For example, the cartridge-based video games, or memory boards, etc.

Mouse bites: To create a weak spot in the board so that it is possible to break it after the face, the manufacturer clusters a number of drill heads close together. It is basically an alternate to v-score for separating boards from the panels.

Pad: It is the exposed metal on the surface of the board. All the soldering is conducted via these pads.

Panel: Small boards are put together to create a big circuit board. These small boards can easily be separated from the large board before the use. It is difficult for the automated circuit board to handle several smaller boards, however, incorporating these boards into one big board, increases the speed significantly.

Paste Stencil: It permits the deposition of solder paste in specific areas during the assembly. It is a thin, metal or in some cases plastic stencil lying over the board.

Pick and Place: The processor the machine that a PCB Manufacturer chooses in order to place the components on the board.

Plane: Better known as Pour, it is a continuous block of copper on the circuit board. Instead of having a path, it has defined borders.

Plated Through Hole: The hole is plated through the board and it has an annular ring. It might act as a connection point.

Pogo Pin: Spring-loaded contact, to make a temporary connection for programming and testing reason.

Reflow: Creating joints between components leads and pads via melting the Solder.

Silkscreen: The numbers, letters or symbols present on the circuit board. Mostly, they come in one color and low resolution.

Slot: Slots are the holes on the circuit board that are not round. Some slots are plated, whereas others are not.  Slots increase the cost of the board, as they require extra cutout time.

Solder Paste:  The PCB Manufacturer uses paste stencil along with solder suspended in a gel medium to apply onto the surface mount pads. The layer comes before the placement of the PCB component. When the solder in the paste melts, it creates electrical and mechanical joints between the components and the pads.

Solder Pot: A pot containing a small amount of molten solder, and it often hands solder boards with through-hole components. The manufacturer dips the board into the molten solder. However, they leave all solder joints on all exposed pads.

Soldermask:  In order to prevent corrosion, short circuits, or similar problems, the manufacturer place layer of protective material onto the board. Usually, the layer is of green color; however, you do find other colors as well. Solder leaves that pads that are to be solder to, but it covers up all the signal traces.

Solder Jumper:  Solder jump acts as a medium to connect either two pads or two pins adjacent to each other. It is a small, blob of solder. The manufacturer needs to be extremely careful with it, as it can lead to unwanted shorts.

Surface mount: An effective and modern method of populating the boards, allows components to, effectively sit on the board without paying heed to the leads passing through the holes.

Thermal: It a small surface that connects a plane to a pad.  In case, the pad is not able to relieve thermally, getting the pad to a high enough temperature can be troublesome. This will lead to problems while creating a good solder joint. It is easy to identify an improperly thermally relieved pad. The pad will feel sticky, and it will take a lot of time in order to reflow.

Thieving: Dots, gridlines, or hatching of copper present in the areas of the board where no traces or plane exists. It decreases the complexity level of etching as minimal time is consumed to remove the unnecessary copper.

Trace: The copper continuous path on a Printed Circuit Board.

V-Score: It is a part of the board, and it allows easy separation of the board along a line.

Via: It is a hole in the PCB board that passes a signal from layer to layer. To ensure that tented vias are not soldered, they are covered with a solder mask. However, the manufacturer uses untented vias in places where the components and the connectors might form a link.

 

Summary

Printed Circuit Board is an imperative part of the electronics; therefore, it needs to be of high quality. Basic understanding of PCB along with the knowledge of their common terminologies will help you choose the best and the most reliable PCB Manufacturer.

Of course, there are several PCB Manufacturers, out there, but not all are worth your time and money. Many of these manufacturers may claim to be the most affording manufacturer; however, they will not be able to maintain quality.

Limited manufacturers, such as KingPCB are able to retain quality while keeping their prices competitive. KingPCB is among the leading, yet extremely affordable and cheap Chinese PCB Manufacturer. Their years of experience in the PCB production allow them to design and develop top-class Printed Circuit boards.

Their knowledgeable staff has an indebt knowledge regarding every aspect of the Print Circuit Board manufacturing. They will use high-quality material for the core base to increase robustness. The will incorporate copper foil to decrease thickness while adding more layers to the board.

They always ensure that every hole is properly plated and components can be smoldered seamlessly. The quality of their Printed Circuit Boards is the best that you can find on the market. Their competitive price is their biggest competitive edge. So, be sure to check out their official website in order to learn more about them. Read more about SMT PCB.