The printed circuit board (PCB) is the foundation of any electrical device. It is considered varyingly as the “skeleton” or “brains” of any electrical gadget and provides electricity and connectivity between and among components of a device from simple household remote controls to highly sophisticated robot technology. In today’s age of digital products and micro gadgets, PCBs have become even more important since they answer the need to smaller, more efficient ways to power electronics and embed micro systems that allow internet connectivity of many common equipment, or in more appropriate digital terms, to make devices smaller but smarter.
Circuit boards are a resin or plastic and plastic board into which are soldered various conductive or copper metal parts that channel energy and communication between or among parts. Aside from routing power, it also directs signals to various inter-working parts. Generally, the more complex a device is the more layers the PCB will have.
As a complex electrical and mechanical roadmap, a PCB is constructed through a process of rigorous designing, printing and manufacturing. These processes require numerous skills in schematics and engineering and thus, there are very specialized companies that provide PCB assembly services.
The initial schematic design of any PCB serves as the blueprint or template of the PCB. It is a two-dimensional map made up of a series of symbols that show how circuits, switches, resistors, diodes, nodes and other components will be attached and connected. This intricate process nowadays is best accomplished using special electronic design automation (ED) or computer assisted design (CAD) computer software like Altium Designer, KiCAD, Allegro or Express PCB. Once the software package has reproduced the two-dimensional layout, the PCB is manufactured based on the dimensions, positioning, ground, and signal traces. After initial fabrication, the circuit board are tested normally using black box testing which only checks consistency of electrical inputs and outputs. A more stringent mode of testing is the white-box testing which involves simulating the operations of the PCB to make sure that it is properly structured and functional. White-box testing tests input and output while tracing possible pathways determining failures anywhere in the board. Again, additional technology such as a laser 3d printer may make testing more convenient by allowing the production and testing of a prototype circuit board. This is specifically advisable for PCBs targeted for mass production.
For special or very specific designs, various companies in Singapore offer PCB assembly services and provide specialized and additional services in PCB design and manufacture including multi-layer and multi-part assembly orders for more complex devices. Other Singaporean PCB assembly companies also provide rohs (lead-free) solder services which allows more convenient reworking and removing functionalities and gives cleaner and shinier finishes compared to standard lead solder. Most of these companies also offer full assembly drawings, centroid file placement, silkscreen services and parts in addition to common PCB components such as battery, resistors, LEDs, transistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and switches. More extensive PCB assembly services in Singapore even offer cleaning solutions like aqueous clean process and moisture procedures that provides non-corrosive and non-conductive cleaning utilities that do not affect PCB parts that are normally damaged by water wash. These cleaning services also do not leave flux residues which make shinier and cleaner PCB joints.
