PCB Board Production Process The PCB board, or printed circuit board, is a critical part of an electronic product that allows electronic components to be connected to each other to form a fully functional system. Its production process determines the quality and performance of the PCB board. This article will give you a detailed introduction to the production process of PCB boards.
The fabrication of a PCB begins with the preparation of raw materials, usually substrates, copper foils, solder masks, etc. The substrate is made of FR4 material, which has good mechanical and electrical properties. Copper foil is used to form a conductive layer.
In this step, the designed circuit pattern is transferred to the substrate by photolithography. First, the substrate is covered with a layer of photoresist and then exposed to a specific wavelength of light. The part irradiated by the light undergoes a chemical reaction, after which in the developer, the unfirst part is washed away, leaving a pattern corresponding to the circuit design.
After the pattern transfer, the substrate enters the etching stage. In this process, the portion of the copper foil that is not protected by the photoresist is etched away by the etching solution to form the desired circuit pattern. This step ensures the accuracy and conductivity of the circuit.
Once etching is complete, the remaining photoresist needs to be removed for further processing. This is usually done by chemical cleaning.
In order to realize the electrical connection between the layers of the PCB, holes need to be drilled. This step is especially important in multilayer boards. After drilling, the hole walls need to be plated to create a conductive pathway.
To enhance electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance, holes and exposed copper surfaces on circuit boards are often plated, such as copper plating, tin plating, etc. In the case of multi-layer boards, the individual layers of substrates are joined together by press-fit technology to form a monolithic structure.
Solder mask is applied to the surface of the circuit board to prevent missoldering of parts that should not be soldered. After that, the character printing process prints the corresponding logos and characters on the board for easy identification and assembly.
Finally, according to the design requirements, the PCB board will undergo shape processing, such as cutting, chamfering, etc. After completion, a rigorous testing procedure ensures that each PCB board meets quality standards.
To sum up, the production process of PCB boards involves multiple complex steps, from raw material preparation to final inspection, each step requires precise operation and strict quality control. That's what makes sure every PCB is the best and the most reliable is what it does. Hopefully, this article will help you better understand the production process of PCB boards.