Starting in the 1940s, through-hole circuits became the industry standard. They are an easy form: electronic components are mounted on one side of the board, and the wires are then threaded through matching holes, criss-crossing on the opposite side. (If you have ever experimented with a breadboard, you are familiar with basic through-hole design.) Then in the 1980s a new method was created, called surface-mounting. This technique has been gaining popularity as the benefits of surface mounted technology (SMT) become more evident.
Starting in the 1940s, through-hole circuits became the industry standard. They are an easy form: electronic components are mounted on one side of the board, and the wires are then threaded through matching holes, criss-crossing on the opposite side. (If you have ever experimented with a breadboard, you are familiar with basic through-hole design.) Then in the 1980s a new method was created, called surface-mounting. This technique has been gaining popularity as the benefits of surface mounted technology (SMT) become more evident.
What Does Northern New Jersey Surface Mounted Technology Offer?
- Less drilling – With through-hole mounting, every hole must be individually drilled into the circuit board before assembly can begin. SMT can utilize prefabricated circuit boards that require less customization and no drilling into the board itself, which saves both time and money.
- Fewer wires – Rather than the back of the circuit being covered in wires, SMT utilizes a special solder that acts as glue. Components are “wired” into place when they are placed on the board. This not only simplifies repairs, it also reduces the chance of defects.
- Greater component density – The special solder also means that you can use smaller individual components and place them closer together, because there are fewer wires connecting them. You can also place components on the back of the board since it isn’t being used for wiring. Telan Corporation supports double-sided mounting, which means a smaller and more energy-efficient product for our clients.
- Easier automated assembly – Since there is no need for hand-drilling or custom wire layout, SMT eliminates much of the detail work that requires human assembly, making the process much easier to automate. Combined with the fact the SMT components are generally cheaper than through-hole mounting components, the SMT process is nearly always cheaper than through-hole.
- SMT can be combined with through-hole mounting – There is a reason why the older technology is still used: SMT has its limitations. The chief two are:
- The solder-glue can melt under high heat. This means that components that will generate a lot of heat or bear a high electrical load should not be mounted using SMT.
- The solder-glue can also be weakened by mechanical stress. Components that will be directly interacting with a user – such as interface ports – should use the physical binding of through-hole mounting for sturdiness.
Luckily, SMT and through-hole can be combined without compromising the advantages of either. For example, you can use a through-hole mounted transformer on part of your board and SMT for the other components. We offer both services to meet all your electronics manufacturing needs.
Telan Corporation: Offering the Best Surface-Mounted Technology in Northern New Jersey
Telan Corporation has over 35 years of experience manufacturing electronics in Northern New Jersey. We can consult with you on whether your product would benefit from surface-mount technology, through-hole, or a combination of the two. We have the equipment needed to accommodate all your electronics manufacturing services in Northern New Jersey.
Contact Telan today and make us your Northern New Jersey electronics manufacturer of choice.
