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To the untrained eye all PCBs may look alike, but there is no such thing as a “standard” PCB. Each one is designed for a unique function and end use, and have to be designed to perform that function in the space available. Nearly every aspect of a PCB is customizable, including its size. The size and thickness of a board is determined by the circuit requirements, and you can also create multi-layer boards by putting several thin boards together.
Even PCB material types come in a variety of options, depending on your needs. While certain PCB material types are used more often than others, they may not meet the specific needs of your product. At Telan Corporation, we can help you choose the PCB that is best for you.
To the untrained eye all PCBs may look alike, but there is no such thing as a “standard” PCB. Each one is designed for a unique function and end use, and have to be designed to perform that function in the space available. Nearly every aspect of a PCB is customizable, including its size. The size and thickness of a board is determined by the circuit requirements, and you can also create multi-layer boards by putting several thin boards together.
Even PCB material types come in a variety of options, depending on your needs. While certain PCB material types are used more often than others, they may not meet the specific needs of your product. At Telan Corporation, we can help you choose the PCB that is best for you.
A PCB begins with a non-conductive base, known as the substrate. The most common substrate material is a fiberglass epoxy resin, similar to hard plastic. This epoxy is green in color, although there are other laminating materials available, such as cotton paper mixed with epoxy or woven glass with epoxy.
Copper foil is then bonded to one or both sides of the substrate and etched to form copper traces. This can be done using a photosensitive coating (photoengraving), CNC machines, or silk-screen printing. These processes use either machines or chemical etching to remove the unwanted copper foil.
Next the entire board is coated with a masking material to both prevent oxidation and boost conductivity. Common masking PCB material types include:
Lead solder
Lead free solder
Electrolytic nickel gold
Electroless nickel gold (ENIG)
Wire bondable gold (99.99% pure gold)
Immersion silver
Immersion tin (white tin)
Carbon ink
SN 100CL (an alloy of tin, copper, and nickel)
The board is now ready for assembly, where it will be mounted with the various components necessary for proper operation. These components include:
Resistors
Capacitors
Diodes
Transistors
Integrated circuit chips
And more
Thorough testing of finished boards is necessary to ensure there are no “shorts” or “opens.” A short is an undesired connection while an open involves two points that should be connected but are not. At Telan, we put PCBs through rigorous testing to make sure they meet quality, industry, and consumer standards.
Our goal is to provide our customers with the highest-quality products and outstanding customer service. Whether it’s a fast turnaround or lowering production costs, Telan can help you achieve your business goals. Call us today at (215) 997-7603 to learn more about how Telan can help you.
