PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is an important part of electronic products, and its production process is complex and delicate. From design, plate making, printing, etching, drilling, copper plating, tinning, cutting, testing and final packaging, every step requires precise operation and strict quality control.
This article will elaborate on the specific steps of production process from four aspects, including design and plate making, printing and etching, drilling and copper plating, tin plating and cutting and testing and packaging, to help readers deeply understand the PCB production process.
PCB design and plate making
PCB design is the first step in PCB production process, and it needs to be designed according to the circuit diagram. Designers need to consider the function, performance, size and other factors of the circuit, and use professional circuit design software for design. After the design is completed, it needs to be plate-making. Plate making is to convert the designed circuit diagram into an actual PCB board, usually using a light plotter for plate making.
In the process of plate making, the designed circuit diagram needs to be converted into an actual PCB. This process is usually carried out using a light plotter. The light plotter can accurately convert the designed circuit diagram into the actual PCB board, ensuring the accuracy and quality of the PCB board.
After the plate-making is completed, it needs to be checked. Inspection is to ensure the quality of the PCB and prevent errors. The contents of the inspection include the correctness of the circuit diagram, the size of the PCB board, the hole position, etc.
PCB printing and etching
Printing is the second step of PCB production process, mainly printing circuit diagrams to PCB boards. There are many printing methods, such as screen printing, inkjet printing, etc. After the printing is completed, PCB etching is required.
Etching is to etch the printed PCB board, remove excess copper foil, and leave a circuit diagram. There are many methods of etching, such as chemical etching, electrolytic etching, etching, etc. After the etching is completed, it needs to be inspected.
Inspection is to ensure the quality of the PCB board and prevent errors. The contents of the inspection include the correctness of the circuit diagram, the size of the PCB board, the hole position, etc.
PCB drilling and copper plating
PCB drilling is the third step of PCB production process, mainly drilling holes on the PCB board to facilitate subsequent soldering. The location and size of the drilled holes require an accurate design based on the circuit diagram.
Copper plating is copper plating on the PCB board after drilling to increase the conductivity of the circuit. There are many methods of copper plating, such as electroless copper plating, electroplating copper, etc. After the copper plating is completed, it needs to be inspected.
Inspection is to ensure the quality of the PCB board and prevent errors. The contents of the inspection include the correctness of the circuit diagram, the size of the PCB board, the hole position, etc.
Tin plating and cutting
Tin plating is the fourth step of PCB production process, mainly on the PCB board for tin plating, protect the circuit and prevent oxidation. There are many ways to plate tin, such as electroless tin plating, electroplating tin, etc. After the tin plating is completed, it needs to be cut.
Cutting is to cut a large PCB board into small pieces to facilitate subsequent use. There are many ways to cut, such as mechanical cutting, laser cutting, etc. After the cutting is completed, it needs to be tested.
Testing and packaging
Testing is to ensure the performance of the PCB board and prevent errors. The content of the test includes the function and performance of the circuit. After the test is completed, packaging is required.
Packaging is to package the made PCB board to protect the PCB board and prevent damage during transportation. There are many ways to pack, such as plastic packaging, carton packaging, etc.
PCB production process is a complex and delicate process, which needs to go through fifteen steps such as design, plate making, printing, etching, drilling, copper plating, tin plating, cutting, testing and packaging. Every step requires precise operation and strict quality control to ensure the quality and performance of the PCB board. By understanding the manufacturing process of PCB boards, we can better understand how electronic products work, and we can also use and maintain electronic products better.
