Q: Does Gerber required for PCB quote or production? What format of Gerber are most commonly used in PCB industry?

Gerber file RS-274X Either you’re a product developer, designer, engineer, or buyer in PCB industry, you might have heard of Gerber file. Most commonly used Gerber file format by PCB manufacturers is RS-274X. Once the Gerber file is provided to PCB manufacturer, the PCB factory uses Genensis 2000, CAM350 or any other type of CAM software to read the Gerber file. Then the data could be either converted into production data, stencil data, OP or formal quoted form (IR). The accurate project information enable the PCB manufacturers to evaluate the project thoroughly. 6 essential specifications for PCB evaluation So the Gerber file is the most essential element when clients try to get a project evaluated by PCB manufacturers. Besides the Gerber file, there’re six important specifications needed during assess stage. Board Layer count, material type, copper thickness, solder mask color, surface finish type, and board thickness. If the project is Rigid-Flex, HDI or even more complicated design, stack up drawing might be needed too. The more completed documents you provided to your PCB manufacturer, the more precise quote you will get by them.

Q: Precautions for PCB manufacturing in extreme environments

Compared with electronic products used in ordinary environments, electronic products used in extreme environments need to meet higher manufacturing requirements. As the core of electronic products, PCB is extremely important in controlling its performance. PCB materials must be fully considered in PCB manufacturing and layout. As far as extreme environments are concerned, materials that can withstand extremely high temperatures should be selected, such as FR4-008 or PI.These materials can not only withstand extremely high temperatures, but also won't cause the solder mask to detach. Since PCBs that will be used in extreme environments usually have to withstand extremely high heat and temperature fluctuations, the board should be prevented from warping, otherwise it may cut off the circuit, damage the solder joints, and cause problems during the application process. During the PCB assembly process, inspections must be carried out to ensure the quality of the final product. For example, AOI instruments should be used to check the performance of solder joints. The solder paste thickness meter is used to determine whether the solder paste has the best thickness, and whether the thickness is helpful for smooth reflow soldering in the subsequent steps of SMT assembly.

Question 1

How to Have PCB Material Ready?

Accepted Answer

Differs from PCB design and PCB specification, different PCB material could be used for different applications of PCB design. Before cropping the PCB material, some important features of material such as the material brand, TG (Glass Transition Temperature) value requirement, level of DK (Dielectric constant) and DF (Dissipation Factor) value, and copper thickness will be listed on the OP to be confirmed in advance that PCB makers do start PCB productions with the correct PCB material.

When it comes to production, the first process for PCB makers is to crop the material into working size in most efficient way in order not to waste extra material.

By increasing the material usage could help customer to save more cost on PCB. After the cropping process, the material in working size is ready to go!

Question 2

The basic composition of Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Accepted Answer

A complete Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is consist of different parts, and each has its own function and purpose. If you are interest in this product and industry. Let’s read the following introduction and learn more!

Pattern: The Pattern refers to the traces on PCB, which are used for circuit conduction between components, and a large copper surface is also designed as a ground and power plane.

Dielectric: The dielectric is used to maintain the insulation between the circuit and each layer, also known as base material.

Through hole: Also known as Via, which is used to connect the circuit between different layers. The larger sized via is used for insert component, also, there is non-plating through hole (NPTH), which is used for positioning while SMT process and fixing screws while assembling.

Solder resistant/Solder Mask: Not all the copper surfaces need to be mounted components, thus, the non-mounted copper surface area will be applied a layer of solder mask (epoxy liquid material) to avoid short circuit occur.

Legend/Marking/Silk screen: This is a non-essential part, the main purpose is only for marking the name, position frame for mounting components, so as to facilitate maintenance and identification after assembly.

Surface Finish: Because the copper surface is easily oxidized when exposed to air, and it will lead to poor solderability. Thus, it will be applied a layer of surface finish to protect the copper surface. There several type of surface finish like: HASL, ENIG, Immersion silver, Immersion Tin, OSP…etc. Each of them has its own plus and minus. We will discuss this topic in a later article.

Profesional PCB supplier in Taiwan |ExPlus

Question 3

One of the surface finish of PCB, Carbon

Accepted Answer

There are several surface for PCB, such as OSP, immersion gold, HAL lead-free, gold fingers, etc.
And Carbon is kind of auxiliary surface.
Here we mainly introduce the role of Carbon for PCB.

The introduction and application of carbon.
Carbon is mainly composed of resin, hardener, and carbon powder

The characteristics of carbon.
It is mainly to maintain conductivity and protect the copper surface of the PCB, used for high-reliability membrane switches, keyboards, and other key-type products.

The advantages of carbon.
It provides excellent adhesion and smoothness of the surface

Question 4

Where are printed circuit boards used?

Accepted Answer

PCBs are used in many different sectors, from small devices to huge machinery. Here we are talking about some applications in telecommunication products because PCBs are necessary in this industry.

Bluetooth equipment: Bluetooth headsets, speakers, microphones, etc. require PCBs.

Netcom Products: Such as high-frequency module, etc., which require high-frequency and high-speed PCBs.

Wireless Communication: Smartphones, Wi-Fi devices, 5G Products, etc. require PCBs. Some will need high-frequency and high-speed material due to the speed of the transfer speed.

*Related Article:
Where are printed circuit boards used? II
Where are printed circuit boards used? III
Where are printed circuit boards used? IV
Where are printed circuit boards used? V

Question 5

Does Gerber required for PCB quote or production? What format of Gerber are most commonly used in PCB industry?

Accepted Answer

Gerber file RS-274X
Either you’re a product developer, designer, engineer, or buyer in PCB industry, you might have heard of Gerber file. Most commonly used Gerber file format by PCB manufacturers is RS-274X. Once the Gerber file is provided to PCB manufacturer, the PCB factory uses Genensis 2000, CAM350 or any other type of CAM software to read the Gerber file. Then the data could be either converted into production data, stencil data, OP or formal quoted form (IR). The accurate project information enable the PCB manufacturers to evaluate the project thoroughly.

6 essential specifications for PCB evaluation
So the Gerber file is the most essential element when clients try to get a project evaluated by PCB manufacturers. Besides the Gerber file, there’re six important specifications needed during assess stage. Board Layer count, material type, copper thickness, solder mask color, surface finish type, and board thickness. If the project is Rigid-Flex, HDI or even more complicated design, stack up drawing might be needed too.
The more completed documents you provided to your PCB manufacturer, the more precise quote you will get by them.

Question 6

Why is OP important in PCB production?

Accepted Answer

When having discussion with PCB maker, you must have had heard that PCB factory is following the specification and instruction in OP when producing the PCB of your design.

OP is the producing standard that engineer inputs all your requirements into. It is like an ID of your PCB design. Including the PCB size, layer count of PCB, copper thickness of inner layer and outer layer, surface finish type, solder mask color, silk screen color, V-cut or mouse-bite, quality level requirement, and other types of requirement that is related to your PCB design.

So is OP important to the PCB production? The answer is surely positive because all things related to PCB fabrication is based on this OP!

Question 7

What is a printed circuit board (PCB)?

Accepted Answer

Do you have a rudimentary understanding of what a printed circuit board (PCB) is and what industry do you think has a close relationship with a printed circuit board (PCB)? There are various industries, the following five types are the main ones. Please look.

Printed circuit board for cars (PCB):
Electronic systems for cars are fairly complex, but still have development potential in the global market. The development of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for automobiles depends on the speed of development of autonomous driving.
server:
2020 is the "first year of 5g", where big data and 5G related information have been flying for the past few years, so the demand for printed circuit boards should rise in the era of data explosions.
Wearable computer:
For the past few years, wearable computers have been seen as good expressions such as exercise type, medical type, and electronic consumption type.
Laptops, TVs:
Unlike mobile phones, the laptop and TV markets are nearing saturation. It's still mainstream, but future growth isn't optimistic.
cell phone:
Mobile phones have always played a leading role. Although the growth rate in recent years is gradual and negative growth is possible in the future, the development of science and technology has a consistent spirit of improvement. In the future, mobile phones will be able to integrate more functions and evolve in more precise and higher directions. Therefore, it cannot be said that the demand for mobile phones for PCBs will surely decrease.

Question 8

Precautions for PCB manufacturing in extreme environments

Accepted Answer

Compared with electronic products used in ordinary environments, electronic products used in extreme environments need to meet higher manufacturing requirements. As the core of electronic products, PCB is extremely important in controlling its performance.

PCB materials must be fully considered in PCB manufacturing and layout. As far as extreme environments are concerned, materials that can withstand extremely high temperatures should be selected, such as FR4-008 or PI.These materials can not only withstand extremely high temperatures, but also won't cause the solder mask to detach.

Since PCBs that will be used in extreme environments usually have to withstand extremely high heat and temperature fluctuations, the board should be prevented from warping, otherwise it may cut off the circuit, damage the solder joints, and cause problems during the application process.

During the PCB assembly process, inspections must be carried out to ensure the quality of the final product. For example, AOI instruments should be used to check the performance of solder joints. The solder paste thickness meter is used to determine whether the solder paste has the best thickness, and whether the thickness is helpful for smooth reflow soldering in the subsequent steps of SMT assembly.

Question 9

PCB applies in smartwatch (Wearable devices)

Accepted Answer

Common smartwatches include Apple Watch/Garmin/Xiaomi bracelet (ExPlus also makes related wearable devices! Bluetooth headsets/police equipment, etc.)

Wearable devices have the characteristics of light weight in appearance, and the product itself also has the four major characteristics of integration, lightness and softness, wireless, and universal use. In order to meet the electrical requirements of wearable devices, it is necessary to use SiP chip carrier boards and 3D IC chips. High-end PCB technology such as carrier board, hard board with embedded active/passive components, high bending resistance FPC and Low Dk & Df PCB materials.

The wearable application industry is divided into five categories: Healthcare and Medical, Fitness and Wellness, Infotainment, Industrial and Military.

To put PCB in the smartwatch, and due to the small space, fewer components, and less memory configuration, most of the designs are designed with a flexible board or a combination of rigid and flexible boards.

Nowadays, wearing a smartwatch is like having a personal digital assistant. The functions that can be processed are: camera, thermometer, compass; GPS; heart rate monitoring, diving computer, etc.

Question 10

What is HiPot Test?

Accepted Answer

HiPot test, also called insulation withstand voltage test, is a non-destructive reliability test that can measure the "breakdown voltage" and "insulation resistance" of PCB products. High voltage will be applied to PCB products within a certain period of time, usually 1.5KV~3.0KV (daily power consumption is 110V or 220V several times the voltage, the conditions and standards vary depending on the product) to test the electrical safety of PCB products whether the characteristics and insulation performance are qualified, under high voltage, some materials with poor insulation will be broken down and a short circuit will appear.

The HiPot test is carried out by allowing the input power terminal of the PCB product to withstand a high voltage for a limited period of time, and measuring its collapse state. This test stipulates that the PCB "Does not allow arc breakdown or collapse during the period when a high voltage is applied.

The HiPot test can also detect potential defects in PCB products, such as:
1) The insulating effect of the insulating material is not good
2) There are pinholes on the insulator
3) Insufficient electrical clearance between components
4) The insulator is squeezed and broken

Knowledge