Contract Electronics Manufacturing Process and Testing Stages

by corrivera1989

A PCB, otherwise known as a printed circuit board, belongs in electronic equipment people and companies use every day. They are installed in computers, coffee makers, cell phones power tools, factory machines, and any other device that runs using digital technology.

The Production Process

A contract electronics manufacturing company uses a variety of tools, equipment and scenarios to create the perfect PCB. Some of them are single-sided for specific uses while others are double and mixed in order to provide the best performance in certain situations.

Nowadays, circuit boards have become smaller and smaller. This allows them to fit inside portable machines, tools, appliances, stereos and computers. However, current demands call for newer printed circuit board design methods in order to produce items by deadline.

For instance, some companies use fully-automated soldering equipment and prototype stencil printing. Engineers oftentimes also use design software to help them pinpoint possible complications in traditional designs that need modification to fulfill modern-day technological needs. All of this helps save time when producing boards, and it also saves money.

The Testing Process

Nowadays, researchers examine how much energy a piece of equipment requires. Then, they find a way to harness an increased amount of stored energy to improve device performance. This includes ensuring that the printed circuit board installed into an electronic item will support that gadget’s main functions.

A variety of performance tests are conducted, including the following:

• An in-circuit test – This typically will test voltage, but it also can check for faulty wiring and possible resistance.
• Visual inspection – Engineers keep a device shut off or a PCB unplugged and carefully examine it. They have the training to find small defects that could result in a printed circuit board not running the way it should.
• Automated camera inspection – This oftentimes provides an extra eye for designers when testing PCBs. It could also can possibly catch problems the human eye cannot.
• Power-off testing – This helps address complication by troubleshooting using no power. This helps in scenarios when a unit could be further damaged if left on during inspection.
• Functional test – This provides a practical analysis of what a device can do under certain conditions. It might include a smoke, sanity, regression or usability test. In summary, it helps find out how well a device that has a printed circuit board install in it works.

If proper inspect doesn’t occur, it usually increases chance of recall. However, most contract electronic manufacturing services engineers have the expertise to avoid having to take electronic products off the shelves.