Fast Turn Printed Circuit Board Assembly Handle Thermal Expansion
When it comes to bringing new products into the market fast, companies rely on quick turn printed circuit board assembly to raise efficiency bars, reduce time-to-market, and win competitive advantages. However, speed must never be at the expense of quality.
As the demand for high-speed, low-power, reliable devices increases, so does the need to bring them to market faster. In order to do so, companies need to work with fast turn printed circuit board assembly that specialize in rapid turnaround production and are committed to meeting the demanding requirements of their customers.
The first step to achieving this goal is choosing a partner with streamlined processes and supply chain expertise. Then, ensuring your design follows industry guidelines for maximum reliability and manufacturability. These include standard component sizes/footprints, widely available parts, modular/repetitive design, minimizing BOM line items, eliminating connectors, and adhering to Design for Manufacturing (DFM) best practices.
How Do Fast Turn Printed Circuit Board Assembly Handle Thermal Expansion?
Another key consideration is partnering with a manufacturer that offers the right materials for your design. For example, if your circuit board is destined to be used in an extremely hot environment, choose a material that has high thermal conductivity and dissipates heat quickly. Similarly, if your device will be exposed to moisture, select a laminate with adequate moisture absorption and decomposition properties.
Lastly, you should be aware that different PCB substrates have different coefficient of thermal expansion values. Depending on the type of board you need, this value can significantly affect performance. Typically, the higher the CTE value of a substrate, the more likely it is to separate during thermal fluctuations. Therefore, you should aim for a lower CTE value when selecting your board materials.
In addition to thermal expansion, you should also consider a PCB’s electrical properties when designing it. If your circuit board is to be used in an environment that’s subjected to vibrations, you should choose a laminate with good electrical properties. This includes a low loss factor, good conductivity, and high chemical resistance. You should also consider the moisture absorption, which can affect the loss factor and dielectric constant.
When it comes to the final inspection, a top-notch assembler can identify flaws using automated X-ray and optical inspection technology. This doesn’t slow down the assembly process, and it allows them to spot errors like soldering faults or incorrect component placement.
When working with a rapid turn PCB assembly manufacturer, it’s important to have your design data ready in the Gerber format. This is the de facto standard for PCB files and ensures efficient communication between you and the manufacturer. Also, provide a complete Bill of Materials and assembly drawings, as well as the manufacturer part numbers for all components. This information will enable the manufacturer to begin sourcing the correct parts for your design quickly. This can save you a lot of time and money, especially if you’re working with a tight deadline.
