What Does It Take To Fabricate and Assemble A PCB?

In the world of electronics, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are comprehensive when it comes to their assembly and fabrication. Today, you won’t find a device that doesn’t employ the use of circuit boards as an integral part of its mechanism. However, people often make use of the electronic devices without really understanding the technology that helps make them work, i.e. the PCB.

This doesn’t matter to everyday users; however, not knowing how a PCB is assembled and fabricated; the components the circuit board is made out of etc., can cause some degree of trouble to manufacturers of electronic devices.

In the following, Super PCB, leading manufacturer of custom printed circuit boards, explains the different components and general operation of printed circuit boards.

What Are PCBs?

A PCB in its simplest form comprises of a plastic board that’s reinforced with glass. Copper lines and pads are attached to the board that are connected together and cut from a layer of copper. Known as traces, these copper lines allow the flow of electrical charge through the PCB, which then provides power to all the components situated in systematic positions on the board.

The Layers of a PCB

Single sided boards, i.e. those with only one copper layer are the simplest PCBs in the market. This doesn’t mean that copper traces can’t be installed on both sides of the board, which creates a double sided PCB. The printed circuit boards available at Super PCB are more complex extra layers are added to the original design. Such PCBs are usually used for advanced electronics.  

The Components of A PCB

If copper traces within a PCB act like its skeleton, then the components in this structure are its important organs. Just like organs in the human body, each component in a PCB has a different function. It’s because of these important components that PCBs can be used for their intended purpose in a better manner.

The following components can be found in every printed circuit board;

Battery: This helps provide voltage to the circuit.

Resistors: They control electric current as it passes through the component. Additionally, resistors are color coded as well.

LEDs: Short form for light emitting diode, these lights up when electric current flows through. In addition, this component allows current to flow in one direction only.

Transistor: This component amplifies charge.

Capacitators: These essential components are able to harbor electrical charge.

Inductor: This component helps to store electrical charge. In addition, inductors stop and change electrical current.

Diode: This essential component allows electrical current to pass through in one direction only, hereby blocking current from another.

Switches: Depending on whether these components are closed or open, switches allows electrical current to be passed through or blocked.

Knowing about how PCBs are assembled and fabricated by manufacturing companies is important. This allows people that use them for their business operations know about the high quality of PCBs. Super PCB is one such company that offers clients high quality PCBs that are assembled and fabricated using quality control standards. Ask for an online PCB quote today.