PCB Assembly Services Include Testing

It takes a high degree of craftsmanship, dexterity and attention to detail to successfully affix the many components that go into a printed circuit board (PCB) and ensure they remain securely fastened to their designated areas. This is especially true for the most critical of these components — the etched traces and solder points that connect circuits and allow for signal flow. In fact, how well these connections are made can make or break a project’s functionality and durability.

For this reason, it’s critical that you work with an ECM that takes testing and quality assurance seriously and that has the resources, space and staff to offer a wide range of post-assembly testing services. These tests can be basic functional testing or power-up testing, or they could involve troubleshooting a design to ensure it meets its engineering specifications.

In addition to providing a wide range of testing services, your pcb assembly services should also have the equipment and resources required to conduct thorough inspections of finished products. For example, a comprehensive quality assurance program should include automated optical inspection (AOI), in-circuit testing and X-ray inspections. These types of inspections help ensure that each PCB is a fully functional assembly, that it meets all the requirements of its schematic and that it’s built to the highest standards of quality.

Do Your PCB Assembly Services Include Testing and Quality Assurance?

Whether you’re working with an SMT or thru-hole technology, it’s important to ensure that your PCB assembly process includes a wide variety of testing and inspections to guarantee the integrity of the final product. SMT is a popular technology that allows for quicker and more accurate production, but it’s crucial that each machine-placed component matches up to the footprint of its Gerber file and that all the solder joints are secure and properly placed. In addition, it’s important to inspect each finished piece for proper connection quality, and for a lack of excess solder that could negatively impact the operation of the circuit board.

The reflow soldering process is another key step in a successful PCB assembly, and it’s one that requires the most skill. This is because the reflow oven needs to be perfectly calibrated so that each board reaches exactly the right temperature for the reflow solder paste to bond to the etched traces. As such, this step requires a highly-skilled assembler who is familiar with the reflow soldering process and can quickly identify any issues that may require rework or inspection.

Likewise, the through-hole assembly process requires an in-depth understanding of a range of techniques that are unique to this type of construction. This includes drilling holes, inserting and soldering leads, cleaning the boards, reflow soldering non-washable components, and more. For this reason, a trusted PCB assembly house will employ a team of highly skilled and experienced technicians with the tools and skills necessary to produce the best results. They will also be able to apply the principles of Design for Test (DFT), Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Excellence (DFX). These principles are used to minimize defects throughout the production process and reduce the likelihood that they will occur during the assembly or in the end product.