Your Complete Guide to PCB Assembly

There’s a lot that goes into the design and fabrication of a printed circuit board, but the assembly process is just as important. If you aren’t using a reputable provider who follows best practices, your project could end up facing costly delays.

Keep reading to learn more about the entire PCB assembly process — including a step-by-step guide.

PCB Assembly Basics: Designing a Board for Success

Printed circuit board assembly (also known as PCBA) is the process of mounting a fabricated board with the correct components. But you can’t assemble a board if it isn’t designed correctly.

First, let’s explore the typical makeup of a printed circuit board, including materials and components.

• Substrate — This refers to the supporting material that holds the components and traces.
• Copper — This element is used in printed circuit boards due to its highly conductive electrical components.
• Solder mask — This is a technique in which all parts of a circuit board are coated with epoxy, except the contacts that need to be soldered, the gold-plated terminals of any card-edge connectors, and fiducial marks.
• Silkscreen — Though this doesn’t impact a PCB’s function, it’s worth mentioning. A silkscreen refers to digitally printed legend that outlines the decals and references designators in epoxy ink printed on the board. A silkscreen will help you recognize warning symbols and identify components and where they should be placed.
• Annular ring — This refers to the copper ring surrounding the holes on a board.
• Trace and space — A trace is the copper structure that the signals travel through — commonly referred to as a wire.
• Thru-hole or surface mount components — Components refer to any basic part that is used in building electrical equipment, such as resistors, capacitors, fuses, etc.