Is Your Solder Mask Process Ready for the Fine Pitches?

Component Technology and MiniaturizationComponent technology and assembly have historically been driving new material developments to meet requirements for solder mask materials and application processes. The requirements for smaller component pitches with advanced functionalities have rapidly increased in the past few years. There is a continuous...

Read More

MAJOR DOMESTIC MARKETS AND TRENDS

The seven basic markets for printed circuit boards are described below.• Automotive: engine and drive performance, convenience and safety, entertainment (radios), and other applications for diagnostics display and security.• Communication: mobile radio, touch tone phones, portable communication, pagers, data transmissions, microwave relay, telecommunications...

Read More

Outer Layer Circuit Formation

This section describes the processes used to create the printed circuit design on the two outer layers of the panel.1 RESIST APPLICATION OPERATIONSThe types of resist and application methods used by the PCB industry for Outer Layer Circuit Formation are the same as the Inner Layer Circuit Formation.2 EXPOSURE UNITSThe resist that has been applied to the outer layers of a circuit board panel is selectively exposed to UV light using photo design tools and electric Exposure Units similar to those for inner layer circuit formation. However, the outer...

Read More

Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing

Printed circuit boards are electronic circuits created by mounting electronic components on a nonconductive board, and creating conductive connections between them. The creation of circuit patterns is accomplished using both additive and subtractive methods. The conductive circuit is generally copper, although aluminum, nickel, chrome, and other metals are sometimes used. There are three basic varieties of printed circuit boards: single-sided, double-sided, and multi-layered. The spatial and density requirement, and the circuitry complexity determine...

Read More

Printed Circuit Board Manufacture

The manufacture of a multi-layer circuit board typically starts with preparing the board laminates. Each laminate has a core of fiberglass-reinforced polymer resin, with both sides of the core laminated over with copper foil surfaces. The resulting laminate is then baked, to cure and stabilize the polymer core. Subsequent processing etches the copper...

Read More

Intel Makes a Digital Coin Tosser for Future Processors

An all-digital random-number generator will help keep encryption strong and data safe for chips with features 45 nanometers and smaller 29 June 2010—Random-number generators make cryptography possible, thereby making safe digital communication possible, but because the generators rely on analog components, they are notoriously difficult to reduce in...

Read More

Build a Custom-Printed Circuit Board

Breadboarding a new circuit is a key skill and an important step in many projects—especially early on, when you need to move wires around and substitute components. But that very flexibility also makes it easy to knock wires out. Eventually, if your project is a keeper, you’re going to want something with a bit more permanence.Printed circuit boards...

Read More