Have you ever looked at two entirely different pieces of technology and wondered how they were made? How can such small of manipulations be made to a device to create a technological device that serves an entirely different purpose? A good example of this would be with your cell phone and TV system. Although similar in some ways, each device has a different layout and different mechanical interior to create a different product. There are a few things that affect the overall product of the printed circuit board.
The initial blueprint of the PCB
Of course, the initial blueprint of the PCB will decide where each component goes. However, it is important to remember that PCB layouts are constantly edited and changed. A single project is likely to go through the PCB design process numerous times. If problems are identified during the printed circuit board manufacturing process, the designer goes back to the blueprint. If problems are found at the final project phase, the project will return to the initial blueprint step. This is often what leads to longer production times for newer technology designs.
The complexity of the PCB
The complexity of the PCB will significantly affect the outcome of the project. For example, a PCB design that has a single layer will not have advanced technology capability. Also, when you introduce more layers to a design, there is more room for difference. Both your cell phone and TV contain multiple layers, but each of the layers has entirely different components. Adding in additional layers also gives more advantages to the project. The real advantage with 4 layer boards is that the internal layers are usually dedicated power distribution, this decreases the loop area and power supply impedance giving a dramatic boost to EMI performance. Additional layers also give the designer more room for individual manipulation.
The specific PCB assembly process used
There are also different methods available for printed circuit board manufacturing. The exact assembly method used will depend on the intended outcome of the project. A more complex blueprint with multiple layers will require a more advanced assembly process. Single layer PCBs, however, with limited technical capabilities, can get away with using the most basic of production methods. The most simply printed circuit boards are the ones that contain copper tracks or interconnect on only one side of its surfaces. These kinds of boards are known as 1 layer printed circuit board or a 1 layer PCB.
The materials used in the PCB production process
While most PCBs start out with the same type of prototype, they can be manufactured with different materials. These materials allow the final product to have drastic differences, which also allow them to meet differing technology needs. Initially, there are three major types of printed circuit board construction, single sided, double sided, and multi layered. We already know that multi layered are more advanced and produce the more advanced pieces of technology, but these multi layer units can also have differing materials. Some of the materials include copper, metal, and steel. The type of material used greatly affects the printed circuit board manufacturing process.
Technology is an impressive thing. You can connect with people all over the world. You can stream your favorite TV shows and movies right to your TV or phone. A lot of design and manufacturing goes into each and every piece of technology. Printed circuit board manufacturing processes differ greatly, in order to provide you with the most advanced of technological devices.
