What Do You Mean By PCB?
PCB short for Printed Circuit Boards not only stabilizes most electronics but is also the wiring area for most of the electronics. Commonly associated with computers PCBs are also seen in many other electronic devices, such as radios, television, digital cameras, and cell phones.
PCBs are usually made of fiber glass or composite epoxy. When they are used for some simple electronics then they are usually composed simply and only a single layer is needed here. However, the more complex electronics, such as computer graphics need a multiple-layered PCB.
30 layer PCB Material:
The following material is used in the manufacturing of 30 layer PCBs:
- Copper foil.
- Core.
- Prepreg
- Solder-resistant ink.
- Character ink.
- Surface treatment materials.
There are different types of circuit boards with their manufacturing qualities and properties.
Single-layer PCB:
This is a PCB made with a single layer of substrate with one side coated with a thin metallic layer. Mostly copper is used here as it’s a good electrical conductor and after that, a solder mask is applied for protection.
All the components are welded onto one side in a single layer PCB which makes them easy to be designed and manufactured. This means that they can be bought at a very reasonable price especially when you place a large order for them. For this reason, they are used in many applications, such as calculators, radios, stereo equipment, and printers, etc.
Double-layer PCB:
A double-sided PCB has both its sides covered with a thin layer of conductive metal which is usually copper. The holes made on the board allow the circuits on both sides to connect.
In a double-layered PCB board, the circuits are connected either when a wire is passed through a hole or the end of the lead wire is welded to the right component. Or in a surface mount PCB where the small leads are welded to the board so that as the circuits are taking up less space, they have the capacity to perform more functions. The functions are now also performed at a higher speed.
Some of the applications in which these double-sided PCBs are used are: industrial controls, instrumentation, LED lighting, vending machines, and automotive dashboards.
Multi-layer PCB:
A PCB with three or more layers is called a Multi-layer PCB. The boards of the PCB are glued together and inserted between insulating material. This whole procedure is a preventive measure to keep the components safe from excess heat. These PCBs come in different sizes, from four layers to twelve layers.
The Multi-layer PCBs enables the designers to make complex designs due to which a large number of tasks can be performed. Such applications include storing data, GPS technology, weather updates, medical appliances, etc.
Rigid PCB:
In this type of PCB, the board cannot be twisted and the rigid PCB in a computer’s motherboard can be its most common example. The rigid PCBs are produced in the largest numbers and used in devices where the PCBs are needed to retain their shape.
Rigid PCBs can range from single layer PCB to eight or ten, multi-layer PCBs. It is used in the same applications as it uses single or multilayers.
Flexible PCB:
These PCBs use materials that can be flexed, such as plastic. They have the same single, double, or multilayers as rigid PCBs. However, their fabrication costs more as they have to be printed on material that can be moved. Being flexible they can be folded over edges and wrapped around corners. This flexibility ensures cost savings as these PCBs are able to cover larger areas. And as only a single PCB is used this also contributes towards the lightness of the device.
The Flexible PCBs are also useful in those places where there is a danger of any environmental changes. In order to make them resistant to these hazards, these PCBs are built with water-resistant materials, can withstand shocks, are corrosion resistant, and can withstand high-temperature oils.
How to Verify PCB Manufacturing Quality:
PCB Manufacturing Test:
The main factor which determines the efficiency of the printed circuit boards is their quality so it’s always advisable to find out the defects on time. Because the sooner the defects are identified the less you will have to spend on rectifying them. Therefore it’s always recommended to identify and rectify the defects before assembling.
Testing is the last ‘quality check’ stage of the PCBs. In this step, the boards are checked for any possible defects before being sent to the customers.
There are two kinds of ‘quality control’ tests of the PCBs. The first one is the visual test, it does not give you exact results and can only be performed on single-layer PCBs. The second is the electrical testing, whose results are much more reliable and this test is used for the ‘quality verification’ for all types of PCBs.
The electrical tests performed on the bare PCBs are of two types:
- Flying Probe Test.
- Universal Grid Test.
Important Fields Using 30 Layers PCBs:
Medical Gadgets:
The medical devices of today are much more efficient and consume far less power than those in the past. With the help of these high-density PCBs in the medical field, such devices have been made that are lighter in weight and much smaller in size and this has been a great innovation in the medical field. PCBs have helped in designing many medical devices, such as x-rays, CAT scan machines, or pace-makers bringing quite a revolution in the medical field.
Lighting:
These aluminum-backed PCB are also used in LED-based lighting and have made it popular due to their low power consumption and greater efficiency. These aluminum-backed PCBs have the capacity to transfer higher levels of heat and due to this, they are used in high lumen LCD appliances.
Industrial Machinery:
To activate industrial machinery a lot of high power is needed and PCBs are usually used in these machines. There are some situations where the simple one-ounce PCBs can’t be used, so here the thicker copper PCB come in handy. The thicker copper PCBs are mostly used in high-consumption battery chargers or industrial load testers.
Automobile and Aerospace Industries:
Flexible PCBs are also used in the manufacture of automobiles and airplanes. The PCBs used here are designed in such a way that they are able to endure the high-vibration environments in these fields. Among the other qualities, these PCBs have to be extremely lightweight being as delicate as possible. These qualities enable them to fit inside the small spaces found inside these applications.
How to Find the Best PCB Manufacturer for 30 Layers PCB?
There are many circuit board manufacturers from whom we can choose, but to select the perfect one for the job you should consider the following things.
- Experience:
You should make it your priority to find and select a PCB manufacturer who has been in this industry for some time.
- The Expertise:
While the number of years does matter it’s also important to see that how expert and efficient the manufacturer is.
- Location Matters:
Another thing that will matter, if you want your work to be done at reasonable rates, is the location of the manufacturer. Because naturally it would cost you more and it will also take more time if you hire someone who is outside your current location.
Manufacturing Steps of 30 Layers PCB
The various steps in PCB manufacturing are:
Step 1: Design and Output.
Step2: From making the file to filming.
Step3: To print the figure on a copper base.
Step4: Removal of the unwanted copper.
Step5: Placing the layers together and having an optical inspection.
Step6: The layers are put together and fused.
Step7: Drilling.
Step8: Fusing different layers using a chemical deposition.
Step9: Imaging the outer layers of the panel.
Step10: Electroplating the panel.
Step11: Proper establishment of the conducting areas.
Step12: Application of the solder mask.
Step13: Chemical plating of the PCB with gold or silver.
Step14: Silk-screen.
Step15: Electrical Test.
Step16: Cutting of different boards from the panel.
Final Review:
So by now, we have come to know that the Printed Circuit Boards are thin boards made out of laminate. Usually, the two main laminating materials that are used in making these circuit boards are fiberglass and epoxy.
The presence of PCBs is very important in all the major electronics, so we can call the PCBs to be the backbone of all main electronics. They are present in almost all computational electronics from digital clocks, calculators, and computers to automobiles and airplanes.
In plain, layman’s language we can say that the Printed Circuit Boards present in your electronics directs the electricity where it is required and this makes your electronics work. The PCBs send the current around their surface with the help of numerous copper wires.
So there are several PCB manufacturers that you can hire for doing the 30 layers PCB manufacturing but there only some, preferably the top ones who manage to work with total dedication to give you quality work. Besides they should also be knowledgeable of the present trends in the PCB industry.
