Archive for the ‘Ceramic PCB’ Category

How to Test a PCB Board? – Best Technology

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Nowadays, PCBs became more and more important and you can see it in every electronic device. The PCB plays a critical role in our daily life. With circuit board, the device can power on and help to transmit signals, manage heat and perform electricity. A good PCB can help to improve the overall of your device. However, not all the PCBs are work good and within your expectable, you must know how to test it and ensure it enables a good performance. As an experienced PCB manufacturers in Asia, today we want to share with you how we test a PCB, and we try to use simple words to make you sense.

What is a printed circuit board?

Before knowing the methods of testing circuit board, let’s understand the definition of PCB. A PCB is a flat board made from insulating materials like fiber glasses with conductive pathways etched onto its surface. The pathways we called circuit or traces. These pathways connect different electronic components, so that they can communicate and function together. PCBs come in various materials, shapes and sizes, which always is customized to meet specific applications and performance requirements.

PCBs can be divided into different types according to substrate material used. They are – normal FR4 PCB, polyimide flexible PCB, metal core PCB, ceramic PCB, rogers PCB. Different has its own properties and advantages. The choice of materials and the design of the PCB significantly impact the performance and reliability of the final product. Understanding the materials used in PCBs is crucial for anyone involved in electronics, from hobbyists to professional engineers/designers.

Common PCB Circuit Board Issues

Though PCB has a strong construction, they are easy to be broken or failure since they always encounter a range of issues. These problems can stem from manufacturing defects, wear and tear, or improper handling. Identifying and diagnosing these issues promptly is crucial for maintaining the reliability and performance of electronic devices. Common issues we faced are including:

Open Circuits: These occur when a break in the circuits prevents current flow normally. Open circuits can result from physical damage or manufacturing errors.

Short Circuits: Due to improper soldering, unreasonable circuit design and other reasons, resulting in a short circuit between two or more points in the circuit that should not be connected. This can cause excessive current flow, potentially damaging components.

Grounding: The unreasonable design of ground area leads to interference signals on the grounding, which affects the normal operation of the circuit.

Signal: The signal circuit design is not reasonable, resulting in interference signals on the signal.

Component Failures: Individual components on a PCB can fail due to aging, overheating, or electrical stress breakdown. And incorrect orientation will lead to the failure of PCB.

Soldering Issues: Poor soldering can lead to weak connections, causing intermittent faults or complete circuit failure. This including the dents in the solder joints, this also can make the PCB failure.

Corrosion: PCB exposure to moisture and contaminants for a long time can cause corrosion, degrading the conductive pathways and component leads.

How to check a PCB?

In generally, there are four common ways to check whether if your PCB are good or failure.

1. Visual inspection

The easiest way is visual inspection. Through naked eye observation, check whether the solder joint on the PCB circuit board is firm, whether there is short circuit, open circuit and other phenomena. And look for burnt components, discolored areas, or broken traces, such as somewhere became black or be burned obviously. These are clear indicators of damage.

2. Use a multimeter

Multimeter is a common tool used for measuring PCB. Multimeter is versatility and it has multiplied modes. Select the appropriate mode on the multimeter, such as continuity, voltage, or resistance mode, depending on what you are testing. Before testing, make sure probes are in good condition and properly connected to the multimeter, with the red probe typically being positive and the black probe negative or ground. Click here to read What is the PCB flying probe test?

3. E-tester

E-tester is a good way to test short or open circuit when it is a mass production. If you just want to test one piece PCB, multimeter is much better.

4. Use oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is a powerful diagnostic tool used to observe the waveform of electrical signals in a circuit. Connect the oscilloscope probes to the test points on the PCB, it can capture the waveform. By observing the waveform, determine whether the circuit is working normally.

5. Use a thermal imager

A thermal imager also is a effective way to check the condition of PCB. It can capture the temperature distribution on the PCB. It helps identify areas with excessive heat, which can indicate potential issues.

How to Test a Circuit Board with a Multimeter Effectively?

Testing a circuit board with a multimeter is essential for diagnosing and fixing electronic issues. A multimeter can measure voltage, current, and resistance, helping you identify problems with the PCB. The main way to test a PCB with a multimeter is to measure voltage, ‌ resistance, and ground. ‌

Measuring voltage

By measuring the voltage on the circuit board, ‌ can quickly test whether the circuit is working properly. Use the voltage gear of the multimeter, ‌ select the appropriate range, ‌ then measure the input and output of the power supply on the circuit board respectively, ‌ to check whether the voltage is within the normal range. If the voltage is abnormal, ‌ may indicate that the circuit is open or short. ‌

Measuring resistance value

By measuring the resistance value on the circuit board, can detect whether the circuit is smooth. Use the resistance level of the multimeter, select the appropriate range, then measure the key nodes on the circuit board, check whether the resistance value is within the normal range. If the resistance value is abnormal, may indicate that the circuit is open or short. ‌

Check the grounding

Grounding is critical to the proper operation of the circuit board. Use the multimeter’s ground test function, to check that key points on the board are properly grounded, ‌ this helps to spot potential electrical connection problems. ‌

In addition, for industrial-grade PCB measurement, the use of higher-precision multimeters and special pens can improve the accuracy and efficiency of the measurement. ‌ For example, the ‌ Fluke 17B Max multimeter is equipped with an extra-pointed stylus, enables more accurate measurement of patch components and pins, and ‌ improves measurement fineness and accuracy.

Generally speaking, using a multimeter to test the PCB board needs to master the correct measurement methods and skills. At the same time according to the complexity of the circuit board to choose the appropriate measurement tools, to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of the test.

How to Tell if a Circuit Board is Bad?

Identifying a bad circuit board requires a combination of visual inspection and multimeter testing. Here are some signs and methods to determine if a PCB is faulty:

Visual Signs

Look for burnt components, discolored areas, or broken traces, such as somewhere became black or be burned obviously. These are clear indicators of damage.

Component Testing

Use the multimeter to test individual components. A component that doesn’t show the expected resistance or voltage is likely faulty.

Continuity Testin

Check for open circuits. Lack of continuity in a path indicates a broken trace or solder joint.

Short Circuit Detection

Identify any unintended connections between different paths. This can be done by checking for continuity where there should be none.

Functionality Testing

Test the circuit board in its intended application. If the device does not function correctly, there may be an issue with the PCB.

Why Choose Best Technology?

By reading this post, you may know how to test a PCB by multimeter already and other methods to identify them. Best Technology has engaging in the PCB manufacturing for more than 18 years, we have served over 2000+ customers all around the world. We have strong R&D team and equipped with advanced equipment to improve the yield and product quality.

At Best Technology, we provide various PCB manufacturing, including metal core PCBs, ceramic PCBs, rigid-flex PCBs and some other special PCBs like HDI PCB, busbar PCB, heavy copper PCB. If you have similiar projects, you are welcome to contact us.

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What are thick and thin film ceramic circuit boards used for?

Thursday, August 1st, 2024

Thick film and thin film technologies for ceramic circuit boards each have their specific uses. The application of thick film technology is mainly concentrated in areas that require high reliability and high performance, such as the automotive field, consumer electronics, communications engineering, medical equipment, aerospace, etc.

The application of thin film technology focuses on products that require specific optical, electrical, chemical and thermal properties, such as reflective coatings, optical recording media, insulating films, anti-oxidation, sensors, optoelectronic device heat sinks, etc. The following will introduce the uses and differences of thick film and thin film one by one.

What is a thick film ceramic circuit board used for?

Thick film ceramic circuit board is a kind of circuit board made by thick film technology, which is widely used, mainly for electrical connection, component mounting and surface modification.

What are thick and thin film ceramic circuit boards used for?

Electrical connection

Thick film circuit board can effectively connect all parts of the circuit to ensure the smooth transmission of current.

Component mounting

It can bear and fix electronic components, and ensure the correct position and stable operation of components in the circuit.

Surface modification

Through thick film technology, the surface of the circuit board can be modified to improve its electrical performance and durability. ‌

In addition, the thick film ceramic circuit board has some specific advantages, such as its manufacturing method allows it to be manufactured independently without using a substrate, and its thickness is usually between 10 and 25 μ m. This technology can be manufactured independently without using a substrate, which provides greater design flexibility. However, there may be some limitations in the accuracy of thick-film ceramic circuit boards. For example, in the process of using screen printing technology, the line width and accuracy may be insufficient due to the problems of screen printing, which may gradually lose the accuracy advantage for heat sinks with smaller and smaller size requirements in the future.

What is a thin film ceramic circuit board used for?

Thin film ceramic circuit boards are mainly used in module components of microwave circuits, including thin film load, thin film equalizer, thin film power divider, thin film attenuator, thin film coupler and thin film bridge. ‌

1. Thin film load is often used to match the terminals of module components of microwave circuits to absorb redundant incident power. It is designed with alumina ceramic substrate, which has the advantage of high precision machining.

2. Thin-film equalizer is used to adjust the broadband power flatness of microwave circuits. By changing the square resistance of the integrated tantalum nitride film and designing different resistance values, the output waveform of the device is adjusted to achieve the balance of power signals.

3. Thin film power divider is used in multi-channel communication network system, which distributes power according to a certain proportion, and one input can be multi-output, thus avoiding the problem of unstable patch resistance welding of microstrip power divider.

4. Thin film attenuator is used for large signal attenuation or multi-gear adjustment attenuation value in microwave RF module, which realizes high attenuation value flatness of ultra-wideband and stable performance.

5. Thin-film couplers are used for power detection or signal separation, and can be designed as couplers with any weak coupling degree. tantalum nitride design is used to integrate isolated loads, which is suitable for broadband applications.

6. As a part of microwave module, thin film bridge is used for specific circuit connection and signal processing. ‌

According to these applications, we can better understand the wide application and advantages of thin-film ceramic circuit boards in the fields of high frequency, high power and high integration.

What are the advantages of thick film over thin film ceramic PCB?

Thick film ceramic circuit boards have higher mechanical strength and thermal conductivity than thin film ceramic circuit boards, and are more suitable for power electronics, automotive electronics and other occasions that require higher thermal management and mechanical strength. ‌

The main difference between thick-film ceramic circuit board and thin-film ceramic circuit board lies in their film thickness and manufacturing process. The thickness of thick film circuit board is generally greater than 10μm, while that of thin film circuit board is mostly less than 1μ m.. Thick film circuit board usually adopts screen printing process, while thin film circuit board adopts vacuum evaporation, magnetron sputtering and other process methods.

This difference in technology leads to their differences in performance and application fields. Specifically, the advantages of thick film ceramic circuit boards are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Reliable performance

Thick film circuits are flexible in design, low in investment and cost, and are mostly used in high voltage, high current and high power occasions.

High mechanical strength

Due to the use of thick film materials, thick film ceramic circuit boards have high mechanical strength and can withstand greater physical pressure and impact.

Good thermal conductivity

Thick-film ceramic circuit boards have good thermal conductivity, which is conducive to rapid heat dissipation, and is particularly important for electronic equipment that needs good thermal management. ‌

Therefore, thick film ceramic circuit boards are more suitable for applications that require high mechanical strength and good thermal conductivity, such as power electronics, automotive electronics and other fields.

What is the difference between thick film and ceramic resistors?

There are some differences between film resistance and ceramic resistance in materials, manufacturing technology, size and shape, electrical properties and application scenarios. ‌

1. Materials and manufacturing process: Thick film resistors are usually made by screen printing process and spraying or sputtering on the circuit substrate. The commonly used substrate materials are ceramics, glass and so on. The ceramic resistor is a resistance device made of ceramic material, which is fired in a ceramic kiln. ‌

2. Size and shape: Thick film resistors are usually flat, can be made into various sizes and shapes, and are suitable for assembly on circuit boards. Ceramic resistors are usually cylindrical and have a fixed size and shape. ‌

3. Electrical performance: Thick film resistor has high resistance accuracy and stability, and small temperature coefficient. Ceramic resistors have larger power carrying capacity and higher withstand voltage. ‌

4. Application scenario: Thick film resistor is suitable for high-precision circuits because of its large resistance range and good temperature stability. Ceramic resistors are suitable for general circuits and small electronic devices because of their small size and general electrical properties. ‌

From this, we can know that thick film resistors and ceramic resistors are different in materials, manufacturing processes, sizes and shapes, electrical properties and application scenarios, which make them suitable for different electronic equipment and circuit design requirements.

‌‌Thick film technology and thin film technology have certain substitutability in some fields, but thick film technology has irreplaceable role in the manufacturing and related processes of many products due to its advantages in cost, reliability, high temperature performance, etc., especially in multi-layer co-sintering processes such as LTCC and HTCC, where thin film technology cannot be applied. As a professional ceramic substrate manufacturer, Best Technology is committed to providing customers with high-quality thick film and thin film ceramic substrates to meet the needs of different applications.‌‌

Tags:ceramic circuit board, thick film ceramic resistor, thick fim ceramic pcb
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Design and Application of PVD in DPC Manufacturing Process

Monday, July 29th, 2024

With the increasing demand of electronic devices working in high temperature environment, DPC (Direct-Plated Copper) ceramic PCB has been widely used as a heat dissipation material with strong high temperature stability and high thermal conductivity. This paper discusses the design and application of DPC ceramic substrate from the aspects of material, structure and technology.

Material Selection of DPC Ceramic PCB

It is very important to select ceramic substrate with good high temperature stability and high thermal conductivity. Commonly used ceramic materials are Al2O3, AlN, Si3N4 and so on. Taking Al2O3 as an example, its thermal conductivity is as high as 24~30W/(m·K), and the coefficient of thermal expansion is about 8.2×10^-6/℃, which is similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of most chips. The ceramic layer on the surface of the substrate should be smooth and uniform, and have good adhesion, oxidation resistance, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

Design and Application of PVD in DPC Manufacturing Process

The heat dissipation performance of DPC ceramic substrate is one of the key factors affecting its work in high temperature environment. In order to test the heat dissipation performance of DPC ceramic substrate, thermocouple temperature measurement, infrared temperature measurement, thermal imager and other testing methods can be used. The experimental results show that the DPC ceramic substrate has good heat dissipation performance and can effectively heat dissipation and reduce the influence of temperature on electronic devices.

DPC Ceramic PCB Structure Design

The structure design of DPC ceramic substrate includes the thickness of copper foil, the size of aperture, the layout of copper foil and the thickness of ceramic substrate. The choice of copper foil thickness should be determined according to heat dissipation requirements and chip power density and other parameters.

There are two layout methods of copper foil, one is fully plated surface; The other is local copper, that is, only the copper foil is laid in the area around the chip. The local copper laying method can reduce the copper foil area and reduce the cost, but the adhesion between the copper foil and the substrate needs to be higher. The thickness of the ceramic substrate also needs to be selected according to the specific application requirements.

PVD Process of DPC Ceramic PCB

Direct Plating Copper (DPC) is a ceramic circuit processing technology developed on the basis of ceramic film processing. In this process, the copper metal composite layer is sputtered on the ceramic substrate by vacuum coating, and then the circuit is made by re-exposure, development, etching and film removal with the photoresistance of yellow light microshadow. Finally, the thickness of the circuit is increased by electroplating/electroless deposition, and the metallized circuit is made after the photoresistance is removed.

The process is the process of vaporizing metal materials (titanium and copper) into molecules and then forming a metal film on the surface of a ceramic substrate. The main process includes cleaning the surface of the substrate, heat treatment of the ceramic substrate, preparation of the target of metal materials, DPC of the target, measurement of film thickness and surface treatment. Among them, heat treatment can improve the thermal stability and adhesion of the ceramic substrate, and ensure that the covered copper foil will not peel off in high temperature environment.

DPC ceramic substrate small size, precision structure, high reliability requirements, complex process flow, fine production process, belongs to technology-intensive industries, with high technical barriers. Its production process mainly involves drilling, magnetron sputtering, chemical copper deposition, copper plating, solder resistance printing, chemical silver/chemical gold deposition and other main processes

Application of DPC Ceramic PCB

a. VCSEL package

The power density of VCSEL is very high, and the DPC ceramic circuit board has a high thermal expansion coefficient matching with VCSEL, so as to solve the stress problem caused by the mismatch of thermal expansion between chip and substrate. The DPC ceramic circuit board makes the metal edge closely combined with the ceramic substrate, avoiding the additional paste process, coordination accuracy and other problems in the later assembly process, as well as the reliability problems caused by the aging of the glue. The ceramic circuit board of DPC film technology almost meets the packaging requirements of VCSEL.

b. IGBT package

The insulated gate bipolar transistor has become the mainstream of the development of power semiconductor devices due to its high input impedance, fast switching speed, low on-state current and high blocking voltage. Its applications are as small as frequency conversion air conditioning, silent refrigerator, washing machine, induction cooker, microwave oven and other household appliances, and as large as electric locomotive traction system. Due to the high output power and high heat output of IGBT, heat dissipation is the key for IGBT packaging. At present, the DPC ceramic substrate is mainly used for IGBT packaging, because the DPC ceramic substrate has the characteristics of large metal layer thickness, high bonding strength (good thermal impact) and so on.

c. LED package

Throughout the development of LED technology, the power density continues to improve, and the requirements for bracket heat dissipation are becoming higher and higher. DPC ceramic substrate has high insulation, high thermal conductivity and heat resistance, low expansion and other characteristics, especially the use of through hole interconnection technology, well meet the LED flip, eutectic, COB (chip on board), CSP (chip scale package), WLP (wafer package) packaging needs, suitable for medium and high power LED packaging.

In conclusion, the design and application of DPC copper-coated ceramic substrate need to consider many factors, and a lot of experiments and data analysis are required. The performance and reliability of DPC ceramic substrate at high temperature can be improved by selecting suitable materials and designing reasonable structure and process, and the high temperature application of microelectronic devices can be guaranteed.

The advent of DPC ceramic substrate products opens the development of heat dissipation application industry. Due to the heat dissipation characteristics of the ceramic substrate, it has the advantages of high heat dissipation, low thermal resistance, long life and voltage resistance. With the improvement of production technology and equipment, the rationalization of product prices is accelerated, and the application field of LED industry is expanded.

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What is a PCB Board? – Best Technology

Saturday, July 13th, 2024

In our daily life, the electronics has been gradually infiltrated our lives. Between them, the PCB board plays an important role in it, and we must say, PCB is the foundational element of electronics. From the simplest gadgets to the most complex machinery, PCBs play a crucial role.

What is a PCB Board?

A printed circuit board (PCB) is an electronic that uses metal conductors to create electrical connections between components. Generally, a PCB is a flat, laminated composite made of non-conductive substrate materials with conductive pathways etched or printed onto it. These pathways, also known as traces, enable the electronic components mounted on the board to communicate with each other.

PCBs are designed to support and electrically connect various components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, and integrated circuits. The intricate network of copper tracks forms circuits that dictate the device’s functionality. PCBs can range from simple single-sided boards used in basic electronics to complex multi-layered structures found in advanced applications.

Common PCB Structure

A PCB’s structure is composed of several key layers, each serving a distinct purpose. Here is a detailed breakdown of these layers:

Substrate (Base Material)

The substrate, usually made of fiberglass (FR4), provides the board with its rigidity and thickness. It is the foundational layer upon which all other materials are built.

Copper Layer

This conductive layer is typically made of copper foil. For single-sided PCBs, the copper layer is only on one side of the substrate, whereas double-sided and multi-layer PCBs have copper layers on both sides or between multiple layers of substrate.

Solder Mask

The solder mask is a protective layer applied over the copper traces to prevent oxidation and accidental short-circuiting. It insulates the copper traces and leaves the component pads exposed for soldering. The green color commonly associated with PCBs comes from this layer, though it can also be found in other colors like red, blue, black, and white.

Silkscreen

The silkscreen layer is used to add labels, symbols, logos, and other markings to the PCB. This layer helps in identifying component locations and orientations during assembly and troubleshooting.

Components and Connectors (PCBA)

Components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, and integrated circuits are soldered onto the PCB. Connectors allow the PCB to interface with other boards, power supplies, and external devices.

How Many Types of PCB?

Single-Sided PCBs

These are the simplest types of PCBs, with copper on only one side of the board. You’ll find them in basic, low-cost electronics like calculators, radios, and power supplies. They’re easy to design and manufacture, which keeps costs down and makes them great for straightforward applications.

Double-Sided PCBs

These boards have copper layers on both sides, allowing for more complex circuits. They’re common in more sophisticated electronics like amplifiers, power monitoring systems, and HVAC systems. With increased circuit density and flexible design options, they can handle more complex tasks.

Multi-Layer PCBs

When you need to pack in a lot of circuits, multi-layer PCBs are the way to go. They consist of three or more layers of copper, separated by insulating layers. You’ll see these in high-tech devices like computers, servers, medical equipment, and aerospace electronics. They offer high circuit density, reduced size and weight, and better signal integrity.

Rigid PCBs

Made from solid, inflexible materials like fiberglass, rigid PCBs keep their shape and provide strong support for components. They’re durable and used in everything from simple toys to complex industrial equipment.

Flexible PCBs

These are made from flexible plastic materials like polyimide, allowing them to bend and flex. Perfect for wearable electronics, flexible displays, and compact devices where space is tight. They’re lightweight, can fit into small, irregular spaces, and can handle being bent repeatedly.

Rigid-Flex PCBs

Combining the best of both rigid and flexible PCBs, these are great for devices that need both stability and flexibility, like smartphones, cameras, and medical devices. They save space, reduce the need for connectors and interconnections, and improve reliability.

High-Frequency PCBs

Designed to operate at frequencies above 1 GHz, these are used in communication systems, microwave technology, and high-speed devices. They provide low signal loss and high performance, making them crucial for advanced communication technologies.

Ceramic PCBs

Using ceramic as the substrate material, these PCBs offer excellent thermal conductivity and stability. They’re perfect for high-power applications and environments with extreme temperatures, like LED lighting, power electronics, and aerospace systems. Ceramic PCBs ensure reliable performance in harsh conditions.

Metal Core PCBs

Featuring a metal core, usually aluminum or copper, these PCBs improve heat dissipation. They’re used in high-power applications where efficient thermal management is crucial, such as LED lighting, power supplies, and automotive electronics.

Special PCBs

Bus Bar PCBs

These integrate bus bars for high-current applications, ensuring efficient power distribution and minimal voltage drop. They’re used in heavy-duty power supplies, electric vehicles, and industrial machinery. Bus bar PCBs provide robust and reliable connections for high-power systems.

Heavy Copper PCBs

With thicker copper layers, typically 3 ounces per square foot or more, these PCBs can handle higher currents and enhance thermal management. They’re used in power distribution, automotive, and industrial applications where durability and performance are critical. Heavy copper PCBs ensure reliable operation under high-stress conditions.

HDI (High-Density Interconnect) PCBs

These feature finer lines and spaces, smaller vias, and higher connection pad density. They’re used in advanced electronics like smartphones, tablets, and medical devices where space and performance are paramount. HDI PCBs enable miniaturization and improved electrical performance.

Extra Thin PCBs

Designed with minimal thickness, these PCBs are perfect for fitting into compact and lightweight devices. You’ll find them in flexible displays, wearables, and miniaturized electronic gadgets. Extra thin PCBs allow for innovative design solutions and space-saving configurations.

RF (Radio Frequency) PCBs

Optimized for high-frequency signals, these are used in communication devices, antennas, and microwave applications. They’re designed to minimize signal loss and interference, ensuring optimal performance in wireless communication systems.

High Tg PCBs

These have a high glass transition temperature, making them suitable for high-temperature environments. Used in automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications, high Tg PCBs maintain structural integrity and performance at elevated temperatures.

Impedance Control PCBs

These are designed to maintain consistent impedance for high-speed signal transmission. They’re used in communication devices, high-speed digital circuits, and advanced computing systems. Impedance control PCBs ensure signal integrity and reduce signal loss and reflection.

Why Are PCB Boards So Expensive?

Material Quality

High-grade materials like FR4 (fiberglass), ceramics, and high-quality copper foil are used to ensure durability and performance. These materials are essential for withstanding environmental stress and ensuring reliable operation, but they are expensive. For example, ceramic substrates can cost up to 10 times more than standard FR4 materials due to their superior thermal conductivity and electrical properties.

Complexity of Design

Multi-layer PCBs and advanced designs such as HDI (High-Density Interconnect) boards require complex manufacturing processes. The process involves precise alignment of layers and sophisticated techniques like laser drilling for micro-vias. The added complexity increases the production costs significantly. For instance, a standard 4-layer PCB might cost $50 per square meter, while a 12-layer HDI PCB could cost over $200 per square meter.

Precision and Technology

Manufacturing high-precision PCBs involves advanced machinery for etching, drilling, and plating. This machinery requires significant investment, and the skilled labor needed to operate it adds to the cost. The precision required in the production process ensures that the PCBs meet exacting standards, crucial for high-performance applications. A single advanced PCB drilling machine can cost upwards of $500,000.

Volume of Production

Smaller production runs generally have higher costs per unit because the setup and tooling expenses are spread over fewer units. For example, a low-volume production run of 10 PCBs might cost $100 per board, whereas a high-volume run of 10,000 boards might reduce the cost to $10 per board due to economies of scale.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Rigorous testing, including electrical, thermal, and functional tests, ensures that the PCBs meet strict performance standards. This testing process is vital to ensure reliability, especially in critical applications like medical devices and aerospace. Quality assurance processes can add 20-30% to the overall production cost, but they are essential for maintaining high standards.

What is the Difference Between PCBA and PCB Board?

The terms PCB and PCBA are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different stages of the board’s life cycle. The PCB is the bare board itself, with no electronic components attached. It consists of a non-conductive substrate, copper traces, solder mask, and silkscreen. A PCB serves as the foundation for assembling electronic components.

On the other hand, a PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) is a PCB that has undergone the assembly process, where all necessary electronic components like resistors, capacitors, diodes, and integrated circuits are soldered onto the board. Essentially, a PCBA is a functional circuit board ready for use in electronic devices. The transition from a PCB to a PCBA involves component placement, soldering, and quality testing, transforming the bare board into an operational assembly. Below is a typical PCBA product for your reference.

What is PCB Board Common Use?

PCB boards are existing in everywhere what we live, for example, the global smartphone market, which relies heavily on PCBs, was valued at approximately $520 billion in 2020. Here are some common applications that PCB used in:

Automotive Industry

In the automotive sector, PCBs are used in engine control units, infotainment systems, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These applications enhance vehicle performance, safety, and connectivity.

Medical Devices

PCBs are integral to medical devices such as diagnostic equipment, patient monitoring systems, and implantable devices. They ensure precise and reliable operation, which is critical for patient safety and effective treatment.

Industrial Applications

PCBs are used in control systems, machinery, and power distribution units in industrial settings. They provide robust and durable solutions capable of withstanding harsh conditions and continuous operation.

Telecommunications

In telecommunications, PCBs are essential in routers, switches, and communication devices, ensuring efficient and reliable data transmission. As the demand for faster and more reliable communication networks grows, so does the need for high-quality PCBs.

Why Are Circuit Boards Green?

The characteristic green color of most PCBs comes from the solder mask, a protective layer applied over the copper traces to prevent oxidation, short-circuiting, and to protect the board during soldering.

The green color is traditional, largely due to historical reasons and practical benefits. Green solder mask provides a good contrast against the white silkscreen and the shiny copper traces, making it easier for technicians to inspect and identify components during assembly and troubleshooting. Additionally, green solder mask was one of the first colors to be developed and standardized in the industry, leading to its widespread adoption. However, PCBs are not limited to green; they can also be found in other colors such as red, blue, black, and white, depending on the specific requirements and aesthetic preferences of the project. The choice of solder mask color does not affect the performance of the PCB, but green remains popular due to its well-established manufacturing process and visual advantages.

How to Get Started with Best Technology?

Here at Best Technology, we are experienced in designing all types of PCBs, including standard rigid PCBs, special PCBs, and irregular PCBs. We can design and develop PCBs according to customer specification and offer suggestions on the right materials for your project.

We provide the full series of PCB manufacturing, from the initial PCB design, PCB layout, to custom PCB fabricate, PCB assembly, box building and so forth. By the way, we have our own factory in Vietnam, that means we can ship out the PCBs directly from Vietnam.

Welcome to contact us when you want to get a quote!

Tags:Busbar PCB
Posted in best pcb, bestpcb, Ceramic PCB, FAQ, FR4 PCB, HDI PCB, mcpcb, Metal Core PCB, PCB News, PCB Technology, PCBA, RF Board, Rigid Flex Circuit, Special PCB | No Comments »

A Perfect Ending in Electronica China 2024! – Best Technology

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

During July 8^th to 10^th, Best Technology had an exhibition at the Electronica China 2024, and now, we are so excited to share that we had an incredible time! It was our first time at this event, and we believe it is not the last time.

It is must to say that the Electronica the perfect place for us to show off our cutting-edge PCB products. Our booth was buzzing with visitors curious about our advancements in metal core PCBs, ceramic PCBs, flexible PCBs and PCB design. We were thrilled with the positive feedback and the high interest in what we had to offer.

The exhibition wasn’t just about our products; it was also about making meaningful connections. We got to chat with industry experts, potential clients, and fellow exhibitors, discussing the latest trends and exploring possible collaborations. These conversations were incredibly valuable, and we’re excited to keep these relationships growing.

At this exhibition, Best Technology also attracted the attention of authoritative media such as CCTV (China Central Television). It is a big and famous media in China. CCTV reporter visited our booth and conducted an interview with our founder, Peter. During the interview, Peter introduced the company’s latest products and technical advantages in detail, and shared the successful experience and future development plan of Best in the industry.

We want to send a huge thank you to all the friends and visitors who stopped by our booth. Your support and interest mean so much to us. Your enthusiasm for our products has motivated us to keep pushing the boundaries and coming up with even better solutions.

If you didn’t get a chance to see us at Electronica China 2024, don’t worry! We’ve got more exciting exhibitions lined up. You can catch us at PCB West in October and in Munich, Germany in November. We can’t wait to meet more industry pros and show off our latest innovations at these events.

Best Technology’s debut at Electronica China 2024 was a big success. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share our products and connect with the industry community. Thanks again to everyone who visited our booth. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming exhibitions!

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How does a DPC Ceramic PCB Manufactured?

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

Direct Plating Copper (DPC) is a ceramic circuit board developed on the basis of ceramic film processing. Aluminum nitride/alumina ceramic is used as the substrate of the circuit, and the composite metal layer on the surface of the substrate is sputtered, and the circuit is formed by electroplating and lithography. Its basic processes are:

Incoming Quality Control (IQC)

The process begins with the inspection of raw materials to ensure they meet strict quality standards. This step involves checking ceramic substrates for physical defects such as cracks, chips, or surface irregularities, and verifying material properties like thermal conductivity and dielectric strength. Advanced equipment such as microscopes and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers are used for thorough inspection, ensuring only the best materials proceed to the next stage.

Laser Drilling

Before laser drilling, a water-soluble, food-grade substrate pigment is brushed onto the ceramic substrate to reduce reflectivity and enhance laser drilling effectiveness. After drying in an oven, a laser drilling machine is used to drill through the substrate, creating pathways for connections between the upper and lower surfaces. Depending on the ceramic material, different laser wavelengths such as infrared, green light, ultraviolet, or CO2 are used to burn away the material with each laser pulse.

How does a DPC Ceramic PCB Manufactured?

Laser Marking

Laser marking involves using a laser marking machine to engrave product QR codes onto the ceramic substrate. This step ensures precise and permanent identification marks on the PCB.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

After laser drilling and marking, the substrates are cleaned to remove any attached particles or residues. This involves coarse and fine debris removal using ultrasonic cleaning, followed by water washing to eliminate any remaining particles. The cleaned substrates undergo micro-etching to roughen the surface, enhancing the effectiveness of subsequent magnetron sputtering, and are then dried to remove surface moisture.

Magnetron Sputtering

In the magnetron sputtering process, a high-vacuum chamber is used to ionize argon gas, producing an ion stream that bombards a target cathode. This causes atoms of the target material to be ejected and deposited as a thin film on the ceramic substrate. Pre-sputtering treatments such as dust removal, degreasing, and slow pulling are conducted to ensure optimal results.

Chemical Copper Plating

Chemical copper plating thickens the copper layer, improving the conductivity of the vias and ensuring better adhesion with the sputtered copper layer. This catalytic redox reaction involves pre-treatment steps like degreasing, micro-etching, pre-immersion, activation, and acceleration to ensure proper copper deposition.

Full-Panel Electroplating

Full-panel electroplating increases the thickness of the copper layer. This involves processes such as degreasing, micro-etching, acid washing, copper plating, and stripping excess copper from the fixtures. The copper plating uses copper balls as anodes and an electrolyte solution of CuSO4 and H2SO4, with the primary reaction being Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu.

Grinding, Laminating, Exposure, and Developing

Post electroplating, the copper layer is prepared for patterning. This includes acid washing to remove oxides, grinding to roughen and clean the surface, laminating with a photoresist dry film, UV exposure through a photomask to create the desired pattern, and developing to dissolve unexposed areas, leaving behind the patterned photoresist.

Pattern Plating (Electroplating Copper)

The exposed and developed areas of the substrate where the circuit pattern is defined undergo further copper electroplating to thicken the circuit traces.

Etching and Stripping

Unwanted copper and dry film are removed through etching, stripping away excess copper deposited in previous steps. This includes rough grinding, film stripping, copper etching, and titanium etching, ensuring only the desired circuit pattern remains.

Annealing

The ceramic boards are annealed in a furnace to relieve stresses introduced during electroplating, enhancing the ductility and toughness of the copper layer and ensuring dense copper grain packing.

Belt Grinding

Post-annealing, the substrate surface may have an oxide layer and rough texture. Belt grinding is used to remove these oxides and smoothen the surface, ensuring the quality of subsequent gold or silver surface treatments.

Flying Probe Testing

High-speed flying probe testers check for continuity and shorts in the vias and circuit traces, ensuring electrical integrity.

Sandblasting Before Solder Mask

Prior to solder mask application, the substrate undergoes sandblasting to roughen and clean the surface, removing oxides and contaminants. This includes acid washing, sandblasting, and micro-etching.

Solder Mask Printing

Solder mask is printed on areas of the PCB that do not require soldering, protecting the circuits during soldering and assembly. Screen printing applies solder mask ink, which is then UV-cured and developed to remove unexposed areas.

Sandblasting After Solder Mask

After solder mask application, exposed areas that need surface treatments undergo sandblasting to roughen the surface and remove oxides, preparing for gold or silver plating.

Surface Treatment

Surface treatments like electroless or electrolytic plating of gold, silver, or other metals are applied to the solder pads, enhancing solderability and preventing oxidation.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting equipment precisely cuts the finished PCBs from the manufacturing panel, ensuring accurate dimensions and clean edges.

Testing

Various testing equipment, including thickness gauges, Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) machines, and ultrasonic scanning microscopes, are used to inspect the PCBs’ performance and appearance, ensuring they meet quality standards.

Packaging and Shipping

Finally, the PCBs are vacuum-packed using packaging machines to protect them during transport. They are then stored and shipped to customers, ensuring they arrive in perfect condition.

Above is the all the processes of DPC muanufacturing. If you are interested in process of other PCBs, welcome to contact us.

Tags:ceramic pcb manufacturing, dpc ceramic pcb
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What are the advantages of ceramic PCB?

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

Ceramic PCB is a type of emerging PCB in the recent years, they are known for their high thermal conductivity and low expansion coefficient. Except this, it has numerous advantages that normal FR4 PCB can not achieved. And even for metal core PCB (MCPCB). Today, we are going to introduce their characteristics in detail.

1. High thermal conductivity

The core metal content of ceramic circuit boards is as high as 96-98%, which makes them have extremely high thermal conductivity. Compared with ordinary FR4 circuit boards, the thermal conductivity of ceramic circuit boards can reach 170-230 W/mK, while the thermal conductivity of FR4 boards is usually only 0.3-0.4 W/mK. Higher thermal conductivity allows for more efficient heat dissipation, avoiding the problem of damage to electronic components due to overheating. This is particularly important in high-power applications, such as LEDs and power semiconductors.

2. Low thermal expansion coefficient

Ceramic materials have a very low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), usually between 6-8 ppm/°C. In contrast, FR4 material has around 14-16 ppm/°C CTE. This means that ceramic materials hardly expand or contract when temperature changes. The low thermal expansion coefficient improves the reliability of the circuit board, reduces the influence of the thermal cycle on the circuit board structure and the connection of electronic components. Especially suitable for use in the environment with frequent temperature changes.

3. High surface hardness

The surface hardness of ceramic materials is up to 9 Mohs, which is harder than aluminum oxide and silicon. It means ceramic PCB has more wear-resistant, scratch resistant, and not easy to damage. It enables to run stably for a long time even in harsh physical environments, extending the service life of the board. That is why ceramic PCB is always recommended to use in military.

4. High compressive strength

The compressive strength of the ceramic circuit board can reach 450-500 MPa, which can withstand large mechanical pressure without deformation or rupture. This characteristic makes them excellent in applications that require them to withstand mechanical stress, such as industrial automation and aerospace.

5. High dielectric strength

Ceramic PCB has very high dielectric strength, usually between 15-25 kV/mm. And it can withstand higher electric fields without electrical breakdown.

6. Ability to withstand higher temperatures

Ceramic circuit boards can operate at temperatures up to 1000°C without degradation or damage. While FR4 circuit boards typically operate at an upper limit of 140-170°C. Ceramic circuit boards are suitable for electronic devices in high temperature environments, such as electric vehicles and high-power lasers.

7. High breakdown voltage

The high breakdown voltage of the ceramic circuit board can reach 20-35 kV, ensuring reliable operation under high voltage conditions. It is well suitable for use in high-voltage power supplies and power electronic equipment, providing higher safety.

8. Does not absorb water

The water absorption of ceramic materials is usually less than 0.1%, while the water absorption of FR4 materials is 0.1-0.2%. The non-water absorbing feature prevents performance degradation and damage caused by water absorption in a humid environment. It is ideal for Marine, medical, and other applications that require moisture resistance.

9. Low loss at high frequency

In high-frequency applications, the dielectric loss Angle tangent (Df) of ceramic circuit boards is usually between 0.0001-0.001, while the loss Angle tangent of FR4 materials is 0.02-0.03. Low loss ensures signal integrity and transmission efficiency, which is suitable for communication equipment and high-frequency electronic equipment.

10. Resistance to cosmic rays

Ceramic materials can resist the impact of cosmic rays, will not be degraded or damaged by rays. They are suitable for satellite electronic equipment, ensuring the stability and reliability of the circuit board in a high radiation environment.

11. No organic ingredients

Ceramic circuit boards do not contain organic components, so they have high chemical stability, are not susceptible to chemical corrosion and decomposition. They are good choice to use in harsh chemical environments.

12. High-density assembly

Ceramic circuit boards support high-density assembly with line/pitch resolution of 20 microns. This allows them to be adapted to more complex and refined circuit designs, suitable for microelectronics and high-precision applications.

Best Technology provides professional one-stop ceramic PCB design and manufacturing service all around the world. We welcome all the friends and partners from domestic and abroad to visit our ceramic circuit board workshop.

Tags:advantages of ceramic pcb, ceramic pcb deisgn
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What Are the Different Types of Ceramic PCBs?

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

Ceramic PCBs are a special breed of printed circuit boards known for their exceptional thermal resistance and durability. These PCBs are used in industries where high performance is critical, such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and power electronics. Nowadays, the most common types of ceramic PCB are thick film, DCB, DPC, AMB, HTCC, LTCC and thin film. In this article, we will introduce each of them in details.

What are the different types of ceramic pcbs?

Thick Film Ceramic PCB

Thick film technology is a process by using screen printing conductor paste and directly deposit slurry (conductor) on the ceramic substrate. Then sintering it under high temperature to form conductive circuit traces and electrodes, which is suitable for most ceramic substrates.

After the material is sintered at high temperature, a strong adhesion film will be formed on the ceramic circuit board, repeat this step for many times, a multi-layer circuit is generated.

You can print resistor or capacitor on the surface to get a interconnected structure. At Best Technology, we can make all the resistors with the same value, or different value for different resistor on the same board.

Thick film ceramic PCB has advantages on the simple manufacturing process, but it has some drawbacks that can’t be ignored:

Limited by the conductive paste and screen size
Line width less than 100um is difficult to achieved
Three-dimensional patterns are not available
Not suitable for fine-trace project

DBC / DCB Ceramic PCB

Direct Bonded Copper (DBC) or Direct Copper Bonded (DCB) ceramic PCBs are known for their excellent thermal conductivity. They are made by bonding a layer of copper directly onto a ceramic substrate, typically aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride. Due to the DBC technology is directly bond copper on the ceramic substrate, it can achieve thicker copper thickness to 300um. So, it is very suitable for high power applications.

The basic chemistry principle is to introduce an appropriate amount of oxygen between copper and ceramics before or during the application process. Copper and oxygen will form Cu-O eutectic liquid under 1065℃~1083℃. This is an important element in the manufacturing. DBC ceramic circuit board uses this eutectic solution to chemically react with the ceramic substrate to form CuAlO2 or CuAl2O4, achieving the combination between substrate and copper foil.

However, it is easy to generate micro-porosity between Al2O3 and Copper during the copper bonded process, and it doesn’t have a good solution by far. That is why the yield of DBC ceramic PCB is not good than DPC.

DPC (Direct Plated Copper Ceramic PCB)

DPC ceramic PCB utilizes direct copper plating technology, deposit copper foil on the alumina oxide (Al2O3) substrate. It is the most commonly used ceramic PCB in recent years. The circuit generated process is: pre-treatment – sputtering – exposure – develop – etch – strip – electroplating.

AMB (Active Metal Brazed Ceramic PCB)

AMB ceramic copper clad plate adopts the active brazing process, and the copper layer bonding force is higher than that of DPC, which is around 18n/mm – 21n/mm. AMB ceramic copper clad plate usually has a high binding force, usually makes thicker copper, between 100um and 800um. The AMB ceramic PCB generally rarely design traces or holes, even if there is a trace is very simple, the spacing is relatively wide.

HTCC (High Temperature Co-fired Ceramic PCB)

HTCC is a relatively early development technology, but due to the high sintering temperature (1300~1600℃), the choice of electrode materials is limited. Meanwhile, its cost is more expensive, these promotes the development of HTCC is relatively slow.

LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic PCB)

Although LTCC reduces the co-firing temperature to about 850 ° C, the disadvantage is that the dimensional accuracy and product strength are not easy to control.

Thin Film Ceramic Circuit Board

The thin film ceramic PCB is to deposit a metal layer directly on the surface of substrate by sputtering process. Through lithography, development, etching and other processes, the metal layer can also be graphed into a circuit pattern. Due to the low deposition speed of sputtering coating (generally less than 1μm/h), thin film substrate surface metal layer thickness is small and can prepare high pattern accuracy (line width/line space less than 10μm).

Common Ceramic Substrates

Best Technology is a leading ceramic PCB manufacturer in Asia, our core members has over 20 years manufacturing experience in ceramic PCB fabricating. “High mixed, low volume, high quality, fast delivery” is our advantages and we always try our best to do that, make ourselves better and better. If you are interested in it, feel free to contact us, we are always online.

Tags:amb pcb, ceramic PCB, htcc ceramic pcb, ltcc ceramic pcb, thick film ceramic pcb, thin film ceramic pcb
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Leading Ceramic PCB Board Manufacturer – Best Technology

Friday, July 5th, 2024

With the gradual deepening of electronic technology in various application fields, the highly integrated circuit board has become an inevitable trend. Under this situation, the disadvantage of traditional circuit board FR-4 and CIM-3 in TC (thermal conductivity) has become a drawback to delay the development of electronic technology. Though the metal core PCBs are known for their good thermal management, they hard to meet the fast heat dissipation and miniaturization of the devices at the same time. This is why ceramic PCB stands out.

What is Ceramic PCB?

A ceramic PCB is a type of PCB made from ceramic materials, such as alumina (Al2O3), ALN (aluminum nitride), or Beryllium Oxide (BeO). These materials are prepared by using thermal conductive ceramic powder and organic adhesive under the condition of below 250℃. Ceramic powders are not easy to made, especially for aluminum nitride powder, this is one of reasons that why ALN ceramic PCB is more expensive.

There are some different methods to make ceramic PCBs, commonly in the market are thick film, DBC, DPC and thin film technology. Different types of ceramic circuit boards have its unique characteristics. May you heard about HTCC, LTCC and AMB, they are also the ways to make ceramic PCBs, but there just a few manufacturers can make. Here is a HTCC ceramic PCB that we made.

Why Ceramic PCBs are popular used?

Different from the traditional FR-4 PCB (wave fiber), ceramic PCBs have good high-frequency properties, electrical properties that organic materials can’t achieved. It is a new generation of large-scale integrated circuits and power electronics module ideal packaging materials. The main advantages of ceramic circuit board including:

Higher thermal conductivity
More matched thermal expansion coefficient (CTE)
Lower resistance
Good weldability and can be used in high temperature
Good insulation
Lower high-frequency loss
High density assembly available
No organic ingredients, resistance to cosmic rays, high reliability in aerospace
No oxide layer in copper layer, so it can be used for a long time in a reducing atmosphere

Who is the Best Ceramic PCB Manufacturer?

There are so many PCB manufacturers in the domestic and aboard, but reliable ceramic PCB vendors with good quality and reasonable price are very few. If you are looking for an experienced one, then keep the change. We’re the best option! Best Technology offers ceramic PCBs for our customers more than 100k every year, and we are high mixed from thick film ceramic PCB, DPC ceramic PCB, DBC/DCB ceramic PCB to AMB. Your PCBs need to use in automotives? Don’t worry, we gained IATF16949 and ISO13485 certifications, and all the manufacturing processes are strictly followed by ISO9001 quality control system. We welcome all the questions and inquiries from everyone.

Here is our ceramic PCB manufacturing capability for your reference.

Ceramic PCB Manufacturing Capability
No.	Item		General Parameter	Special Process
1	Substrate	High insulation, chemical corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance	Al2O3	Glass, quartz, sapphire, 99% , 92% Al2O3 (black)
2		Excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion coefficient, and high-temperature resistance	AIN
3		Insulation performance and high-temperature stability	ZTA
4		High strength, high hardness, high thermal conductivity, and low dielectric loss	Si3N4
5		Conductor	Tungsten（LTCC/HTCC)、Au、Au&Pd、Au&Pb、Ag、Ag&Pd、Ag&Pb
6	Layer Count	DPC	Single – Double sided
7		DBC	Single – Double sided
8		AMB	Single – Double sided
9		Thick film	Single – Double sided, 4L
10		LTCC	Single – Double sided, 4L, 6L	6L – 14L
11		HTCC	Single – Double sided, 4L, 6L
12	Copper Thickness	Inner layer	/
13	Copper Thickness	Outer layer	Hoz-3oz (DPC), 3oz-12oz(DBC/AMB)
14	Dimension	Max. dimension	130*180	Larger dimension available (pass evaluation)
15		Min. dimension	2*2	Shipped in panel
16		Substrate thickness	Al2O3/AIN 0.38. 0.635, 1.0mm, Si3N4 0.25、0.32mm	>1.5
17	Surface Treatment (thickness)	OSP	0.2-0.5um	/
18		ENIG	1-3u”（Au）120-320u”（Ni）	/
19		Immersion silver	6-12u”	/
20		Immersion tin	≥1um	/
21		ENEPIG	Au 2u”, Pd 1U”, Ni 100u”	/
22		Hard gold	5-30u”（Au）、120-200u”（Ni）	/
23	Drill	Min. PTH	0.05MM	/
24		Min. NPTH	0.05MM	/
25		Max. aspect ratio (PTH PCB)	5:1	/
26		NTPH tolerance	±0.05	/
27		PTH tolerance	±0.05	/
28	Line width/ Line spacing	Inner layer	Line width≥0.1mm; Line space≥0.1mm	0.076/0.076mm
29		Outer layer	1OZ; Line width≥0.12mm; Line space≥0.12mm	0.1/0.1mm
30			2OZ；Line width≥0.2mm; Line space≥0.2mm	0.15/0.15mm
31			3OZ；Line width≥0.25mm; Line space≥0.25mm	0.2/0.2mm
32			4OZ；Line width≥0.35mm; Line space≥0.35mm	0.3/0.3mm
33			5OZ；Line width≥0.45mm; Line space≥0.45mm	0.4/0.4mm
34			6OZ；Line width≥0.55mm; Line space≥0.55mm	0.5/0.5mm
35			Thick film; Line width≥0.1mm; Line space≥0.1mm	0.076/0.076mm
36		Line width tolerance	±20%	/
37	Solder Mask (SM) /Silkscreen	Conductor	Glass glaze, medium, solder mask ink	/
38		SM color	White, black, green	Mixed color
39		Silkscreen color	White, black	Mixed color
40		Silkscreen height, width	Line width≥0.13mm; Height≥0.8mm	/
41		SM thickness	≥20um	/

Tags:ceramic PCB, ceramic pcb board, ceramic pcb board manufacturer
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Your Reliable LED PCB Board Manufacturer – Best Technology

Thursday, June 27th, 2024

Nowadays, LED lighting has become increasingly popular in our daily life. With its rapidly rise in popularity, the term LED PCB has become commonplace. LED PCB also referred to as LED circuit board, LED aluminum PCB, or simply LED PCB board. Today, our team will share some informational knowledges about LED PCB circuit board, let’s keep reading if you are interested!

What is a LED PCB Circuit Board?

A LED PCB circuit board is a unique type of board crafted to hold and connect light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They are specially designed for lighting applications, like LED car headlights, pool lighting, UV LED, hotel lighting, grow light, high bay lights, stair lights, supermarket lighting, street light, etc. They are used almost everywhere. These boards provide the support and connections needed for LEDs to function efficiently and last longer. They are crucial in areas like lighting, automotive, and electronics, thanks to their ability to manage heat effectively and enhance the lifespan of LEDs.

What are the Different Types of LED PCB?

LED PCB boards are preferred over traditional lighting methods like fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. There are in total five types of LED PCBs, each designed for specific applications:

Aluminum based LED PCB

An LED PCB board, often made of aluminum alloy, serve as the base for mounting LEDs. This is the most common type of LED PCB, since it has good thermal management and cost-effective compared to other materials. The thermal conductivity of aluminum can be 1.0-3.0W/m.k, it can meet the almost heat requirements of low-middle power applications, like streetlights and floodlights. Additionally, Best Technology developed a new product called semi-flexible aluminum PCB for specific device. It can be bent and folded when necessary.

Copper core LED PCB

Copper core LED circuit board can be divided into two types: normal copper core LED PCB and thermoelectric separation copper-based LED PCB. The copper material has higher thermal conductivity than that of aluminum, and it can up to 400W/m.k when made by thermoelectric separation technology. Copper based LED PCB board commonly used in high power devices like new energy vehicles.

Ceramic LED PCB

Ceramic LED PCB boards are made from ceramic substrates like aluminum oxide (Al2O3) or aluminum nitride (AlN). They have superior thermal management, and it can withstand extreme environment when used in high-temp and low temperatures. Ceramic substrates can handle high power and thermal cycling better than other materials, making them ideal for automotive, aerospace, and high-power LED applications.

FR4 LED PCB

FR4 LED PCB boards are made from woven fiberglass cloth with an epoxy resin binder, which provides good mechanical strength and insulation properties. FR4 is a widely used material for general-purpose PCBs due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility. While it has lower thermal conductivity (around 0.3W/m.k) compared to aluminum or copper, FR4 LED PCBs are suitable for low to medium power applications where thermal management is less critical. These PCBs are commonly used in consumer electronics, LED displays, and indoor lighting.

Flexible LED PCB

Flexible LED PCB boards are constructed using flexible plastic substrates like polyimide or polyester. This flexibility allows the PCBs to be bent, folded, and shaped to fit various applications. Flexible LED PCBs are ideal for products that require dynamic or complex designs, such as wearable electronics, flexible displays, and medical devices. Despite their lower thermal conductivity compared to rigid PCBs, flexible LED PCBs offer unique design advantages and are increasingly used in innovative LED applications.

What are the Benefits of Using Aluminum LED PCB Boards?

Aluminum LED PCB boards offer numerous advantages that other materials cannot achieved.

1. Better Heat Management: LED PCBs, particularly aluminum ones, help in cooling LEDs, preventing overheating and extending their lifespan.

2. Compact and Light: These boards are small and lightweight, making them perfect for applications with space and weight constraints.

3. Dimensional stability: Aluminum LED PCB board has good dimensional stability compared with flexible LED PCBs. And it has low CTE during the manufacturing.

4. Cost-Effective: Producing aluminum LED PCBs is relatively affordable, making them a budget friendly option for various applications.

5. Versatile: Available in different shapes and sizes, Aluminum LED PCBs can be customized to meet specific needs, enhancing their usefulness in various scenarios.

The Structures of a LED PCB Board in Manufacturing?

A LED PCB is similar to traditional rigid board, the only one difference is the LED mounting on the pads. Herein, we listing the basic composition of a LED pcb board, let’s see it together.

1. Substrate – The base of the PCB, which can be flexible (like polyimide), metal alloy (aluminum, copper), or ceramic, depending on the required thermal performance.

2. Copper foil – A thin layer of copper is used for forming the circuit paths on the PCB.

3. Solder mask – This is a protective layer covers the copper paths to prevent oxidation and short circuits. It also aids in SMT (surface mounted technology) soldering.

4. Silkscreen – Used to print labels, logos, vendors, symbols, and pick and place on the PCB for easy identification during assembly.

5. Adhesives – Aiming to bond different PCB layers, different material used different adhesive, always are prepreg (PP).

6. LEDs: The main components mounted on the PCB, available in various sizes, colors, power ratings, voltages and so on.

Your Reliable LED PCB Board Manufacturer – Best Technology

Best Technology stands out as a leading manufacturer of high-quality LED PCB boards. We offer a wide range of products and services to cater to various needs. With extensive experience and expertise in the industry, we are committed to providing reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Advanced Facilities

We are equipped with advanced machinery and technology, ensuring precision and efficiency in production.

Experienced Team

Our skilled professionals are dedicated to delivering topnotch LED printed circuit boards. Most of our core members has more than 10 years-experience in the PCB manufacturing.

Quality Assurance

We have passed ISO9001, ISO13485, IATF16949 certifications, and integrated them into our daily manufacturing process. These strict quality control measures can make sure every product meets the highest standards of industry.

Customization

We offer tailored customized LED PCB board solutions to meet customer specific requirements.

Competitive Pricing

Best Technology has our own factory in China and Vietnam, we can provide most affordable solutions without compromising on quality.

Choosing Best Technology means opting for excellence, reliability, and superior service. Partner with us for your LED PCB needs and experience the difference we bring.

Tags:flex LED PCB, LED aluminum pcb, LED circuit board, LED flexible PCB, led pcb board
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