Heatsink And Stiffener Bonding To A PCB A stiffener or a heatsink is a second material attached to the board after fabrication, and the joint between them is an adhesive rather than a solder. The joint has to carry a mechanical load, survive the thermal excursions of assembly and of…

PCB Test Coupon Design and What It Proves A test coupon is a small structure built on the same panel as the product, with the same materials and the same process, so that it can be measured destructively without destroying a board. Why the Coupon Exists The coupon answers the…

AOI False Calls And Program Tuning Automated optical inspection, usually shortened to AOI, is a measurement system that uses cameras and algorithms to compare what is on the board with what the program expects. Its usefulness depends less on the hardware than on the program, because a program that flags…

Component Sourcing: Authorised Distribution and Open Market Where a part is bought decides how much is known about it. The same part number from an authorised distributor and from an open market broker is not the same level of confidence, and the difference is invisible until it matters. The Channels…

PCB Solder Paste Standards: Agreeing the Rules Buyers and engineers often focus on the finished product and forget the production line behind it. In practice, most field failures can be traced back to process decisions made during assembly. Understanding PCB solder paste standards gives you a practical advantage when you…

PCB Solder Paste Defects: What Goes Wrong Buyers and engineers often focus on the finished product and forget the production line behind it. In practice, most field failures can be traced back to process decisions made during assembly. Understanding PCB solder paste defects gives you a practical advantage when you…

Thermal Via Array Design Under Power Devices A power device mounted on a copper pad dissipates most of its heat through the board. The vias under the pad are the path, and their number, size and arrangement decide the junction temperature more than the pad area does. The Path Through…

PCB Solder Paste Maintenance: Keeping It Working Buyers and engineers often focus on the finished product and forget the production line behind it. In practice, most field failures can be traced back to process decisions made during assembly. Understanding PCB solder paste maintenance gives you a practical advantage when you…

PCB Solder Paste Setup: Getting Ready Modern electronics depend on boards that are assembled correctly the first time. Every product – a phone, a charger, a medical instrument or an industrial controller – relies on thousands of solder joints that must conduct current for years. This article explains PCB solder…

Press Fit Connector: Press-Fit Connector Assembly in Production A press fit connector is held in the board by an interference fit between a compliant pin and a plated hole. There is no solder in the joint, so the whole connection depends on the geometry of the pin, the diameter of…