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…

Package on Package Assembly and Solder Ball Attach A package on package assembly stacks one package on another through a row of solder balls around the edge of the lower package. Both joints are made at the same time, and the upper package decides whether the lower one can be…

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…

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…

PCB Solder Paste Standards: From Design to Repeatable Production 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…

PCB Solder Paste Defects: What Buyers and Engineers Should Check 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…

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: Design, Process, and Quality Notes 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…

PCB Solder Paste Setup: Design, Process, and Quality Notes 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…

Preventing Board Handling Damage in SMT Production Most assembly defects have a process signature that can be traced to a machine setting. Handling damage is different. It is caused by a person or a mechanism touching a board in a way that leaves no mark at the time, and it…