What do all these PCB manufacturing terms mean? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: autotel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 07:41:31 pm
content: Hi! I need help understanding all the terms about PCB manufacturing... Is that google search often throws me to manufacturers but not to any definition. So I hope this post helps others in the future. This example comes fromMinimum passive component size 0201* what does that unit refer to? is it some standard?Minimum pitch size on BGA components 0.4 mm* what is a BGA component?Parts procurement Kitted or turnkey* what is procurement, what is kitted and what is turnkey?Solder types Tin/lead reflow or lead free RoHS compliant reflow* I guess that both solder tipes are general purpose, but one is more ecological. Is that right?Conformal coating Yes* what is conformal coating?Stainless solder steel stencil Frameless or framed.* is this the stencil used to flow solder? Is it made of steel?! What is the frame feature for?Functional test after assembly Yes. Need customer to send over test firxture or test design.* where can you learn how to set up these tests?I know these are a lot questions, I guess that for someone who studied engineering may be obvious, but all these terms are completely unknown to me; so thanks in advance for your help!

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:05:25 pm
content: 1. Yes. EIA chip component codes.2. Ball Grid Array. JFGI3. Check a dictionary. "Kitted" is, you bought enough parts to assemble the boards (plus extras), and you send them a kit. "Turnkey" is, they order the parts themselves (with nominal convenience and overage costs added in, you see).4. Lead free is required to sell in Europe. There may be a cost difference too. Quote both and see!5. Conformal coating is goo applied over the board, after assembly, to protect against corrosion and stuff. JFGI for more info.6. Stencil is for placing solder paste prior to assembly (pick and place) and soldering (reflow).7. Assembly testing can be done automatically (flying probe). Functional testing would probably require you to create, and send to them, a testing plan, which they have an employee perform. You may need to supply equipment to do this (e.g., programming dongles and software, custom support devices, test fixtures), or they probably have facilities to create these things themselves (in which case, they have to add design cost; so, this would only be something you would do for production testing, when you don't have in-house test building experience).Tim

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:10:49 pm
content: Minimum passive component size 0201Small SMD passives like resistors, caps and sometimes even diodes and LEDs come in standard packages/footprints that are defined by width and lenght. Check the two-terminal passives here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-mount_technologyMinimum pitch size on BGA components 0.4 mmBGA is a ball-grid-array, another type of SMD component for high density ICs. Like it says, you have a package with small balls underneath as pins. The pitch of the pins in this case is 0.4mmParts procurement Kitted or turnkeyIf you want to produce a board, someone will have to buy the components (procurement). They offer you the option to buy them yourself and deliver to them (kitted) or they can do it for you (turnkey)Solder types Tin/lead reflow or lead free RoHS compliant reflowIn theory, soldering with a non-RoHS process (lead is just one of the controlled substances) is prohibited except for a number of exceptionsConformal coating YesConformal coating is a sort of cover/coating/laquer that goes over the entire board which means it will be less susceptible to moisture, fungus, arcing,...Stainless solder steel stencil Frameless or framed.A stencil is a sheet of metal with holes at the right position and size, corresponding to the PCB board. It is put on the PCB and solder paste is applied with a squeegee. Not sure what the difference is between frames or not.Functional test after assembly Yes. Need customer to send over test firxture or test design.Thats a trade all on its own...

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:21:32 pm
content: Quite literally all of those questions are answered by simply googling the exact phrase.Also, why do you need to know all of this?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:28:10 pm
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on December 20, 2016, 09:10:49 pmFrameless, just a thin stainless steel steel with holes for transfer of the solder paste. With frame, the same thing but attached to the frame. For production stencils with frame are normally used. For DIY people usually buy framelesss stencils as they are cheaper and much easier to ship. Also stencil with frame makes sense only if you have stencil printer to attach it to.

author: richardlawson1489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2016, 06:57:28 am
content: Easily you can find all this answer from google.

author: technotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 11:28:16 am
content: Did you try searching this terms in google? What you found? Does this make difference for you?

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 08:25:19 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on December 20, 2016, 09:21:32 pmAtaradov. You clearly know the answers to these questions.. Why do you need to know this information?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 08:34:23 pm
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on December 31, 2016, 08:25:19 pmBecause that's what I do for a living? I did not just came up with a list of random questions (suspiciously looking like exam questions, or some form from PCB assembly site) and started asking all over the place. I just learned things as I needed, not in one single incoherent batch.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 09:40:22 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on December 31, 2016, 08:34:23 pmMe too. Maybe just maybe someone else wants to learn how to get into this as well. Did you ever ask any questions.. Lets give this person a break. They might be the next great hire for someone.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 09:54:50 pm
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on December 31, 2016, 09:40:22 pmI'm all for learning, but those questions are too deliberate to be plain curiosity or desire to learn. There is clearly something behind all of them, and it would be nice to clarify.Anyway, we'll never hear from OP again, it was a typical drive-by posting. I'm sure the same question went out to a dozen other EE forums.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 10:00:24 pm
content: Interesting OT: I just googled exact phrase (with quotes) "I guess that for someone who studied engineering may be obvious". The first result is this post. The remaining results are links to other tapatalk discussions that have noting to do with this phrase, but include it as part of the search result. So tapatalk is collecting its customers data and using it for sketchy adversing.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 09:41:29 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on December 31, 2016, 10:00:24 pmSo bears do drop logs in the woods. Nothing new, if you do not pay for a service ( or only pay part) then you are the product. The only question is if you feel you get enough value out of the transaction.

author: TomS_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 11:22:49 am
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on December 31, 2016, 09:40:22 pmThe term "spoon feeding" comes to mind.Sure, asking questions is a great way to learn - you can learn things before you have to learn them the hard way or by mistake, for example.But part of learning is also learning how to find information. Part of learning is being wrong some of the time. Certainly you cant just rely on other people your entire career.Some of the things the OP asked could be answered with a simple dictionary query, like what procurement means - most definitely that will be in the dictionary.Other things could be learned very simply, as people suggested, by googling the term, like "conformal coating" - in fact there is a Wikipedia article all about conformal coating explaining what it is, why you use it, etc. Probably everything you could ever want to know about it in passing.And if you still werent sure about exactly what those terms meant, come to the forum, explain what you think it means or what specifically you arent sure about, and ask for confirmation or clarification.Personally, I prefer a little bit more of the "tough love" approach I guess. I like to see that some effort has been made before answering the questions. Certainly this is the approach I tend to take myself (try and figure it out on my own, and ask if I get stuck). The resulting "ah ha!" moment is quite satisfying and makes more sense when Ive been researching it myself before hand. Overall I like to think of it as "helping people to help themselves". Others may be more willing to just help out. Each to their own.