Supported by cloud hosting provider DigitalOcean &#; Try DigitalOcean now and receive a $200 when you create a new account!

Goto Hayawin to know more.

Listen to this article

As businesses increasingly rely on technology to improve important functions and speed up key processes, the need for quick, flexible and responsive technical solutions has also increased.

Production equipment has made it possible to provide these solutions and in this guide, we&#;re going to look in more detail at printed circuit boards and how SMT is being used to streamline the assembly process.

Read on to find out more about SMT (Surface Mount Technology) assembly procedures and why this is becoming such a popular trend amongst businesses, especially those in the manufacturing industry.

What is surface mount technology?

SMT is an assembly method that is used to apply electronic components to the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). Essentially, the components are soldered straight onto the circuit board, rather than being inserted through holes like in more traditional assembly methods.

This technique is nothing new. In fact, it was invented back in the s by IBM as a way of building small-scale computers. However, back then it was known as Planar Mounting. Although not used by many companies at that time, this technique sky-rocketed in popularity in the s as surface-mounted devices became more widely used.

What are the benefits of SMT?

There are loads of reasons to choose SMT assembly methods, but if you&#;re not sure whether this is the best technique for your business, you should consider the following benefits:

• It reduces the amount of electricity used and the overall cost of manufacturing goods as the components are attached directly to the board and fewer holes need to be drilled
• The process can be completed by automated production tools so requires far less human intervention. This is another way to save the business money and reduce the risk of an error
• The space on PCBs is used more effectively, which means smaller, more sensitive components can be attached
• There is the capability to produce higher volumes of goods as it is faster and simpler to assemble products
• This process can increase the total output of goods and in turn, reduce the cost per unit

The SMT assembly process

Another way to determine whether this might be the ideal method for your business is to understand the actual assembly process in more detail. Below, we&#;ll break it down into the six key stages.

1. Adding solder paste

The first stage of the manufacturing process relies on a machine that will place solder paste onto the printed circuit board using a stencil to ensure it is always in the right place.

2. Chip mounting

After the solder paste is added, the board moves down the assembly line to the chip mounter. Here, design files ensure that all components are placed in the corresponding positions on the PCB.

3. Reflow soldering

During the next stage, the solder paste is melted, making any components or devices stick to the PCB. The solder paste is then cooled down. This part of the process takes place in a reflow soldering oven.

4. Cleaning the boards

Now the item has been assembled, it must be cleaned to ensure that no hazardous residue has been left on the board. These residues can be produced by flux during the reflow soldering stage.

Are you interested in learning more about What Do You Mean by Smt? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

This cleaning process can be implemented on the SMT assembly line or it can be done off the line too. Either way, it is important that these boards are cleaned properly.

5. Inspecting the boards

Next, it&#;s time to inspect the boards to make sure the soldering and assembly are high-quality and that all manufacturing standards and regulations have been met.

Tools such as magnifying lenses, microscopes, ICTs (In-circuit Tester), AOIs (Automated Optical Inspection), X-ray inspections and more will be used at this point to make sure the products are up to scratch.

6. Reworking defects

The final stage takes place after the inspection and any PCBs that have defects are sent back to be reworked. To do this, the relevant equipment and tools, such as electric soldering irons, must be used. This will once again be inspected to make sure it is fixed and up to standard.

When should you choose SMT assembly?

Just in case you&#;re still feeling unsure, you should choose SMT assembly techniques when creating products that are smaller and lightweight. That&#;s because this is a simple assembly method, but one that can meet complex electronic requirements and create powerful devices.

You should also choose this method if you want to cut costs and if you have tiny, sensitive components that need to be carefully attached to the PCB.

5 Advantages To Using SMT in Your Electronic Manufacturing Project

The old saying &#;bigger is better&#; just isn&#;t accurate in the world of electronics. This is especially true when it comes to surface-mount technology (SMT.) SMT places components directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board in order to create a circuit. It has become a preferred method of creating circuits in the electronics industry. Both surface mount technology and through-hole can be used on the same PCB. However, in many cases, SMT versions of through-hole PCB designs can be produced. Surface mount technology can make a big impact on design and development. Here are some of the advantages of using SMT in your electronic manufacturing project:

1. Small Footprint

If you are dealing with a small PCB board, placing your components with surface-mount technology can keep the board small. SMT components are smaller than those used in through-hole because it has either smaller leads or no leads at all. Because of this it takes up less than half of the space a through-hole mount would take. It will also lead to a decrease in weight of the PCB. An SMT component often weighs just one-tenth of its through-hole equivalent.

2. Low Cost

That small size leads to an important advantage when using SMT in manufacturing. Once set, surface-mount technology typically requires lower production costs than through-hole placement. The size of the board is reduced, the number of drilled holes is reduced, and routing of traces is reduced. That leads to reduced material handling costs and a faster manufacturing process which, in turn, brings down the cost of the whole project.

3. Higher Density

You are able to pack more on your PCB using SMT. Because there are no holes, you can add more components per unit of area. You can also add more connections per component. And, because holes do not block routing space on inner or back-side layers, components can be placed on both sides of the circuit board. That can sometimes reduce the need for multi-layer boards.

4. Quick Turn Around

Surface-mount technology is a much more streamlined manufacturing process compared to through-hole. Time is saved because components are applied using a solder paste instead of drilling holes in the PCB. The work that takes hours placing components of a through-hold board can take just five minutes with SMT.

5. In-House Engineering for Testing/Prototype

Having in-house engineering for your testing and prototyping of SMT can help during the design phase. They are able to test on the spot and/or make corrections, test new power sources, etc. You will avoid communication breakdowns that often occur when you are working with a new product team.

If you are considering surface-mount technology services for your next PCB project, turn to Levison Enterprises. Our expert team will help you determine if SMT is the appropriate method. We specialize in electronic product development and manufacturing. Let Levison work for you. Contact us today for questions on surface-mount technology.

For more What Does It Mean Smtinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.