SMT PCB Assembly in the USA and Canada
SMT PCB Assembly
With the help of SMT or surface mount technology parts, it has become easy to manufacture and assemble circuit boards with very small surface area and complexity. All modern technology consists of SMT parts, as all the components are available in small sizes and require small footprints compared to the through-hole parts drilled into the PCBs. They are easy to solder, and no drilling is required. Blind Buried Circuits has been a key player in providing quality PCB assemblies in USA and Canada with quick turn lead times. We have been assembling the boards for a long time, and most of our customers take our one-stop-shop service to complete the boards quickly. To learn more about our capabilities or request a quotation, please fill out our quote form and get a quick quote for your SMT PCB assembly!
How Does SMT Work?
To understand SMT, it is a process that assembles the electronic components on the surface of the PCB. Usually, SMT components are small, so it is assembled by automatic pick-and-place machines, which are programmed to assemble the components at the exact location and precisely. With the help of automated processes, most of the nanotechnology is manufactured with the help of SMT parts. It takes less surface than through holes (TH) parts and is very light in weight, which makes it an ideal choice for nano designs.
It is also considered a faster process as automated machines perform the assembly process, and no manual soldering is required. To know more about what technology can help you in your upcoming or current projects, please contact our engineering team at [email protected].
Assembly Process of Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
The following is the SMT assembly process that Blind Buried Circuits follows to provide quality PCB assemblies.
Application Of Solder Paste On the Bare PCBs
Due to the tiny component footprints, it is not possible to do soldering by hand or by solder wire. Due to this, we apply solder paste on the surface of the PCB where the components must connect. The paste consists of solder particles and flux to better connect the bare board and components. To apply the solder paste on the bare boards, most assemblers, like Blind Buried Circuits, use a frame or foil stencil and an automated squeegee machine to print solder paste on the bare boards with alignment. The electrical connections are formed once the heat is provided to the solder paste.
Component Placement Through Pick and Place Machines
The component placement is the next process after applying solder paste on bare PCBs. In this process, the pick-and-place machines carefully place the discrete components such as 008004, 01005, 0201, and 0402 on the bare PCBs. Usually, the discrete parts are supplied in tubes, trays, tape, and reels, which helps the pick and place machine vacuum nozzle to pick the part and place it on the bare PCB with an accurate position. The component’s packaging may vary based on the type of component and the distributor selected. But it is always recommended that all the discrete components must be supplied in tape and reel.
For the prototypes, a minimum of 6″ cut tape is required in total length to feed into the pick and place feeder.
Component Soldering In Reflow Oven
All the SMT components are soldered by baking them in the reflow oven. It consists of various process which makes the component fully attached to the bare PCBs. It starts by preheating the circuit board and then taking it to a certain temperature where the solder joints form. It is a controlled process ensuring the temperature doesn’t impact the connectivity and component. The temperature may vary depending on the assembly process. RoHS assemblies usually keep temperatures high, so the Hi TG PCB material is recommended for bare boards. The reflow oven temperature usually operates at a lower scale for non-RoHS assemblies. After the reflow process, the component’s joints get cooled to make it strong.
For the prototypes, a minimum of 6″ cut tape is required in total length to feed into the pick and place feeder.
Final Quality Assurance (QA) Inspection of Assembled Boards
At Blind Buried Circuits, we do a QA inspection on each step, and after the reflow process, our dedicated QA inspection team checks all the solder joints by automatic optical inspection (AOI) and visual inspection. It helps prevent soldering issues and identify them before shipping the boards to our customers.
Blind Buried Circuits SMT Assembly Capabilities
Being an experienced and leading Full Turnkey service provider, Blind Buried Circuits equips multiple SMT assembly lines, which assembles all type of component packages daily, including 008004, 01005, 0201, 0402, and other discrete components. We perform AOI, X-ray inspection for BGAs, on-demand In-circuit, and functional testing for our customers all over the United States and Canada.
The Industries We Serve
We serve various sectors throughout the United States and Canada, including our customers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Washington DC, and Texas. Following is the list of industries we are serving and making all the complex assemblies into reality for them.
- Medical Industry
- Telecom and Communication Industry
- Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Traffic and Transportation
- Marine and Defence Agencies
- Energy and Utilities sector
Get A Quick Quote For Your SMT Assemblies
We have an easy quoting process, fill out our quote form and upload your Gerber RS-274x and xls BOM file along with the quantity and lead time you want us to assemble. Our sales team will provide a quote as soon as possible.