Surface mount technology (SMT) has become the primary approach used in the process of designing and fabricating PCBs. The technology is reliable and delivers consistent results, which is the reason for its popularity in the electronics industry.
In this article, we will explain the details of the SMT assembly procedure. You will also learn more about the current development trends and the future of the SMT industry.
1、What Should You Know About SMT Assembly?
The PCB industry used to fabricate boards by using the through-hole approach during the mounting phase. However, the companies have adopted the new SMT approach, which proved to deliver a better outcome and be more efficient.
The SMT stands for surface-mount technology. The idea was to eliminate the requirement that the leads of the components go through the PCB. The alternative suggested was to solder the elements, and that turned out to be an improved solution.
The SMT assembly procedure enhanced over time, and it is the primary approach to PCB fabrication today. You can use boards manufactured this way throughout all electronic industries. The chances are you will find them in smartphones, computers, refrigerators, TVs, etc.
2、The Benefits of SMT Assembly
The surface-mount technology requires familiarity with the entire process. It has specific demands for the design phase as you need to use special PCB tools. Once the design is ready, the manufacturer will do the testing with a single board.
The prototype has the task of confirming that the fabrication based on that design is possible and error-free. Once you confirm that, the entire process is virtually automated, and requires minimal involvement. The only thing needed is the right machines that can meet the challenge of fabricating the particular PCB.
Thanks to that automation, SMT assembly minimizes errors that may happen due to human involvement. It secures improved reliability and consistency of the boards. Here are some other advantages that this approach ensures:
- Reduced size and weight – by soldering components directly on the board, the SMT saves plenty of room. That is how you can maintain the reliability and performance of a PCB while reducing its size and weight.
- More components in a smaller space – it is not only about reducing the size, but SMT also enables us to put more elements in a restricted area. That is how these boards can perform better than their predecessors while keeping their compact design.
- Money savings – if you don’t use the same amount of materials as before, the cost should be decreased, too. Additionally, there is no need to go through hole-drilling operations to mount components. Thanks to that, you can also lower the labor costs.
3、Component Placement
The first part of the procedure we will discuss is component placement. It may seem like a basic step of the process, but it is essential. The reason for that because you need to mount the components on the printed circuit board properly.
The designing process must be error-free. Since the fabrication will merely follow the commands received in the design, that is how you ensure everything goes smoothly.
The task of the designer is to assess the position carefully. The idea is to have the production phase in mind when placing the components. The current manufacturing capabilities need to be capable of meeting the expectations. If that is not possible, the manufacturer might be unable to print the parts, which will automatically discard the PCB, and return the entire process to the beginning.
The experts recommend starting the component writing with simple structures. Once you complete that part, you can move on to those parts that have a complex structure chip type.
4、SMT Printing
First, let’s clarify what do we refer to when we mention SMT printing. The process involves the solder paste added to the pads of the board, which involves screen printing that doesn’t require direct contact, as well as contact stencil printing. The specifics of the SMT assembly imply that this technology requires screen printing that belongs to the contact type.
Everything starts by stirring the paste for soldering. You must keep in mind the uniformity and viscosity of the paste while you are getting in ready. As for the viscosity, it may affect the printing quality significantly. The idea is to follow the current printing standard and adhere to its requirements. You don’t want the viscosity to be far from the recommended range because you may disrupt the printing quality.
You will need to store the paste in a suitable environment, too. The industry experts recommend keeping the temperature low. The ideal temperature range goes from 0 to 5C. The reason why is that the segments of the paste can separate naturally in those conditions.
Now, when you plan to use the paste, you should take it out of the fridge and allow it to rest at room temperature. Give it about 20-30 minutes to heat naturally, and use a glass rod to stir it. It will take about 15 minutes of stirring to get the paste ready for use.
You should aim to keep the optimal room temperature while using the paste. That means the heat range should be between 20C and 25C. Another important factor to consider is humidity because too much humidity may affect the paste. That is why you should give your best to keep it around 50%.
Once you apply the paste to the pad, they will become an integral part of the SMT assembly. That is because they are an essential requirement for component soldering.
Here is what happens during the printing phase – the pressure of the blade will spread the paste throughout the pad. Next, the stencil’s thickness will keep at up to 0.15mm for optimal results. It is interesting to mention that the industry experts believe the silkscreen paste for soldering makes the paste fuller and improves the quality of the soldering.
5、Reflow Soldering Process
The next step in the SMT assembly procedure is the reflow soldering process. However, before we go into this phase, it is vital to assess the component position and orientation one more time.
In the reflow soldering phase, you want to maintain optimal temperatures. Since the phase will involve welding, you should be aware of the parts of the work, and these are:
- Preheating – the idea of this phase it to confirm that you achieved a stable and balanced temperature of around 180C. It is vital to keep the temperature of this range without straying too much. As for the humidity, try to maintain it at around 50%.
- Heating – the heat should be around 245C. Now, the vital thing to consider is that the solder paste can melt in 183C.
- Cooling – the cooling process involves slowly cooling down the temperature of your board. That is vital to achieve optimal results and prevent extreme temperature changes to affect the PCB.
6、Development Trends and the Future of SMT
We already established that the SMT assembly has become a prevalent method in the PCB industry. It doesn’t come as strange that the majority of manufacturers have jumped on board and adopted this technology. It is a trend that will continue in the following years as SMT has become the dominant way of fabricating printed circuit boards.
The users are those who will benefit the most from the competition getting fierce. At the moment, the cost of a PCB designed by using SMT is not negligible. However, the manufacturers will keep aiming to offer more affordable prices and better service than the competition. As a result, the users can expect to receive top-class boards at budget-friendly rates.
We already see the progress in the SMT industry. The automation is at a high level, and the companies are trying to offer excellent logistics. Technological progress inevitably makes everything more accessible, and that includes SMT.
If you compare the current situation to the last several years, you will notice the development process significantly improved. Additionally, the cost of the components and labor are now smaller, and the boards can be adjusted to suit every customer and application.
Future trends in the industry are quite obvious. The experts will continue to find ways to improve the flexibility of the boards while keeping them reliable. Additionally, the industry will have to consider environmental factors, as well as ease of use.
7、How to Choose the Best PCB Manufacturer
Whatever your application is, you want a printed circuit board that will perform well and maintain reliability over a long time. That is something you can achieve if you have a trustworthy manufacturer by your side.
OurPCB has years of experience in fabricating printed circuit boards. Here is what the company offers to its clients:
- Modern equipment – the factory has state-of-the-art tools that can meet the challenges of building even the most complex PCBs.
- Experienced engineers – a team that is ready to help you throughout the entire process and ensure everything goes smoothly.
- Top-quality materials – the company only uses high-quality materials so that the quality of the boards can meet and exceed the user’s expectations.
- On-time delivery – the manufacturer is capable of meeting mass-production requests in the shortest possible timeframe. The company guarantees production completing within the specified deadline.
- Affordable rates – the customer is the priority concern for the company. That is why you can expect affordable prices that meet any budget.
8、Conclusion
The SMT assembly is taking the throne when it comes to PCB fabricating. The industry concluded that it is an efficient and reliable way of designing printed circuit boards.
We can only expect the entire assembly procedure to improve in the future. Even today, customers can expect reliable boards at affordable rates. However, it is essential to work with a trustworthy manufacturer with the necessary experience and equipment to meet the needs of your specific PCB.