How can PCB board repair save you money in a crisis?

A PCB assembly company may produce a variety of circuit board failure. You may have to spend a lot of money to design your board, and you can not give it up so you can only repair it. Of course, this also takes some money, so how to save more money from it, then we have to narrate from three aspects.

PCB Board Repair Scenarios

Repair

This is the most common reason you might need to utilize such services: a part which was working has failed, and you don't know why. Luckily, electronics experts can analyze both the original schematics and the resulting board to discover the underlying problem. Often, it's something as simple as a single broken bit of circuit wiring or a single failed component that can be fixed for far less than it would cost to recreate the board.

Rework

Sometimes, it's the initial design that's flawed. A capacitor cannot handle the charge it needs, or a particular computer chip proves to be incompatible with the board. In this case, PCB board repair services can take a look at the original design specs, compare them to the finished product, and uncover which component(s) are causing the issue.
From there, it's a relatively simple matter to find suitable replacements which can meet your original specifications.

Modification

Or, perhaps your PCB works, but just not quite up to par. Perhaps it fails to meet a necessary requirement, such as FCC feedback shielding standards. If this is the problem, much as with rework efforts, your PCB repair service can take the working design and improve on it so it meets your needs.

What To Look For In PCB Board Repair Services

When you're looking for a repair service, there are a few important matters to consider.

Standards and Certifications. There are numerous global standards agencies, such as the IPC Association, that maintain industry-specific standards for electronics work. Of these, the IPC-7711 / 7721 standard is the most important, relating directly to electronics repair and rework. While certification is not a guaranteeof quality work, it can give you a lot of assurance when you deal with a company that's certified in your area of need.

Supply chain expertise. A repair service that cannot guarantee quality components won't be able to guarantee their repairs will hold. Pick a firm which specializes in supply chain management, so you can know your PCB will be repaired using nothing but genuine components and materials.

Testimonials and case studies. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. If you're in doubt about a repair service, ask them for referrals or case studies demonstrating their expertise. After all, there's no surer sign of good work than a happy customer.

If you have a mission-critical PCB that isn't working as it should, don't toss it out and incur huge losses in trying to replace it. Simply hire a PCB board repair service to make the necessary adjustments at a much lower price.

PCB Prototype Assembly Shows How To Improve Quality

Before ordering a high volume of PCBs for your next new design, it is always good to first assemble a prototype or order a low volume batch that all can be tested for any errors. PCB prototype assembly can help exactly with such testing to make sure you aren't out thousands of dollars should anything go wrong during the final production phase, and the assembly doesn't have to cost you even more money by being in-house. All of it can be outsourced to an assembly company easily.But, what exactly are the other benefits of a PCB prototype besides the financial budgeting? There are several and most of them have been outlined below.

1. Design Changes

Prototypes have a huge benefit of being a tangible product that can show you how your product is going to look in its final stage. If the design or layout isn't something that seems like it is going to be the most efficient, both for your company and your clients, then you can take the time to make any final design changes. And with a low volume assembly of prototypes, or just one altogether, you aren't spending hundreds of dollars on simple changes for an improvement on your PCB assembly.

2. Troubleshooting

Worst case scenario is that you put in a high volume order, take all of that time and money to have everything assembled, and then realize after the fact everything has been shipped out to you ready to be sent off to clients that the PCBs aren't working up to spec. Sure, they went through testing, but sometimes a little error can still slip through. With a prototype, the PCB can undergo very rigorous testing to make sure that it is going to work and won't fail early in its life span.

3. Quality Assurance

A PCB prototype assembly not only helps with design and troubleshooting, but, it also helps to ensure what kind of components are working and which ones might need to be updated or replaced. PCBs are constantly changing with the advances of technology and sometimes certain components are outdated, and a prototype is there to help what can work to keep your PCBs efficient and only the highest quality available.

4. New Products

Of course you will want to create a prototype before implementing a brand new product for your clients. Whether you need a low volume batch of orders or a PCB prototype assembly done quickly, new products need to be tested and revised with any changes before going on to the final stage of assembly--and even then, more testing will occur on the assembly side.

5. Testing Assemblies

If you're in the market of looking for a new PCB assembly manufacturers company, then one of the best ways to do so is requesting an PCB prototype assembly job to be done according to your design and specs. You can test out how well they listen to your requests, how much they are going to cost, and then assess the quality of the PCB prototype to see just how well they can fit with your business.

All in all, PCB prototype assembly is a very important part of the entire assembling process to make sure that you save money, have the most efficient components, and maintain a very reliable professional relationship with your assembly company.

PCB Design

NOD Electronics can help you to transit concept or brain image into product as long as you send us PCB designrequirements. We can offer PCB design and layout services. In order to shorten your timeline, we comply with strict standards to handle PCB design phases, such as from requirement draft, alpha & beta review to volume production. In this case, your PCB design tasks go smoothly under our project management team.

Nowadays, engineers usually use Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software to complete PCB design. Although there are functional softwares such as Protel, Power PCB which can directly convert schematic diagram to layouts and call components in standard dimension from CAD library, we should analyze and adjust timely according to different assembly density, engineering, equipments and special components.

In many cases of startup companies, the design for manufacturability (DFM) was usually ignored or not emphasized, which caused a lot of defects and project delay during PCB manufacturing and PCB assembly phases, because EMS supplier could not resolve problem due to original PCB design.

DFM is the most effective method of ensuring PCB design quality, which matches the project requirements and global abilities of electronics manufacturing to lower down the cost, enhance volume production and expedite time-to-market. DFM starts product design phase, focusing on manufacturability and test plan, creating a close connection with design and manufacturing and realizing an one-time success from design to manufacturing. DFM is featured in short development period, low cost, high quality and popular with current enterprises.

PCB Manufacturing

PCB Experts offer inexpensive PCBs for quantities as little as 1 piece to as high as 5,000 pieces. In addition, our PCB designers look over every design for potential mistakes. This service can’t be found at most PCB fabrication houses. Also, we follow very strict PCB manufacturing workflow to ensure the high quality delivery. NOD Electronics customers come from a large variety of industries and business segments, such as semiconductor, enterprise computing, networking and telecommunications, wireless markets, medical and biological, industrial and embedded systems, network storage, automotive electronics, digital toys, laboratory instruments, etc. That is why you can rely on our PCB manufacturing andPCB assembly services. As herein, we place PART of our customer cases for your reference. We can do than you imagine. In general, our global customers have following impressions of our services: quick response, reasonable price level, top customer perspective, quality commitment.

NOD Electronics invested over 10 million USD for factory facilities, including PCB and PCBA equipments (Acid Copper Through-hole Plating, CNC Drilling, PCB Etching Machine, PCB Milling Machine, Surface Mount Machine, Reflow Oven, Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), Wave Soldering) and a scientific system of management, through which your PCB and PCB assembly requirements can be fulfilled in high quality and accordance of international standards.

We choose A+ grade copperplate to ensure stable performance (general FR-4) of PCB fabrication. During the manufacturing process, automatic copper plating lines and high-speed drilling machines (brand:TMAX) to make accuracy and fast delivery guaranteed. All printed circuit board will be detected by advanced automatic flying probe machines (or test frame ) at subsequent stages to make sure each PCB is OK from inner circuits to outside shape. With the initial stage of PCB design, timing is always very crucial. Our quick-turn for PCB assembly prototyping, ECO (Engineering change orders) and BGA reballing/rework services brings your lead time with the highest regard, no matter order volume (as little as one piece). Our 20 hours PCB sample express service has already been a life saver for huge many product design teams facing strict deadlines. Our engineer will follow strict and refined pcba workflow to perform the process of pcb manufacturing and pcb assembly. Our PCBA boards are widely served for customers of a variety of industries, such as automobile, medical & health, system card, and consumer electronics. Generally, we fulfill standards of ISO quality management and IPC-A-610E throughout phases of incoming materials, screen printing, smt, aoi, ipqc, dip and PCBA test. In general, your PCB prototype can be well served by us. Since we receive your product drafted solution, all subsequent process will be controlled by our strict PDCA management workflow. Our dedicated engineers will communicate timely with you and resolve any problem. Moreover, our global manufacturing capabilities can reduce your cost beyond expectations and without any hassle. We will be your best PCB manufacturer and PCB assembly partner.

PCB Manufacturing Machines

We invested over 10 million USD on PCB equipments including electroplate lines, drilling machines, flying probe, text screener etc. All of these are for offering you capability of monthly 15,000 square meters PCB manufacturing, which is applicable for small-medium-large business orders.

Once you have completed PCB manufacturing course, now it’s time to prepare incoming materials according to BOM list and start up the PCB assembly phase or check back the PCB design. Also for more details, you can review more our services.

How to do a good job of lead - free assembly electronics

Transitioning to lead-free assembly electronics requires not only product reliability, but also the ability for an optimizedPCB assembly process. Additionally, material selection, component changes, and handling potential testing failures are integral to a successful transition. 

Choosing Materials

Surface finish is one of the key material choices impacting the entire assembly electronics process. The assembly process itself, plus the complexity of the board and its use environment, all make an impact on this decision. Typical options include lead-free HASL or ENIG, OSP, ImAg, and ImSN, with new innovations becoming market-ready all the time. Different laminates are often under-specified due to underestimating their quality during the assembly process. Alternatively, laminates may be over-specified, which commands a higher cost.

Solder alloys are another important decision: wave solder, surface mount, and solder for BGA balls all have to be considered. Typ[ically, SAC305 is the surface-mount alloy of choice, and it performs acceptably under most circumstances. Depending on the complexity required for your wave solder alloys, the most cost effective solution is SnCU, especially if you have thin boards with low-aspect holes that need to be filled. SnAgCuNi is preferable for more challenging holes, although this may depend on the surface finish and choice of flux as well. For board flexing capabilities, or withstanding shock events, a variety of lower modulus alloys like SAC105 are becoming more prevalent.

Component Qualifications and Testing

Early adopters of lead-free assembly electronics discovered frequent occurrences of melted plastic components on wave solder connectors. This lead to a switch away from nylon 66 toward the more appropriate nylon 46, or sometimes LCP. These meet the requirements of moisture and temperature sensitivity, a must-have in surface-mount LF components. 

Other components that need to withstand heat damage may be more difficult to detect, which makes preventing that damage a greater challenge. Electrolytes within electrolytic capacitors may boil if time limits and safety temperatures are exceeded, yet these limits are not always outlined in sufficient detail.

Common specs may offer some suggestions, yet without the necessary variables to predict possible behavior. Component engineers end up guessing at preheat durations and total peak heat, while attempts are made with lead-free alloys to properly fill holes under various conditions.

Testing the strain capability of separate components following lead-free assembly is another blind spot. For example, it’s commonly known that SAC alloys have a reduced tolerance for strain, yet their assembly manufacturing people rarely offer specific limits for these devices. If suppliers could record results of four-point bend testing for their components in order to determine an objective maximum strain capability, the user could know if problems are more likely to arise during component stuffing, performing ICT, or attaching their boards to the chassis.

Reworking

All too often, lead-free reworks are overlooked in favor or meeting tight manufacturing schedules. However, records indicate that reworking is one of the greatest challenges involved with making the transition to lead-free assembly. A Lead-free assembly electronic has a more difficult window lying between the cold solder on one end and heat damage at the other.

Reworking can bring operator-to-operator benefits to the mix, optimizing equipment process that was probably originally designed for Sn-Pb rework. Every critical component requires a strict rework process which must be rigidly adhered to. Extensive failure analysis has to be undertaken before a determination regarding appropriate rework procedure can be made. Damage to the PCB, the component itself, or any neighboring components must be prevented. New rework equipment may be necessary, as well as the employment of new shielding techniques. 

Implement Auditing

Despite the growing experience with assemblage of lead-free PCBs, high quality is not always maintained after high-volume production begins. A comprehensive audit plan should be in place to address with the supplier in order to ensure accountability.  Making the change to lead-free assembly electronics provides an excellent opportunity to review your supplier’s typical process, and make any necessary adjustments for optimum quality control.

Electronic assembly

Electronic assembly stands for the process of soldering components onto printed circuit board by SMT and THT technology, programming to do complete function test so as to get functional PCBA board, making box building of PCBA boards with metal casing, plastic parts and then forming a product for sale. As a professional electronics assembly services provider, NOD Electronics fully offers component procurement and inspection, assembly, test and box building with sophisticated manufacturing solution and engineering process. At same time, some custom requirements could be well supported here with high flexibility.

Electronics Assembly Capabilities

• PCB Manufacturing (up to 12 layers, HDI, buried and blind vias available, down to 3.5mil spacing and line width)
• Component procurement (originally sourcing from manufacturer or general agent)
• SMT Assembly (4 SMT lines, down to 0201 chip, 0.25mm BGA, package of PQFP, PLCC, SOP, SOJ available)
• THT Assembly (2 lines, 95% skillful workers)
• In Circuit Test (custom fixture, supporting complex test plan and massive test points)
• Programming and Function Test (professional environment, temperature/humidity, drop test)
• Burn In test
• Box Building (2 lines)
• Quality Assurance (incoming material quality control, in-process control, outgoing control and in compliance with ISO9001:2008 and IPC-A-610E)
• Quick Turn of Prototype and Mass Production

Electronics Assembly Advantages of NOD Electronics

We've got 7 years experiences of electronics assembly and are serving a range of customers from USA, UK, Netherland etc. Our one-stop manufacturing services from procurement, assembly, test and after-sale will make you comfortable. Our capabilities of sourcing best cost-effective components will make your cost reduction into a reality. The pass rate of PCB assembly is over 99.8%, which will meet your requirements. What's more, we can offer customs clearance and international logistics. In this case, you will enjoy first-class services and wait for products after placing order to us.

Now, let's start to contact NOD Electronics.

China PCB Manufacturer

China is the PCB manufacturing base with 75% shipment of global volume, which benefits from perfect industrial supply chains, manufacturing capabilities and cost performance. As a China PCB manufacturer located in Guangzhou, NOD Electronics keeps long-term relationship with global customers by its leading PCB manufacturing capabilities and services. We strive to be your top choice of PCB manufacturer based in China.

We invested 15 million to build senior PCB manufacturing lines with monthly capabilities of 50,000 square meters. Regarding engineering process, we will take quality and efficiency to serve you. Now we support up to 12 layers, blind and buried via, impedance requirements.

• Max. Layers: 12
• Max. Thickness: 8.0mm
• Min. Thickness: 0.4mm
• Max. Thickness/diameter Ratio: 14:01
• Max. Copper Plating: 10oz
• Thinnest 4 Layer: 0.33mm
• Max. Hole and Pad: 0.15/0.35mm
• Drilling Precision: +/-0.025mm
• PTH Tolerance: +.-0.03mm
• Min. Spacing/Width: 0.065mm
• Surface Finish: ENIG/OSP/ HASL/ Au Plating (soft/hard)/ Immersion Ag/ Immersion Tin/ Bright Tin Plating/Ag Plating/ Carbon Ink
• Quick Prototype: 20 hours
• Quality Inspection: 100% (thorough IPQC, flying probe/test fixture)
• TS16949/UL/CE/RoHS/ISO9001

What's more, we support one-stop component procurement, assembly and box building, and delivery fully functional PCBA boards to your hand. Robust box building capabilities and DFM analysis make us to believe we will become your reliable PCB manufacturer based in China. NOD Electronics fully takes customer experience of great satisfaction on basis of cost reduction.

Now, let's start to contact NOD Electronics.