Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

When I first started thinking about printed circuit board (PCB) testing, my immediate reaction was boredom. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t have the hands-on excitement of building the circuit board itself. You're not designing the PCB; you're just running it through a tester, sorting it into a pass or fail bin, and moving on. I’ve done the job myself, so I know how repetitive it can feel.

The subject here isn’t all that glamorous, however, the requests about high-frequency printed circuit board (PCB) have increased significantly, which makes me think we have more that can be said on the subject of high-frequency applications

When it comes to high-power printed circuit boards (PCBs), they require more of what we have been talking about. High-power PCBs are what is in their name, meaning they require more current than standard PCBs.

Although it may not feel like it, the PCB manufacturing industry is approaching its 100th anniversary – a remarkable milestone. It’s hard for me to believe, especially having spent 40 years in the business myself. The idea of reaching a century of innovation in this field once seemed impossible. It almost feels like we should begin the story with, “A long time ago, in the 1930s,” when PCBs first came to light during WWII. Yet here we are, on the brink of celebrating this incredible achievement.

In today’s digital and electronic world, with higher frequency electronics and the miniaturization of devices, it is becoming increasingly important to effectively control the electrical signals in the high-speed printed circuit boards used.

I sat at my desk contemplating the subject of this blog post, trace and space circuitry for printed circuit boards, and as usual, I drifted back to the start, for me, which was 1982. The date stamp amuses me – how is it 2024, already!? Of course, when you look back, you can’t stop the memories from flooding in.

In this post we will review these 2 types of markings and additional identification marks that can be incorporated into your printed circuit board.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) require insulation as part of the manufacturing process. The insulation helps to protect non-conductive materials while also preventing the conductive components from coming into contact with each other. It separates the conductive paths to prevent shortages and failures.

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are ubiquitous in today's technology-driven world, serving as the backbone for everything from smartphones to space shuttles. While they may seem straightforward, the truth is, no two PCBs are the same. With the advent of increasingly complex electronics, manufacturing PCBs has become an intricate task that involves a lot of specialized engineering.

At the base of all printed circuit boards is the material. We have to start somewhere, so, let’s talk about the material. PCBs are built-to-print products, and although they are very similar, no matter the shape, size, or layer count, they are unique and have their attributes.