Printed Circuit Board Reliability
PCBs are best viewed as electronic real estate. There is a direct correlation between the reliability of a final electronic product and that of the bare board.

Ensuring high-reliability performance requires plenty of expertise for both PCB buyers and producers.

After selecting the raw materials, the Backbone Fabrication Processes (multilayer press, via drilling, Cu through-hole plating) are the key factors of PCB Reliability.

Below is a summary of the critical points examined in our Auditing for PCB Reliability article , webinar , and podcast .

Also included in this edition of The Conduit is a profile of our new X-Ray Drill and a new promotion called "Teach Your Kids to Solder".
Podcast
A Conversation with Yash Sutariya about PCB Reliability

Yash sits down with Mike Konrad of Reliability Matters to discuss what every bare board buyer should be concerned about. Yash also provides a few helpful tips to use when auditing or selecting a PCB supplier.

Reliability Matters is a podcast on the subject of reliability of circuit assemblies. Reliability "best practices" and success stories are discussed. This podcast features interviews with experts in the electronic assembly industry.

PCB Reliability: Auditing Your Supply Chain to Insure It
Laminates

Laminates meet a particular spec by testing characteristics:

·        Tg

·        Td

·        CTEs


Multilayer Pressing

This process is required to bond individual layer cores (C-Stage) together using prepreg (B-Stage).

Critical parameters vary by material, but typically include:

·        Rate of rise through critical range

·        Achieving cure temperature

·        Time at cure temperature
Drilling

Drill bit quality is most important starting point:

·        In-house or outsourced repointing

·        Automated or manual repointing

·        Quality of inspection tools

Key Factors Fluctuate by Material and Drill Bit

·        Feed is the rate of entry into the material;

·        Speed is the RPM of the drill spindle;

·        Retract is the rate of exit out the material.

Copper Plating

High tensile strength and elongation properties allows:

·         Increased expansion

·        Contraction of plating in hole wall

Reduced copper plating thickness variation allows:

·        Thickness readings from samplings to be trusted for entire production lots

·        Reductions for target set thickness to insure minimum plating requirements

Chemistry component control is critical to plating performance. It requires the following:

·        Proper test equipment;

·        Frequent testing;

·        Monitoring inorganic contaminants.


Variation Control

Copper plating systems can be optimized to achieve either:

·         Higher throughput

·         Higher quality

The key is to balance the two to achieve high reliability at a competitive cost.


Bare Board Cleanliness

·         Ionic contamination can lead to dendrite growth

·         Dendrites cause massive shorting across PCB surface after time in field

·         Ionic contamination is covered under IPC-5704

·        Conformal coating is the most seamless method

·        Use Saponifiers after soldermask application to disperse flux residue
Conclusion

·         Insuring PCB Reliability is not an easy task

·         Knowledge of contributing factors make PCB users most effective auditors

·         PCB Suppliers' Key Processes critical tool for supply chain management 


What's New?
New Equipment

Pluritec Inspecta Combo X-Ray Drilling System

Responding to HDI demands for smaller holes and tighter lines and spacing, we purchased a new Pluritec Inspecta Combo X-Ray Drill. Featuring four machines in one system, we now have a one-step process for optimizing x-ray aligned drilling for your most complex boards.

Capable of outer layers and inner layers X-Ray tooling holes optimization, micro-drilling, precise-routing with or without x-ray local target detection, and coordinates measuring, the Inspecta Combo meets the most critical tolerances and solves registration problems.

The highest accuracy and stability as well as maximum versatility and flexibility make COMBO a state of the art machine in the high-end multilayer products markets.


·          4 Machines in 1 System

·          "One step" optimized x-ray aligned drilling and routing

·          Real time x-ray point-to-point

·          Higher accuracy in Micro-drilling

·          Ultimate Accuracy in Annular Ring Placement

·          Fully-automated system with three stations: Loading, Unloading, and Rejection.

X-Ray Camera

High resolution X-Ray camera provides over-exposure (for thick panels) and parameter control via software.

A pressure foot on the camera keeps the panel flat against the tooling plate avoiding planarity and other visual inaccuracies.

Drill on pad with/without offset

Precision pad-to-drill alignment can be achieved by x-ray measuring of target / pad.


Extended zone target search

Automated Target search for all pads or targets that are not found in the nominal position.


Panel shifting

Panel shifting avoids drilling burr in repeated drilling location while the system automatically guides operator in panel placement.


Classified (grouping) panels

This useful function allows processed panels to be classified according multiple classes.
Example:

Class A = ± 0.025 mm (1 mil)

Class B = ± 0.050 mm (2 mils)

Class C = ± 0.075 mm (3 mils)
Teach Your Kids to Solder
F ree Solder Kit from SEC

Solder kit and instructional video.

Teach your Kids to solder with this LED PCB solder kit.

Yash's daughter Sameena provides quick tutorial video.

To receive your free solder kit, eMail:

Sean Haggerty
POLL: What needs do you have with respect to PCBs / PCB suppliers?
IATF Certification - Automotive
AS9100 Certification - Aerospace
Better Product Reliability
Better Delivery
Advanced Technologies
SMTA International 2019
Technical Conference:
September 22-26

Electronics Exhibition
September 24-25

Visit Saturn in Booth #1033
Saturn Water Cooler
Ford vs Ferrari Trailer
In 1963, Enzo Ferrari was approached by the Ford Motor Company about a possible buy out. Talks were unilaterally cut off by Ferrari when Enzo realized that the deal included purchase of the Ferrari racing program. Upset at being rebuffed, Henry Ford II directed his racing division to build a car to beat Scuderia Ferrari.

American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co.



Parag's Grilled Fish
 
·        Fish Fillet
·        Lemon juice
·        Extra Virgin Olive Oil
·        Garlic (fresh)
·        Spices proportionate to taste (salt, red chili, curry powder)
 
Cut fish fillets in half width-wise. Chop to medium-thick slices with incisions on both sides. Soak fish in lemon and salt for 30 minutes. Begin adding Olive Oil, Red Chili, Curry Powder and Chopped Garlic. Let marinate overnight. Make sure to grill before eating.
Call (734) 941-8100