Parts Of A Circuit Board

What Are The Parts Of A Circuit Board

Parts Of A Circuit Board

If you are a beginner in the electronics and electrical industries, a printed circuits board parts diagram will seem overwhelming to you.  Also, it might seem intimidating even to some professionals. And it is natural since a circuit board will at least require 13 components to build up the entire circuitry board for different purposes.

When you know what are the parts of a circuit board and their primary usage, you can identify the faults in it and also, use the PCB with enhanced effect. Hence, we will discuss these essential components to build a circuit board for commercial purpose properly.

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As a fast turnaround or quick-turn PCB Assembly Manufacturer /factory in Shenzhen China, FX PCB is able to fulfill orders in a fast delivery time with our modern technologies used in production.

We strictly follow your Gerber file and Bom list for your fast turnaround or quick turn PCBA projects, and we will also be glad to suggest you the alternative for your passive components to decrease your cost, but all replacement components need you to approve and make the final decision on whether you want to use them.

Our factory carries out the assembly and installation of printed circuit boards to order. During the development and manufacturing process, constant quality control is carried out.

How To Identify SMD Components In Circuit Board?

SMD components most commonly refer to the Small Mounted Devices and are electronic parts. These are used on a circuit board with soldering. It uses surface-mount technology for the soldering process.

Depending on the SMD components setup, they serve different purposes. The industry experts have setup different SMD components sizes standard for various purposes.  The most common SMD components include Chip Resistor(R), Network Resistor (RA/RN),  Capacitor, Transistor (Q), LED, Diode and so on.

These are also the fundamental parts of a circuit board that we will discuss in the following detail.

What Are The Parts Of A Circuit Board?

Many people continuously ask us about circuit board components and what they do to understand the circuit board diagram better. And it is a worthwhile question since without knowing the parts and their applications, you may not use the circuit board properly.

So, in the following sections, circuit board components explained briefly.

1. Resistors:

All types of Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) use resistors as the current control foundation. Resistors are two ends of electronic components and allow a controlled current flow through them at ease. As the two terminals permit current flow, it generates the required voltage for the circuit board operation.

A resistor controls the current flow or restricts it by converting the voltage into heat. Once converted into heat, the resistor dissipates it to cool off the entire circuit board diagram. You can find several materials used for resistors manufacturing, but the most common is a carbon film. It is often found in the axial style, and the different color coding means various levels of resistance from the component.

2. Capacitors:

A capacitor of the circuit board functions as the location to store energy. While PCBs use the resistor to control the adequate electric charge, the function of a capacitor is to keep the charged energy temporarily.

Hence, many people compare them to batteries. Also, a capacitor I fully charged and emptied within a spilt of seconds. The capacitor uses two metal conducive ends and store both positive and negative charges. It releases the temporarily stored charge when the circuit board needs electricity supply when need be.

Depending on the conductive metal plate used to build the capacitor, you will find several types of capacitors in the market. However, most PCBA builders will use radial, polyester or ceramic capacitors for the circuit board.

3. Transformers:

The transformers in a circuit board do what they meant to do- transfer power or electricity from one source to another. They do the power transformation with the use of induction technology.  The PCB transformer continuously decreases or increases the voltage as part of its electricity transformation into different parts of the circuit board.

Likewise, the resistor, a transformer also regulates the flow of the electricity. But the difference between a resistor and transformer lies in their functioning. A transformer isolates the electricity flow to control it.

There will be ardently at least two or more separate windings or inductive circuits in a PCB transformer along with a soft iron core. The primary winding works as the source terminal to dissipate the energy. The secondary winding works as the energy receiver.

4. Transistors:

The circuit board transistor works as the foundation block for the most modern-day electronic components. A PCB transistor works to amplify the small charge coming from the batteries and enables the PCB to work finely.

You will most usually see a bipolar transistor in the circuit board. It has three pins and three locations to store and amplify the electric charge. NPN and PNP are the two kinds of transistors. These consist of the following parts:

  • Base: it works as the foundation of the entire transistor.
  • Collector: As the name suggests, the collector accumulates the charger carrier.
  • Emitter: The charge is emitted or released in this area.

There are both N-type and P-type areas on the transistor.

5. Diodes:

The purpose of the diode is to redirect the electrical energy in the circuit board. It works similarly as the one-way street to shift the power from one end to another. The component has two terminals. One end blocks the electricity flow, and the other end forces the one-directional flow of the electricity.

The flow direction is from the anode (positive terminal) to the cathode (negative terminal). The diode has a similarity with the resistors since it controls the electricity flow. The most common diode system is a Light Emitting Diode or LED.

6. Battery:

We all know the purpose of using a battery on the circuit board. The PCB battery stores the energy in the chemical formation and then converts it into electrical energy.  The battery uses an external circuit. It permits the flow of the electrons from one end to another.

In this way, an available current is produced, but it is constrained. The transistor then amplifies the limited electrical power.

The most recommendable battery used in the PCBs is a rechargeable battery.

The flow direction is from the anode (positive terminal) to the cathode (negative terminal). The diode has a similarity with the resistors since it controls the electricity flow. The most common diode system is a Light Emitting Diode or LED.

7. Integrated circuits:

It is the powerhouse most commonly used for the PCBs. An integrated circuit board comprises of resistors, transistors and capacitors in millions and has a tiny wafer shape.

Since it has millions of transistors, capacitors and resistors, the integrated circuit works as an oscillator and amplifier for the PCBs. The ICs are integrated into the PCB base with the miniature technology that has seen widespread use lately.

ICs have silicone construction and plastic housing. Ideally, you will see analog and digital ICs and both have widespread use in the PCB manufacturing industry.

Parts of a circuit board

8. Inductors:

Working as a linear passive component, the inductor is another integral part of the circuit boards diagram. It is a two-terminal component, likewise the capacitors. It uses a magnetic field to store the energy before dissipating it to other parts.

Inductors are also widely called as reactors, chokers and most popularly, coils. The insulated wire is wrapped within the core. The higher the core wrapping or coiling of the insulated wire, the higher the magnetic field and energy will be.

The inductance promptly of the inductor is formulated by the ratio of voltage and current rate change within a certain period.

9. Oscillators:

The oscillators work like a clock or programmable timer in the PCBs. It generates an electronic signal periodically. The piezoelectric material used within the oscillators produces resonance, and it dictates the electric signal frequency or oscillation.

The most common piezoelectric material used to manufacture the oscillator is the quartz crystal.

10. Switch:

The primary function of a switch in the Printed Circuit Board is to control the electricity flow through on/off functions.

When pressed down the switch open ups the entire circuit board and permits the other functions to take place within it, and when you turn off the switch, the whole of electrical operation comes in a standstill.
Manufacturers choose from literally tons of options for switches used in the PCBs.

11. Potentiometer:

A potentiometer has three terminals and serves as a variable resistor. It dictates the voltage or electric potential of the PCBs and allows you to control the voltage flow.  There two main types of the potentiometer in the market.

These are, firstly the linear and secondly, the rotatory ones. Rotatory potentiometers are more familiar than the linear ones. Also, these use a knob to control the variable resistance. The potentiometer controls the amplifier voltage.

You will see them mostly in the volume control mechanism of any devices.

12. The SCR:

The Silicon Controlled Rectifier or SCR has four silicone layers and is placed in a PCB to control the high amount of electricity and voltage. The easiest way to define an SCR is to imagine two transistors which are cooperating for the voltage control.

However, manufacturers will use them where a regular transistor may not work. One such example could be the circuit boards used in the ACs.

13. Sensors:

The sensors are placed in a PCB to dictate the minimal changes in the surrounding and act accordingly. It senses heat, noise, motion, moisture, light, etc. The changes are carried to the PCBs through an electrical signal. Also, some programmed sensors display these changes in a display with readability for humans.

Where Can I Buy Circuit Board Components?

You will get the components for circuit boards, mostly in the nearby hardware and electronics shop. So, sourcing the elements is pretty easy. Also, you can choose any reputed online store to buy these components.

Conclusion

Since now you know what are the parts of a circuit board, you should find it pretty straightforward to collect them and build the first circuit board of your life. The best part of these 13 circuit board components is that they are easily gettable and none would cost you much. So, what’s your plan on manufacturing a circuit board with these parts?

Related Tag: Glass PCB

Peter Gong
Peter Gong

I am Peter Gong. I have been working in PCB and PCBA industry for 15+ years now. I have been a part of the PCB revolution with my dedication to circuit board technologies and creative ideas. I write in FX PCB to impart my knowledge on PCB and PCBA for all circuit board lovers, manufacturers, and users.

How To Open Gerber Files

How To Open Gerber Files

How To Open Gerber Files

When you work with the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design, you may want to visualize the result of your hard work. Also, the visualization helps you identify the right layers of the PCB and fine-tune them with proper connections.

And to do all these, you will require a Gerber (.GBR) file extension to store the design of the circuit board. Also, you will need a proper Gerber file viewer to import the file and open it for appropriate and adequate visualization.

Hence, we will discuss how to open Gerber files with the proper Gerber file viewer. Also, we promise you that the work isn’t as challenging as you might think initially.

So, keep calm and enjoy the write-up.

Table of Contents

Our Recommended Multilayer PCB

Multilayer Flex PCB

Multilayer flex PCBs offer exceptional flexibility while providing multiple circuit layers for complex electronic designs. Discover the benefits and capabilities of these advanced printed circuit boards for your projects.

Multilayer flexible printed circuit board is just like a sandwich, as it has copper foil between layers of insulating material.  

The layers are interconnected with the help of vias and through holes. The use of multiple layers in multilayer flex PCB allows designers to incorporate more components and functionality into a smaller space.

What Is A Gerber File?

A Gerber file is built to store the designs of the printed circuit board. The file is often represented by the.GBR extension. A professional circuit board designer will export data from the Gerber file to the PCB designed program.

The file holds images of the standard PCB for comparison and builds an ideal circuit board. Also, you will see the use of Gerber file in the Game Boy Tileset. There the file incorporates with the Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy and also, the standard Game Boy.

Gerber files are encrypted with the image of printed circuit board design. After opening them in the right format using the right tool, you can enlarge the image to see the multiple layers and also work on them before printing and work on them later.

The Best Gerber Viewer to Open the File

When it comes to opening the Gerber file or, GBR file extension, you will first need the file viewer tool for it. Luckily, you will see various Gerber file viewer out on the internet, and most of them are free too for usage.

These software supports viewing of the measurement of the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and also supports printing of the board from the tool.

While some tools support only the viewing of the circuit board design, some come with extensive applications.  However, some these are Gerber file editor. So, you can use them to view the structure and change the PCB design too.

Some of the most reliable Gerber viewer tools are listed below:

  • ViewMate
  • GerbMagic
  • GerberLogix
  • CAMtastic Gerber Viewer
  • ZofzPCB

Also, there are multiple options for Gerber viewer software that you may choose according to your preference.

How to Open Gerber Files

Actually opening the Gerber file is pretty straightforward. So, you won’t have to know rocket science to open and view the printed circuit board design. All you ardently need to do is to get the right Gerber viewer for the purpose.

If you are going to use the GBR.file extension for occasional purpose, you may want to use a Gerber editor open-source and free PCBA viewer. We recommend you to use the CAMtastic Gerber viewer to visualize the PCB design.

It is a tool engineered for viewing and editing CAM data. For those who don’t know what is CAM, here’s a little suggestion for them.

CAM date broadly refers to the Computer-Aided Manufacturing, which helps the user to visualize the design and edit accordingly. Once you download the CAMtastic Gerber viewer, you can proceed to the next steps of opening and visualizing the file.

You can install the software and then, upload the Gerber file in it for visualization. However, the file viewer works a bit strangely, which may seem outdated for modern-day users. Firstly, you need to select the action you want to do with the file.

Once you have selected the command, import the Gerber file from the desktop location in the viewer. Once imported successfully, it should visualize each Printed Circuit Board layer for further action. You can check for any imperfections and remodel it to correct the error.

You can execute the command action with the ‘Right Click’ functionality.

There is another way to open the Gerber file for viewing. Yes, you can view them online without the hassle of downloading and installing a freeware for the purpose. Reference Gerber Viewer is an online-based platform.

Once you have uploaded the file successfully, you can easily see it on the browser of your PC or laptop. Also, the GIMP Brush files are operated with Linux, macOS and importantly, Windows for users convenience.

Gerber Files

Converting the GBR File

A Printed Circuit Board design has three various file formats. Sadly, one file format doesn’t work with the other, and the conversion works differently, too. We have mentioned earlier some Gerber file viewer that not only opens the file but lets you edit them again.

Once you have found the right file viewer, you can convert the GBR>file extension into the following file formats-

  • DXF
  • PDF
  • DWG
  • TIFF
  • SVG

Also, some online file viewer allows you to convert and save files in the PNG format. Also, if you want to use the file in Adobe Photoshop, you have to convert the file into PNG format first. Once you have converted the file into PNG format, you can import in Adobe Photoshop and work further on it to make any possible corrections.

What Happens When You Can’t Open the File?

Sometimes, even after your extensive use of all the methods and formats mentioned above, you may fail to open the file. If it happens, the main reason may be the misreading of the file format. Also, GBR.extension is widely used in meteorological data collection.

So, reread the file format, and you may opt for the other software application too. So, be aware of the misleading file format before working with it.

Conclusion

Printed Circuit Board designers often have to visualize the circuit boards to identify any possible errors and correct them. Hence, knowing how to open Gerber Files will help them unlock the file format in the correct method and check for the correctness.

Once you follow the instructions mentioned above correctly, you will quickly open the file for necessary actions.

Realted Tag: Glass PCB

Peter Gong
Peter Gong

I am Peter Gong. I have been working in PCB and PCBA industry for 15+ years now. I have been a part of the PCB revolution with my dedication to circuit board technologies and creative ideas. I write in FX PCB to impart my knowledge on PCB and PCBA for all circuit board lovers, manufacturers, and users.

How To Check A Circuit Board For Faults

How To Check A Circuit Board For Faults

How To Check A Circuit Board For Faults

A circuit board is a major component in all electronics and electrical instrument. It has changed the world forever. However, a faulty printed circuit board is prominent, even if you are not using it for technical requirements. 

So, for the proper use of your instruments, it is beneficial to know how to check a circuit board for faults. A circuit board is made of many components, and so, an array of defects may appear on the board diameter. 

Generally, you will see the below-mentioned faults in a circuit board-

  • A brunt circuit component 
  • Fluid leakage 
  • Connection shorts in the PCB
  • Power related issues 
  • Soldering problems

Although the list may seem a long one, you can quickly check the faults with a multimeter. So, we will discuss the methods of using a multimeter to inspect the PCB for electrical faults. 

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Our Recommended Ceramic PCB

Ceramic PCB

FX PCB can provide the ALN(Aluminum oxide) and AIO203(Aluminum Nitride) Ceramic PCB, we can make ENEPIG, ENIG, Immerison silver surface,you can check the material datesheet and our capability from the below tables. Ceramic PCB is actually made of electronic ceramic materials and can be made into various shapes.

The ceramic circuit board has the following characteristics: high-temperature resistance, high electrical insulation, low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, high thermal conductivity, good chemical stability, and the thermal expansion is almost can be coefficients of components.

How To Check A Circuit Board For Faults

A multimeter is a piece of dependable equipment to check for shorts and electronic faults almost in all electrical devices. Using the multimeter circuit board, you can inspect for resistance, capacitance, current, fuse shorts, AC and DC voltage, etc. 

Since it performs so much testing jobs at once, it is widely known as a combination of multimeter, ammeter and voltmeter. 

Before you can use a multimeter for the electronic fault finding methods, it is necessary to go through two more inspections of the printed circuit board. These are:

Method 1: Visual Inspection

Thorough visual checking of the entire circuit board will reveal any burnt or damaged components at ease. The burnt and eroded component is a sign that there are either chemical fluid leakages or severe overheating issues on the board. Also, it signals the most apparent reasons for a PCB malfunction. 

Method 2: Physical checks

You can find more useful and practical insights into the malfunctioning PCB with an in-depth physical inspection.  It is helpful to identify the burnt or damaged components, which otherwise would be impossible with visual inspection only. 

You can use an oscilloscope for even better results. 

Method 3: How to check PCB with multimeter PDF

Suppose you want to check for the major problems or faults in a circuit board such as glass PCB or ceramic PCB. The best part, you don’t need to be an expert for using a multimeter to check for the shorts and fuses on the PCB.

Step 1:

Before you start examining the PCB for any malfunctions, could you turn it off for safety precautions? Find the AC outlet and disconnect the cord from it. It will ensure there is no direct electricity supply in the PCB anymore. 

Step 2:

Start with the checking of the fuses of the circuit board. You can use nose pliers to pull out the fuse and check for its damage. Also, check the filament inside for a glass fuse.  You will see a broken filament within a damaged fuse. 

You will need to use the multimeter to check the ceramic fuse. At first, set the multimeter promptly in the continuity function. Then, touch the probes of the multimeter with the metal ends of the fuse. If the fuse is in ideal condition and continuity, the meter will beep. 

Step 3:

Once you have checked the fuse, you may proceed to inspect any shorts in the PCBA. Although at times, people say the steps of how to test a circuit board for a short is complicated, you can quickly accomplish it with a multimeter. 

Connect the multimeter socket with the multimeter ‘s lead plug. The lead plug is colored red for easy identification.  The black colored lead plug needs to be connected with the ‘COM’ socket. Finally, set the multimeter effectively in its continuity test. 

The continuity test position is easily identifiable with a diode icon and few parallel lines on the multimeter display. 

How to check a circuit board for a fualt

Step 4:

This is the continuation of the shorts finding procedure on the PCB. At first, please turn on the multimeter and check its continuity position. If appropriately set, the multimeter will beep when you connect the two probes (lead plugs). 

If you fail to hear any beep sound, it may be due to either of the following reasons:

  • The continuity position isn’t set correctly. 
  • The multimeter battery is finished and needs replacement. 

Once you sorted the issue, check for the continuity position again. If all goes planned, you can quickly proceed to the next step. 

Step 5:

Now connect the two probes with the first and last position of the problematic trace. Many people say you need to touch the negative pole of the multimeter with connector and positive pole with the NPN transistor base. 

However, it doesn’t matter. No matter, which probe is connected with which end, you will get similar readings. You need to press the probe firmly with the traces to set the electrical connection correctly. 

A beep sound means there are presences of shorts in the PCB trace. You may repeat the process for all the susceptible traces. 

Step 6:

Now, you can check the wires and cables attached with the printed circuit boards. At first, set the digital multimeter in ‘resistance’ mode. 

Then, connect the two terminals of the multimeter with the cables and wires. Check the readings. An ‘OΩ’ suggests that the cable connection is in good condition. On the other side, ‘infinity’ reading means the cables are malfunctioning. 

What to Do With a Faulty PCB?

A faulty PCB may be hazardous for all types of electronics devices. So, you need to either repair the damaged circuit board or replace it with a new one to avoid any hazards from the damaged parts according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

So, it is recommended ardently that you consult an expert electrician to replace the circuit or the copper traces with shorts for the proper functioning of the unit. 

Conclusion

 A printed circuit board is made in a smaller copper trace and is connected with precision. So, even the slightest defect may ruin the whole device. That’s why for user’s safety and long-lasting performance of devices, you should know how to check a circuit board for faults. 

And when you identify any malfunctioning, you can quickly resolve it on your own or consult an expert for further assistance. 

Peter Gong
Peter Gong

I am Peter Gong. I have been working in PCB and PCBA industry for 15+ years now. I have been a part of the PCB revolution with my dedication to circuit board technologies and creative ideas. I write in FX PCB to impart my knowledge on PCB and PCBA for all circuit board lovers, manufacturers, and users.

How to Use Perfboard Without Copper

How to Use Perfboard Without Copper

How to Use Perfboard Without Copper

When it comes to manufacturing prototype electronic circuits, aka, Dot PCB, the use of perfboard is widespread. The perfboard is a thin material shaped in small grids across the sheet. The grids have tiny holes often circled by copper.

However, if you want to make bare boards, you will want to manufacture the perfboard without coppers. Hence, we have researched on the topic and taken valuable comments of our PCB engineers to come up with the guideline on how to use perfboard without copper.

We have included the flux soldering and detailed step by step guidelines on the perfboard application without any copper.

So, aren’t you excited?

Table of Contents

Our Recommended Copper Base PCB

Copper Base PCB

Copper base PCBs are the most demanding and expensive of all the three types of printed circuit boards. It got the name because the circuit board substrate is made of copper. The use of copper makes these circuit boards highly thermally conductive and versatile.

The copper foil used as the substrate typically has a thickness of around 35μm~280μm. Its thermal conductivity is further assured with the use of aluminum oxide and silicon powder. The manufacturer also usesepoxy resin to connect the substrate and the leading copper circuit. 

The epoxy resins are often filled with polymer for the secured connections.

How to Use Perfboard Without Copper

Perfboards without copper clad is beneficial in many electronics and communicative sectors. However, sometimes you need to use perfboards without copper. In this case, you may want to use the aluminum clads.

Also, the flux soldering procedure is sometimes challenging, especially with the soldering of the small holes for components. However, the following steps will make the process lot easier.

You will need:

  • A medium-sized plastic lid
  • Aluminum foil with a size of 36 gauges
  • Scriber or PCB pointer assisting tool
  • Finest flux for soldering
  • Piece of perfboard
  • Soldering iron with a clean and fine tip
  • Tweezers
  • Leather punch with rotatory feature

Once you have collected all the instruments, we can proceed to the steps. Luckily, you will get all the equipment at home and that isn’t available at home should be easily gettable from hardware shops.

Step 1: Preparing the plastic backing and aluminum foil

At first, you will need to cut the plastic lid in 2” sizes to prepare the backing for the leather punch. You can ardently use a pair of scissors to cut the plastic lid with ease.

On the aluminum foil, you will find patine or oxidized coating on the foil. Find a piece of fine steel wool to scuff off the coating carefully. Once the upper layer is removed successfully, you can proceed to the next big step.

Step 2: Punch the aluminum pad

You may want to work with larger pads instead of the smaller pads since working with the smaller pad is practically very tough. To find the right size on the punching tool, keep rotating the punch head to meet the correct size.

Once you find the right size, quickly squeeze the punching tool to meet the anvil in perpendicular motion. After that, briefly relieve the squeeze and slide in the aluminum-clad in the punching tool. Also, insert the plastic lid in the punching tool.

Now, squeeze the punching head firmly in a 90° angle and make holes through the aluminum foil. Repeat the punching process twice to make sure that it has gone through the board holes perfectly.

Step 3: Wiring the aluminum foil pad

Once you have cut holes on the foil, please don’t remove it from the punching machine. Instead, slide in the wire directly through the hole of the foil pad. After that, slowly remove the wired place from the punching machine.

You may use tweezers to remove the aluminum foil.

Step 4: Placing the punched foil pad on the contact

Now you will require placing the punched foil pad on the perfboard correctly. For this, get hold of the perforated aluminum foil using the PCB assist tool. Then using the device, slowly and surely center the punched pad right on the perfboard.

Then stab the pad on the board. Then use the tweezers to transfer the skewered pad from the perfbaord and replace it on the contact pins. You need to be careful while accomplishing the entire process.

Lastly, press the pointed tool down on the pad and help it sit at ease on the cushion.

Perfboard Without Copper

Step 5: Soldering the pad and perfbaord

In this ardent step, we will discuss how to solder with flux for perfect contact of all the elements. However, before you begin the soldering process, we suggest you wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles. Also, make sure the soldering space has proper ventilation.

Now touch the soldering iron on the punched holed pad with a steady and firm hand. Then, dedicatedly add the flux-cored solder on the pad and make contact for 1 to 2 seconds only. You will smoothly perform the solder and flux in one go.

Sometimes the flux may not be correctly performed, and while removing the soldering iron, the aluminum foil may come off from the board. If you find any improper displacement of the foiled pad from the perfbaord, give a second touch to it using the soldering iron.

You will need to repeat the flux soldering process for all the contacts.

Step 6: Complete the project

Once you have successfully soldered each of the aluminum foils in the perfboard pad, make sure the soldering is done correctly. You can use multiple pads on the board and use it in different applications.

After you have made the pads properly, you should plan the wiring properly. Also, you may draw the wiring outline on the perfbaord ahead of the soldering process. Finally, you can use the Kynar wire to set up the entire wiring procedure.

To set up the wiring correctly, make sure you have measured the wire perfectly. Then, use a punching machine or scissors to cut the wire in the right-sized. Once cut adequately, you can set up the wiring and use the perfboard for your desired application.

Conclusion

So, this is our in-depth guideline on how to use perfbaord without copper pad. Thankfully, the procedure is relatively easy and straightforward. So, we sincerely aspire that you won’t find any difficulties performing the bare board manufacturing process.

Last but not least, when you use the perfboard without copper, make sure the flux soldering is completed correctly so that the contact points are secured and won’t damage at ease. It will ensure a long-lasting service under all circumstances for all types of devices.

Peter Gong
Peter Gong

I am Peter Gong. I have been working in PCB and PCBA industry for 15+ years now. I have been a part of the PCB revolution with my dedication to circuit board technologies and creative ideas. I write in FX PCB to impart my knowledge on PCB and PCBA for all circuit board lovers, manufacturers, and users.

How To Fix A Broken Circuit Board Contact

How To Fix A Broken Circuit Board Contact

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) use multiple layers of copper and fiberglass connected with glue or epoxy resin. Although the epoxy resin used in the printed circuit boards is heat-resistant, sometimes it can get damaged due to overheating and high voltage issues.

At this time, you may want to know how to fix a broken circuit board contact. Well, repairing the circuit boards is really a frustrating task, given the fact that it is time-consuming and needs strict attention from your part.

But don’t worry.

We are going to reveal the easiest way to fix the broken circuit board as well as repairing burnt PCB pads for your convenience.

Table of Contents

Out Recommended Multilayer Flex PCB

Multilayer Flex PCB

Multilayer flex PCBs offer exceptional flexibility while providing multiple circuit layers for complex electronic designs. Discover the benefits and capabilities of these advanced printed circuit boards for your projects

Multilayer flexible printed circuit board is just like a sandwich, as it has copper foil between layers of insulating material.  The layers are interconnected with the help of vias and through holes.

The use of multiple layers in multilayer flex PCB allows designers to incorporate more components and functionality into a smaller space.

How To Fix A Broken Circuit Board Contact

If the wiring of a printed circuit board is damaged, it will fail to perform the similar way as it was used to do earlier. It will result in unsatisfactory performance from the device. So, it is crucial that you truly know how to fix a broken wire on a circuit board.

The process includes:

Step 1: Applying epoxy

The key to repairing any damaged or broken parts of a printed circuit board is to apply the epoxy resin properly. For this, read the user manual and mix the resin on the board following the manufacturer’s instruction.

After that, spread it on one side of the printed board. Now press and hold on two separate pieces of PCBs near until the epoxy resin connects them accurately. It will take 20-30 seconds for the epoxy to set in between the two parts of PCB.

However, we recommend you to leave away the boards for at least thirty minutes. After that, you may proceed to the next steps. It will allow the epoxy resin to set correctly on the damaged boards.

Step 2: Work with the traces

Now, carefully look for the broken copper traces in the printed circuit board. Then use a proper razor knife to cut through the copper traces smoothly.

One by one, cut and remove all the damaged and lost traces. Now use a soft emery cloth to smoothly sand the sections from where you have removed the loose copper traces. You will have to continue grinding on both sides until the bright copper is clearly visible from outside.

It would help if you were ardently careful not to touch the undamaged traces on the printed circuit boards so that they also don’t get hurt in the process.

Step 3: Preparing for the soldering

Next, you will have to prepare the printed circuit board for soldering to reestablish the wired connection between the boards. For this, at first, find a 110V receptacle (power source) and plug in the soldering pencil in it.

Then wait until the soldering pencil becomes hot. When the soldering tip gets hot, wipe it using a wet soldering sponge. Make sure to plug off the soldering pencil before wiping it on the sponge. Also, ensure that the tip is free from every dirt and oxidation for fine soldering later.

Step 4: Applying tinning coat

Now, it is time to apply a thin but useful ‘tinning’ resin coating on the tip of the soldering pencil. If the tinning is appropriately used, the tip will look bright silver. However, sometimes the tip may look like a dull grey color.

If such is the case, you may require to repeat ‘step 3 and 4’ to keep the tip of the soldering pencil neat and clean and ready for further soldering. If you fail to keep the tip clean, the heat won’t dissipate smoothly and result in bad soldering.

Fix A Broken Circuit Board Contact

Step 5: Applying rosin core

Now, find the bare copper traces right on the printed circuit board and apply rosin core solder masking on it. You will have to be careful so that the heat isn’t too much on the copper board. If the applied heat is too much, it will damage the printed circuit board.

Also, if you apply heat more than necessary, it will detach the copper trace from the board.

Step 6: Applying copper wire

Now select a quality 18 gauge copper wire. Use a cutting tool to cut the copper wire adequately so that it may span the copper traces. Now use rosin-core solder to tin such short wirings.

Step 7: Layering the copper wiring

Use tweezers to pick the tinned wires one after one carefully. Then lay the picked wiring right on the traces from where you have removed the loose traces lately.

After you have layered the copper wiring on the traced gaps, you will require soldering them properly. For this, use the soldering pencil tip and fuse the 18-gauge copper wiring accurately in the holes. You will have to repeat the wiring procedure to fill up each loose trace and link the wiring appropriately.

Step 8: Checking for correctness

Once you are done with the repairing job, assemble the device, and check if everything is working correctly or not. Ideally, it should.

However, if the device still malfunctions, you may need to find out the cause once again and repeat the repairing process once again.

How To Repair Burnt Circuit Board

If somehow the printed circuit board is burnt in any parts, you can quickly fix it. Start by cleaning the brunt area with a saturated swab or IPA liquid. Then, use an appropriate razor knife to remove the loose materials from the board.

After that, you will have to apply epoxy resin on the damaged parts and reestablish the wiring connections. The procedure remains the same as described in the above sections. So, it should be easy to follow for you.

Conclusion

The printed circuit board has become a breakthrough technology in our daily life. These boards are used in a myriad of devices. So, when a PCB board is damaged, it may, at times, cause us severe problems. Thus, the above guideline on how to fix a broken circuit board contact should come beneficial for you.

Luckily, the process isn’t a challenging one. However, it requires patience and attention. So, be aware of it.

Peter Gong
Peter Gong

I am Peter Gong. I have been working in PCB and PCBA industry for 15+ years now. I have been a part of the PCB revolution with my dedication to circuit board technologies and creative ideas. I write in FX PCB to impart my knowledge on PCB and PCBA for all circuit board lovers, manufacturers, and users.