Testing methods for PCB manufacturing have gained widespread attention in recent years. Whether they are hobbyists or serious manufacturers, everyone puts emphasis on quality and it should stay that way. That is why it is especially important to talk a little more about some of the available methods that are often used for the purpose of quality assurance. They differ in relation to the production of batches, devices, test times, and other elements.
1. Examination methods
There is an electrical and visual method of examination. These methods include PCBA inspection. In that case, technicians try to find various defects that are visible to the naked eye or under a magnifying glass. For example, these can be component orientation, missing components, etc. This check is the easiest and fastest to report, and it is also one of the basic ways to view it. The reason is the price of access because it is not necessary to use special equipment for those purposes. It also does not take long and most of the shortcomings can really be identified by this procedure.
2. In-circuit
This method is somewhat more serious than the previous one, which is why it eliminates almost 100% of errors. It is also valid for an efficient and fast test, although it is a slightly higher cost. The great thing is that for large tests or those that require repetition, test devices can be adapted. This means that the approach is very flexible. Due to its advantages, it is also the most popular type of testing when it comes to large series. They are quite detailed because they also deal with checking short circuits and open circuits. You can find even more about ICT at uetpcba.com
3. Flying needle testing
We present you with another way of testing in PCB production that is cheaper and faster to implement. It is also not necessary to fasten or add a test point. This saves space on the board. With this approach, it is possible to approach the ends of the components themselves and use them as test points. Passive parts are also checked, voltage is measured, etc.
4. AOI
This test method is an automatic optical inspection. During the process, 2D or 3D cameras are used to take PCB photos. They must be of very high quality because they are compared to the design template being tested. It can also be compared with boards of different quality to confirm their usability. Testing can also be performed as the last item in production because in that way the quality of the product is ensured. It covers several shortcomings in relation to the visual inspection, and it provides a clearer picture of the components. Although it is more accurate, it is necessary to set aside a little more time for it.
Conclusion:
Since the production process is quite complicated, it is subject to many factors. Only one board contains a large number of links and they are all equally important. If there is no proper verification, the whole process can be in vain. Because of this, the industry is trying to find the most efficient ways to check PCBs that will ensure higher quality.
