Author Archives: Erin

How to Choose the Right Printed Circuit Board for Your Application

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are at the heart of nearly every electronic device we use today—from smartphones and medical monitors to aerospace controls and industrial machines. Choosing the right PCB for your specific application isn’t just about picking the cheapest option—it’s about ensuring your product functions reliably, efficiently, and safely.

So how do you know which type of PCB is right for your needs? Let’s walk through the key factors to consider when selecting a PCB during the PCB Fabrication process.

1. Understand Your Application Requirements

Start by clearly identifying the role the PCB will play in your device. Ask yourself:

Will the board be used in a high-temperature environment?
Does it need to be flexible or rigid?
Will it handle high frequencies or power loads?
Are there space constraints or weight limits?

Understanding the physical and functional demands of your application will help guide your PCB design, material choices, and layout.

2. Choose the Right Type of PCB

There are several types of Printed Circuit Boards, each serving different purposes:

Single-sided PCBs – Great for simple, low-cost electronics like calculators and toys.
Double-sided PCBs – Common in consumer electronics where moderate complexity is needed.
Multi-layer PCBs – Ideal for high-performance, compact designs like smartphones, servers, and aerospace tech.
Rigid PCBs – Best for durable, permanent structures.
Flexible PCBs – Perfect for wearables, medical devices, or curved applications.
Rigid-Flex PCBs – Used in high-performance electronics that require both flexibility and strength.

The right type depends on both your performance needs and your product’s design limitations.

3. Select the Proper Materials

In PCB Fabrication, the choice of materials affects durability, conductivity, heat resistance, and cost. Common materials include:

FR-4 – A widely used fiberglass-reinforced epoxy laminate; affordable and versatile.
Polyimide – Offers better flexibility and heat resistance, great for aerospace and military uses.
Ceramic – Provides high thermal conductivity and is used in high-frequency or high-power applications.

Choosing the right substrate and copper thickness is crucial to match your performance and environmental needs.

4. Consider Signal Integrity and Thermal Management

For applications involving high-speed signals or high power, signal integrity and heat dissipation become critical. Your PCB layout, trace widths, spacing, and use of thermal vias must be optimized to prevent overheating and maintain performance.

This is especially true for industries like automotive, aerospace, and medical—where failure isn’t an option.

5. Work with an Experienced Manufacturer

Your PCB is only as good as the partner who fabricates and assembles it. At BoardAssembly.com, we specialize in high-quality PCB Fabrication tailored to your application’s unique needs. Whether you’re working on a prototype or full production run, we deliver precision, reliability, and expert support throughout the process.

Choosing the right Printed Circuit Board isn’t just a technical decision—it’s a strategic one. By understanding your application, selecting the right materials, and working with a trusted manufacturer, you’ll set your project up for long-term success.

Ready to get started? Visit our PCB Fabrication page to learn more about our capabilities or contact us to discuss your project.

The Crucial Role of Printed Circuit Boards in Medical Device Manufacturing

In the world of medical device manufacturing, few components are as essential as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). These small but powerful platforms are the backbone of modern medical technology, ensuring that devices perform accurately, safely, and reliably—especially in life-saving situations.

Today’s medical devices, from pacemakers and defibrillators to wearable monitors and diagnostic equipment, rely on compact, high-performance PCB fabrication to function at their best. But what exactly makes PCBs so critical to this industry?

Compactness and Efficiency in Medical Technology

As medical technology evolves, devices are becoming smaller, smarter, and more portable. This push for miniaturization demands printed circuit boards that are both compact and capable of handling complex operations in tight spaces. Whether it’s a handheld diagnostic tool or an implantable medical device, PCBs allow engineers to integrate multiple functions within a single, space-saving platform.

Custom PCB Fabrication for Specialized Medical Applications

Every medical device has unique requirements. That’s why custom PCB fabrication is essential in this industry. Each board must be carefully designed to meet strict technical and regulatory standards.

From high-resolution imaging systems like MRI machines to portable glucose monitors, custom-designed PCBs ensure accuracy and functionality across diverse medical environments. Tailored layouts, trace designs, and component placement all play a role in the precision performance of the final device.

Uncompromising Reliability and Quality Standards

When patient health is on the line, there’s no room for error. PCBs used in medical devices must meet the highest standards of reliability and consistency. Any malfunction or failure could lead to serious consequences.

As a result, the PCB fabrication process for medical devices follows rigorous quality control procedures. Every board undergoes careful inspection and testing to ensure it performs flawlessly, even in demanding conditions such as sterilization, extreme temperatures, or high electromagnetic interference.

Safe Materials and Sterilization Compatibility

Medical PCBs must also comply with safety and sanitation requirements. Materials are selected based not only on performance but also on biocompatibility and sterilization resistance. For example, boards used in surgical tools or implantable devices often need to withstand autoclaving, UV exposure, or chemical cleaning agents.

This adds complexity to the PCB fabrication process and highlights the importance of working with a trusted partner that understands the specific needs of the medical industry.

Supporting the Shift to Digital Healthcare

Modern healthcare relies heavily on real-time data—whether it’s monitoring patient vitals, powering sensors, or supporting communication between devices. High-speed printed circuit boards enable fast, accurate data transmission, ensuring that medical staff and patients receive reliable performance from their devices.

As medical devices grow smarter and more connected, the role of PCBs in supporting digital innovation continues to expand.

Driving Innovation in Medical Device Manufacturing

The demand for next-generation medical technology is pushing PCB design and fabrication into exciting new territory. With advancements in flexible PCBs, high-density interconnects (HDI), and miniaturized components, today’s boards are helping bring cutting-edge solutions to life.

At the heart of this progress is reliable, high-quality PCB fabrication—the foundation for medical devices that deliver life-saving care with precision and confidence.

Partner with a PCB Fabrication Expert You Can Trust

At Board Assembly, we understand the critical role Printed Circuit Boards play in medical devices. Our U.S.-based team is experienced in fabricating and assembling PCBs that meet the exacting standards of the healthcare industry.

Whether you’re developing a new device or improving an existing design, we’re here to help you build with reliability, safety, and innovation in mind.

Box Build vs. PCB Assembly

What’s the Difference and When Do You Need Both?

When it comes to producing electronic devices, PCB assembly and box build are two essential processes that play different but complementary roles in bringing products to life. While many people are familiar with PCB assembly — where components are mounted on a printed circuit board — box build assembly takes it a step further by creating the finished product that’s ready for market.

If you’re wondering what separates a box build from PCB assembly, and when you need both services, this guide will break it down in simple terms.

What Is PCB Assembly?

PCB assembly (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) is the process of placing and soldering electronic components like resistors, capacitors, ICs, and connectors onto a bare circuit board. This process can involve surface mount technology (SMT), through-hole technology, or a combination of both.

In short, PCB assembly focuses on the brain of the device — the electronic board that powers everything.

Key steps in PCB assembly include:

Solder paste application
Pick and place of components
Reflow soldering or wave soldering
Inspection and testing

PCB assembly is essential for any electronic device but does not complete the final product — that’s where box build comes in.

What Is a Box Build?

A box build (also known as system integration or electronic box build assembly) involves assembling all the necessary components — including the PCB — into a finished, fully functional product.

Think of box build as the final stage of electronic manufacturing. Once your PCB is assembled, tested, and functioning, box build assembly packages everything into its enclosure, adds wiring, and includes other mechanical and electrical parts.

Key elements of box build assembly include:

Enclosure assembly (metal, plastic, custom housing)
Mounting of PCBs, displays, switches, and other modules
Wiring and cable harness assembly
Installing connectors, power supplies, fans, and other accessories
Full system testing and verification

For more about box build services, check out https://boardassembly.com/box-builds/.

Box Build vs. PCB Assembly: What’s the Difference?

Feature	PCB Assembly	Box Build Assembly
Focus	Assembling components on a circuit board	Assembling final product including PCB
Includes	Only the electronic board and components	PCB + wiring, housing, connectors, and more
End Result	A working circuit board	Fully assembled, ready-to-use product
Additional Work	No enclosures, no system integration	Full system integration, packaging, labeling
Testing	PCB-level electrical tests	System-level testing to verify total function

When Do You Need Both PCB Assembly and Box Build?

Most finished electronic products require both PCB assembly and box build to be market-ready. If you are producing any of the following, you will likely need both services:

Consumer electronics (smart devices, home gadgets)
Medical devices (monitors, diagnostic tools)
Industrial equipment (control panels, automation systems)
Telecommunication devices (routers, communication boxes)
IoT devices (smart sensors, connected devices)

Here’s when both services are essential:

Product Readiness: If you want a product ready for sale or shipment — not just a circuit board — you need box build after PCB assembly.
Complex Wiring Needs: If your device requires wiring, cable assemblies, and mechanical enclosures, a box build is necessary to integrate these parts.
Testing & Compliance: Final system-level testing (functional tests, safety tests) happens during box build, ensuring the product works as intended before it reaches customers.

Why Work with a Partner Who Offers Both?

Choosing a manufacturing partner like Board Assembly that offers both PCB assembly and box build services can save time, reduce costs, and improve quality control. Here’s why:

Streamlined communication: Manage one relationship instead of coordinating between separate vendors.
Faster turnaround: PCB and box build handled under one roof means fewer delays.
Lower costs: Combined services often mean better pricing on components and assembly.
Better quality assurance: One team ensures your product is built and tested according to your specifications.

While PCB assembly focuses on building the electronic board, box build assembly brings all components together into a finished, functional product. Most companies need both services to ensure their devices are ready for customers.

If you’re looking for a reliable partner for box builds and PCB assembly, Board Assembly has the expertise to handle your project from start to finish — simplifying your production process and delivering high-quality results.

Contact Us to Learn More

➡️ Ready to start your next electronic box build or PCB assembly project? Contact Board Assembly today to discuss how we can help streamline your manufacturing and bring your product to life!

Consider the Benefits of SMT Assembly

Surface-mount technology requires knowing the entire process that it entails. Surface-mount technology has specific demands for the design process since you need to use special PCB tools. As soon as the design is ready, the manufacturer will always do the testing with a single board first.

The prototype we create for you will have the task of confirming that the fabrication based on that design is possible and error-free. Once you confirm that, the entire process is virtually pretty much automated, and requires minimal involvement.

Thanks to the automation process, SMT assembly minimizes the errors that may happen due to having human involvement. It helps secure the improved reliability and consistency of the PCB boards. Some other advantages that SMT ensures are:

Reduced size and weight – by soldering components directly on the board, the SMT saves plenty of room. That is how you can maintain the reliability and performance of a PCB while reducing its size and weight.
More components in a smaller space – it is not only about reducing the size, but SMT also enables us to put more elements in a restricted area. That is how these boards can perform better than their predecessors while keeping their compact design.
Money savings – if you don’t use the same amount of materials as before, the cost should be decreased, too. Additionally, there is no need to go through hole-drilling operations to mount components. Thanks to that, you can also lower the labor costs.

As usual, We keep additional capacity, shorter time-to-market and State-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities. Fuji NXT Surface Mount Technology (SMT) pick and place machine give us the capability to working on Surface Mount Technology (SMT) component package smaller than 01 005 which is 1/4 size of 0201 component.

Acme Circuit Boards Assembly starting doing electronics contract manufacturing for SMT assembly (SMTA) since year 1994. Manufacturing in Carson which is in 10 miles south of Los Angeles airport, CA. ISO 9001:2015 certified is a guarantee for all right process at EMS.

Commonly Used Terms in PCB Assembly

What the Heck Is Your PCB Vendor Talking About? – Common Terms for PCB Assembly

Every industry has its established lingo, which helps its members communicate more efficiently. If you are on the outside looking in, however, it can seem like they are speaking a foreign tongue. This becomes a problem when you need to work with vendors on ordering printed circuit boards for your device or your prototype. If you’ve gotten lost while trying to speak to your vendor (SMP, SME, SMD?), then you’ve come to the right place. Here is our no-nonsense guide on the most common terms in the printed circuit board industry:

PCB – Stands for Printed Circuit Board. Printed circuit boards are found in every single device that uses computing and data. PCBs act as the “highway” in transferring data between components within a device.
THM – Stands for Through-Hole Mounting (also known as Thru-Hole Mounting). THM is an older assembly technology that mounts components on a PCB by drilling holes through the printed circuit board and placing component leads into the drilled holes. THM has largely been replaced by SMT assembly, though there are still some situations in which THM is preferred.
SMT – Stands for Surface Mount Technology. SMT was first introduced in the 1960s and rose to prominence in the 1980s. Today, it is the dominant form of PCB assembly. SMT does not require drilling holes through a printed circuit board. Its components are smaller than THM and can be placed on both sides of the PCB. This allows for a denser allotment of components and a more powerful PCB.
Substrate – The substrate is the actual board upon which wires and components are placed. It gives the PCB its structure and also insulates conductive parts. PCBs can be made from a variety of different substrates. All PCB substrates are non-conductive. Common substrate materials are: FR-4 (a fiberglass-epoxy laminate), Teflon, ceramics, specialized polymers
Traces – Traces are the things that electrically connect the connectors to the components. The most common material for the traces is copper. The copper layer of a PCB goes on top of the substrate. In double-sided PCBs, copper traces are placed on both sides of the PCB.
Soldermask – Have you ever wondered why almost all PCBs are green? This is the soldermask. This layer goes on top of the copper layer and functions to insulate the copper traces. It prevents the highly conductive copper traces from making contact with other metal components of the PCB.

While this is far from an exhaustive list of common terms used in the PCB industry, hopefully this guide will help you better understand and communicate with your printed circuit board manufacturer.

Contact Us for a quote.

ACME PCB Assembly
Electronic Contract Manufacturing

310-715-1898

Electronic Contract Manufacturing Service Provider in California

Author Archives: Erin

How to Choose the Right Printed Circuit Board for Your Application