Author Archives: Erin

Printed Circuit Boards

What is a PCB Silkscreen on Printed Circuit Boards?

If you grew up taking apart radios, computers, or video game consoles just to see how they worked, you’ve likely studied a printed circuit board (PCB) up close. Among the intricate metallic traces and soldered components, you might have noticed small white letters, numbers, and symbols printed across the board’s surface. These markings aren’t random—they’re part of a critical layer called the PCB silkscreen.

Understanding the PCB Silkscreen Layer

The PCB silkscreen is a printed layer that provides human-readable information on a circuit board. Typically created with special inks, the silkscreen identifies important features such as:

  • Component reference designators (like R1, C5, U2)

  • Test points

  • Warning symbols

  • Company logos

  • Part numbers and date codes

  • Polarity indicators for diodes, LEDs, and capacitors

Most PCB silkscreens are printed in white ink because it contrasts clearly with the traditional green solder mask. However, silkscreen inks can also be black, red, blue, or yellow, depending on the board’s color scheme or specific customer requests.

Why Is the Silkscreen Important?

The silkscreen acts as a visual guide for anyone who assembles, repairs, or tests the PCB. It tells workers how components should be placed and identifies key features to assist in troubleshooting and maintenance. Without a clear silkscreen, identifying the purpose or placement of components could quickly become confusing, leading to costly mistakes or longer assembly times.

Additionally, the silkscreen enhances safety by marking high-voltage areas or other hazards clearly.

How Silkscreens Are Applied

Printed Circuit Board FabricationAdding the silkscreen is typically the final step in PCB fabrication, done while the boards are still panelized. The ink used must be carefully chosen to withstand the chemicals and heat involved in soldering and assembly. Once printed, the board moves to the final finishing or routing phase.

There are several methods for applying a silkscreen:

  • Manual Screen Printing: Traditional, cost-effective for low-volume runs

  • Liquid Photo Imaging (LPI): Offers higher precision for dense, complex boards

  • Direct Legend Printing (DLP): Uses inkjet printers for extremely accurate and fast printing

Each method is selected based on the PCB’s design complexity, production volume, and budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Silkscreen Design

Even experienced PCB designers can make mistakes when preparing the silkscreen layer. Some key things to watch out for:

  • Avoid printing over pads: Silkscreen ink can interfere with soldering and create defects.

  • Keep text legible: Fonts should be large enough to read easily, even after solder mask application.

  • Allow for registration tolerance: Slight shifts during manufacturing mean text and symbols should have enough spacing to stay clear and readable.

A well-designed silkscreen makes the PCB easier to work with and improves overall product quality.

Turnkey Yun IndustrialTrust ACME PCB for Quality PCB Manufacturing

At ACME PCB, we take pride in handling every detail of your PCB project—including the silkscreen layer. Our team ensures that every marking is clear, correct, and perfectly aligned, giving you boards that are not only functional but also easier to assemble, maintain, and troubleshoot.

Need a reliable PCB manufacturer that gets the details right? Contact ACME PCB today to get started!

PCB Assembly service in Los Angeles

Printed Circuit Board Assembly Service Provider

Electronic Contract Manufacturing Service

Acme Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCB Assembly service provider) is located in Carson, California. We have a 16,000 square foot facility with the best equipment (Fuji assembly line) that allows us to offer high-quality PCB assembly at competitive prices.

Our ISO 9000 (9001:2015) certification is a source of pride for us.  It indicates that we provide measurable high-quality electronic contract manufacturing services that meet or exceed customer expectations.

Whether you need Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, consignment assembly or turnkey material-procurement assembly, we have what is necessary to manage your entire project efficiently. With over 26 years of experience in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) we learned that reasonable assembly cost, high-quality service, on-time delivery and good communications are the keys that keep our customers happy and is how we made our business successful.

ACME PCB Assembly is flexible in meeting your requirements. We have offered Lead-Free (Pb-Free) soldering since 2005. Please review Design to Avoid Tin Wiskers for RoHS compliant (Lead-Free) assembly.

Good communication with our customers is a key to our success. People do business with people because they choose to, not because they have to… You can always find others who provide similar services. We believe that it is the personal connection that makes the difference.

ACME Printed Circuit Board Assembly

Electronic contract manufacturing for printed circuit boards assembly that includes SMT assembly, prototype boards builds, PoP (Package on Package), BGA assembly with X-ray inspection, through-hole and mixed board assembly.

ACME PCB Assembly has a IPC 610 Class III, and IPC J-001 certified instructor in-house for training and quality assurance. As a electronic contract manufacturing service provider, we provide service from product design all the way to box builds. Our services include:

 

 

Recycling Unused PCB

Can You Recycle PCBs? Smarter Solutions for Unused Printed Circuit Boards

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are found in nearly every electronic device—and with demand for electronics continuing to rise, PCBs are everywhere. But what happens when those PCBs become obsolete, go unused, or are left over from discontinued product lines? Is PCB recycling even possible?

At ACME PCB Assembly, we’re not only experts in fabrication and assembly—we also offer solutions that can give unused PCBs a second life, reducing waste and supporting sustainability.

Electronic circuit boardWhat Is a PCB, Really?

Before deciding whether a PCB can be recycled, let’s first understand what it’s made of. A standard PCB is a laminated sandwich of:

  • Copper layers

  • FR-4 substrate (a fiberglass reinforced epoxy resin that’s flame resistant)

  • Tin, silver, and even trace amounts of gold

These materials present both opportunities and challenges for recycling. While metals like copper and precious metals are recoverable, the epoxy and fiberglass components are more difficult to process without specialized facilities.

Can You Actually Recycle PCBs?

Yes—and no. While full recycling of PCBs is complicated and energy-intensive, that doesn’t mean your unused PCBs are destined for the landfill.

There are two smart alternatives:

  1. Repurposing and Reworking
    If the PCB hasn’t been populated with components, or even if it has, ACME PCB Assembly may be able to rework, re-solder, or repurpose it for use in a different product.

  2. Recovering Materials
    Certain recycling centers specialize in extracting the copper and precious metals from PCBs. However, this process often requires high heat or chemical treatment and may not be environmentally friendly if done improperly.

Printed Circuit BoardsWhat Electronics Design Engineers Can Do

Designing with sustainability in mind is a growing priority. Here’s how design engineers can help make PCBs more recyclable:

  • Choose materials that are easier to reclaim

  • Avoid overordering—order what you need and scale as you go

  • Design modular boards that can be reused in other product lines

  • Work with a partner like ACME PCB Assembly to review redesign and reuse options

Got Extra PCBs Taking Up Space?

Let’s say you placed a large order of custom PCBs for a now-discontinued product. You’ve got a warehouse full of unused boards, and you’re wondering if it’s time to toss them.

Don’t trash them just yet. Contact ACME PCB Assembly—our expert technicians are highly trained in de-soldering and re-soldering surface-mounted components. We also have specialized equipment to help re-purpose boards for future use, saving you time, money, and environmental impact.

Partner with ACME for Smarter PCB Solutions

Whether you’re looking to recycle, repurpose, or rework unused PCBs, ACME PCB Assembly is here to help. With over 25 years in the PCB industry, we know how to turn leftover parts into new opportunities.

👉 Give us a call today to see how we can help transform your surplus PCBs into the backbone of your next big innovation.

Box Build

What is Box Build Assembly?

ACME PCB assembly is working to meet the growing demand for tabletop “box builds” we have a dedicated team for each department, including covering the purchasing, electronics engineering, contract manufacturing services, and testing.

Our team will support all your electro-mechanical projects from the initial stages of design conception and prototyping through volume production. ACME PCB assembly provides cost-effective turnkey manufacturing solutions to meet your specific project requirements and timeline.

This results in a full turnkey solution to meet your business’s needs. With the continuous development of suppliers from the component level to metal and plastic fabricators has enabled us to meet the most demanding schedules with full PCB assembly, Yun Industrial ACME PCB Assembly also has a clear competitive edge in the total turnkey market.

What is a Box Build?

A box build assembly is just like the name says. It involves us assembling various PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) connected through various wiring and with other cables. This process includes PCB fabrication, its installation and then connecting all the components with various wire and cable to get a complete system. This system has many sub-assemblies and lots of other electronic components that are installed in the assembly.

There are many different benefits in using our box build assembly services.  One of the main benefits of using this service is to reduce the overall costs while maintaining high-quality control of the system.

PCB box build assembly services are used in many different fields.  ACME PCB assembly is known for making reliable, safe and secure box builds.  The most common industry where this system is used is the computer industry. But other than the computer industry there are other industries like the medical field, aerospace, telecommunication fields, and many other fields.

Over 25 years in the printed circuit board assembly service business, ACME Printed Circuit Board Assembly knows how to making customer satisfy, check out our Business Hall of Fame Award.

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.

Printed Circuit Board Fabrication1. 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.

Electronic circuit boardChoosing 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.