substrate selection, layout strategy, surface coating requirements) are determined prior to manufacturing, and these factors can affect manufacturing yields and product performance. Therefore, understanding the PCB manufacturing process and its trends is important for any PCB
designer and manufacturer.
The growing demand for digitization in consumer and industrial electronics has driven many innovations in the PCB manufacturing process. Advanced PCB substrate materials such as epoxy resins and polyamides are meeting the needs of the growing global PCB
market. Recycling of PCBs is now being focused on to meet environmental and sustainability guidelines set by government authorities.
Communication and automotive industries are the major applications driving the global PCB market. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT and 5G mobile communications are also impacting PCB manufacturers, bringing about a revolution in PCB
design and manufacturing technology. We take a look at the latest PCB design and manufacturing trends.
Flexible Printed Circuit Boards
One of the fast-growing trends in PCB manufacturing is the use of flexible PCBs because they can be turned into any shape or size. Advantages of flexible PCBs
include smaller size, greater flexibility, and multiple substrate options. These characteristics make them best suited for medical, wearable and other application-specific requirements. In addition to Flex
PCBs, there are also Rigid-flex PCBs for compact product development.
High-Density Interconnect
Automation in every field has led to an increased demand for high-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs, which provide reliable and high-speed signaling. HDI PCBs
provide smaller trace widths, thereby increasing wiring density. widths, which increases routing density. The reduced number of PCB layers also reduces production costs. As a result, HDI PCBs are critical in smart applications such as aerospace, medical and wearable technology devices.
High Power PCBs
With the focus on renewable energy sources such as solar power, the demand for high power PCBs is growing dramatically. Most solar panels operate at voltages ranging from 24 V to 48
V. In addition, electric vehicles have increased the demand for high-power boards. Accommodating long-lasting battery packs will allow products to run longer, requiring high-power board designs with efficient heat dissipation.
PCB Automounter
PCB design technology is also optimizing efficiency by introducing automated layouts and automated routers into EDA tools. This automation is accelerating design time-to-market and improving quality. Going forward, CAD
systems will be integrated with the process to increase the speed of design and simulation.
Demand for Smart Devices
The demand for smart devices continues to grow with the trend of smartphones connecting to the smart home or smart office. Such applications require devices that are scalable and securely connected. This could be a huge revenue stream in the future and therefore requires flexibility and adaptability for PCB manufacturers to capture the market.
PCB manufacturers have to be flexible and adaptable to capture the market.
COTS Components
These are off-the-shelf, fully or partially designed and assembled products for commercial applications to speed up the design process and other benefits. Because they meet strict standardization and regulatory guidelines, they are an excellent choice for critical and space-based systems. In addition, they provide reliability and efficiency with low overhead. The aerospace industry uses COTS components extensively, and other areas may soon catch up with the trend.
Component Supply Chain Control
As new applications emerge, there are many opportunities to introduce new components. There is a growing need to avoid counterfeit components from the supply chain. This is necessary for critical applications such as medical devices, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. New
PCB manufacturing methods are needed to control this problem, such as implanting a microchip inside the component to guard against counterfeiting.
IoT PCBs
IoT devices are compact, portable and reliable, prompting PCB manufacturers to adopt security features to prevent tampering. IoT PCBs must comply with specific standards and regulations to meet the required security.
Biodegradable PCBs
Conventional PCBs
are difficult to dispose of in a non-hazardous manner because they contain large amounts of non-degradable chemicals. Discarded PCBs cause e-waste and increase global concern for e-waste management. Biodegradable PCBs are the key to solving this problem, as well as the need for PCB scrap metal recycling