In product structural design, the fixation of PCBA must facilitate production assembly, ease maintenance, and control costs. Here, we introduce common fixation methods for electronic product PCBA.
Screw Fixation
The size of the screw hole should be 0.1-0.2mm larger than the outer diameter of the screw on one side. The fixation of PCBA requires positioning pillars for easy assembly. Using screws for fixation provides the highest reliability and drop resistance, but increases material control and labor operation costs.
Snap Fixation
Snap fixation generally requires 1 to 2 screws for secure attachment. If the product is completely stationary or low-end, snap fixation can be used entirely. The arrangement of snaps should be as uniform as possible, with a snap engagement depth generally exceeding 0.5mm, and the width of the snap should be greater than 3mm. Snap fixation is easy to assemble and saves internal space in products, widely used in electronic consumer goods and small appliances.
Upper and Lower Shell Clamping Fixation
This method uses the upper and lower shells to clamp the PCBA in the middle. This scenario is often used when the circuit board is too large and has many interfaces, making it impossible for the upper and lower shells to utilize space for fixation independently; thus, holes in the PCBA must be used for fixation.
Metal Part Fixation
This is often used in the stacking of multiple PCBAs or in sheet metal products, where each PCBA needs to be separated. In this case, press-fit studs or copper studs are required for fixation.
Front and Back Shell + Guide Rail Slot Fixation
This scenario is used when the product’s appearance cannot use screw holes, and both the front and back shells are occupied by the PCBA.
