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Today, let’s discuss an important topic in professional PCBA processing: why all reliable factories insist on “soldering before separation”? This question sounds quite technical, but it actually relates to product quality, efficiency, and cost. Whether you are a newly entered engineer or a purchasing manager looking for PCBA processing services, understanding this can help you better choose your partners!
What does “soldering before separation” mean?
In simple terms, the PCBA processing flow usually includes:
1. SMT Soldering: Attaching tiny electronic components to the PCB and soldering them.
2. DIP Insertion: Inserting larger components that cannot be completed by the soldering machine.
3. Separation: Dividing multiple connected PCBs into individual products.
4. Testing and Delivery: Ensuring each board works properly.
“Soldering before separation” means completing all soldering and welding processes on the entire large board (Panel) before finally cutting it into smaller boards. This is completely opposite to the traditional method of “separating before soldering”.
Why do professional factories choose “soldering before separation”?
According to industry standards (such as IPC specifications) and practical production experience, there are three main reasons for this:
1. Reducing mechanical stress to protect components and solder joints
During the separation process, the PCB is inevitably subjected to mechanical stress (such as vibrations from the V-Cut separator or the force of the milling cutter). If the boards are separated before soldering, those tiny surface mount components (like resistors, capacitors, and BGA chips) can easily shift, become poorly soldered, or even get damaged due to stress impacts. Soldering before separation can minimize these risks and ensure the reliability of the solder joints.
Source: IPC-6012 standard emphasizes that the PCB separation process should avoid causing mechanical damage to components.
2. Improving production efficiency and reducing costs
Imagine this: if the large board is separated into small boards first, each small board must go through the SMT production line individually—requiring the soldering machine to repeatedly position and calibrate, which drastically reduces efficiency! In contrast, soldering the entire board can complete the welding of all components at once, making it faster and cheaper.
3. Ensuring soldering accuracy and avoiding errors
The SMT soldering machine works by using high-precision cameras to identify the Mark points (reference points) on the PCB. A larger board area means clearer and more stable Mark points, resulting in higher soldering accuracy. If the boards are cut into smaller pieces first, not only is positioning prone to errors, but the small boards may also deform during transport, further affecting soldering quality.
In summary: a small sequence can have a big impact!
In PCBA processing, “soldering before separation” is not a random rule, but a comprehensive consideration based on reliability, efficiency, and quality. As a professional manufacturer, we always adhere to this principle, supported by fully automated SMT production lines and strict quality inspection processes, ensuring that each board meets customer expectations.
Jiangxi Intelli Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Jiangxi Intelli Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2016, located in the talented and beautiful Jiangxi Province, Fuzhou City, Linchuan District. The company currently has a factory area of 30,000 square meters, 24 SMT production lines, 8 insertion lines, 4 wave soldering lines, 8 assembly lines, and 4 packaging lines, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan, equipped with an advanced and complete digital management system, dedicated to building an Industry 4.0 smart factory.
Business inquiries: Mr. Li 17870016160
Company phone: 0794-7878288Company fax: 0794-7878288
Email: [email protected]
Company website: www.intelli40.com
Address: Building 8-9, Jiangxi Fuzhou Linchuan High-tech Industrial Park
Intelli Electronics WeChat Official Account
WeChat ID: intelli40