Mixed PCB Assembly – Benefits and Applications Discussed

Mixed PCB Assembly
Mixed PCB Assembly – Benefits and Applications Discussed

The demand for compact-sized, high-speed, and performance-driven electronics has increased significantly. This very factor has driven the demand for complex circuit board designs and assemblies incorporated in electronic devices. Also, the placement of components on the circuit board has become increasingly complex. Components are mounted using either through hole or surface mounting techniques. However, depending upon the application requirement, most circuit boards require to carry both through-hole and SMD components. This can be achieved through the integration of THT and SMT techniques. This is where mixed PCB assembly makes a significant difference. Are you intrigued to know more about mixed PCB assembly? Read this post till the end.

Overview of Mixed PCB Assembly 

Mixed PCB Assembly combines through-hole technology (THT) and surface mount technology (SMT); thus the name. These two are the most popular PCB assembly techniques. Each has its strengths and limitations. In the through-hole technique, the electronic parts and components are placed using lead wires passed through drilled holes. In contrast, in surface mounting, there is no need to drill holes to connect different components on the bare board. They are directly mounted on the PCB. Mixed PCB assembly comprises several manual and automated steps. There are different scenarios in the application of mixed assembly technology during circuit board assembly manufacturing. These are:

  • One-sided or single-sided mixed PCB assembly
  • One-side SMT and one-side THT assembly
  • Double-sided mixed assembly

These three assembly scenarios have different steps and sequence arrangements while applying THT and SMT at the same time. Thus, to ensure the final product's quality and performance, numerous elements hold importance. Yet, mixed PCB assembly as a technique has gained huge traction. The next section reflects on this point.

Why is Mixed PCB Assembly So Popular?

Owing to its beneficial features, mixed PCB assembly finds applications across industries. Some key benefits offered by these circuit board assemblies are as follows.

  • One of the significant benefits of these PCB assemblies is that it has properties of both through-hole technology (THT) and surface mount technology (SMT). These two methods have unique benefits, which excel in their own areas of fabrication. This improves the efficiency of production and also reduces overall costs.
  • The layout stage is of utmost importance in mixed assembly placement. Design for manufacturability (DFM) is commonly used in the layout phase of hybrid model assemblies. This brings down the number of components or parts in the product. Lessening the product parts entails less development and processing time, assembly difficulties, service inspection, and much more.
  • Apart from predominant functions, many layout parts have self-aligning features. This facilitates effective layout modules for these circuit board assemblies. The modular layout streamlines the designing process, adds versatility to parts, and minimizes product variations.

Applications of Mixed PCB Assembly

The aforementioned benefits of these circuit boards have immensely contributed to their popularity. PCBs manufactured using mixed technology find use in several electronic and electromechanical applications. The following are some major and common applications of these assemblies.

  • CPUs
  • IoT Hardware
  • Sensor Boards
  • Server Boards
  • Video Processing
  • LED Lighting Products
  • Communication Hardware
  • Smartphone Accessories
  • Industrial Controller Assemblies

If you are looking for a mixed PCB assembly for your applications, you must get the PCBA done by a trustworthy, highly experienced PCB manufacturer and assembler who thoroughly understand your application needs. In terms of this aspect along with experience, customization abilities, and so on, Twisted Traces stands tall among other competitors. The company is counted as a prominent PCB manufacturer and assembly services provider in the USA. Aside from mixed PCB assembly, the company specializes in producing different types of PCBs, including

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