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Do we need consider the passive components that we using to the new project?

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Yes, you must consider SMT passive components during design for:

  • Functional performance
  • Manufacturability
  • Reliability
  • Cost
  • Repair ability

1.  Board Space and Layout Planning

  • Passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors) take up real estate on your PCB.
  • If you don’t plan their quantity, size, and spacing, your layout may become too dense or un-routable.
  • Choosing smaller parts (0402 vs. 0805) can save space but may sacrifice ease of handling or reliability.

2. Cost Optimization

  • Passive parts seem cheap, but hundreds or thousands per board add up.
  • Smaller parts may cost more to assemble (e.g. 0201), and harder to repair.
  • Selecting common sizes (e.g. 0603 resistors) lowers component, assembly, and rework costs.

3.  Manufacturability (DFM)

  • Design decisions directly affect how easily your board can be assembled:
    • Too many different part sizes? → Slower setup
    • Hard-to-place parts? → More defects
  • Standardizing passive sizes (like using all 0603) makes assembly faster and cheaper.

4.  Electrical Performance

  • Capacitance and inductance values affect signal filtering, timing, and stability.
  • Wrong size or placement of passives (e.g., decoupling capacitors too far from ICs) can cause:
    • Power noise
ComponentPrimary RoleBest Package
MLCC (0.1–1 µF)High-frequency decoupling0402, 0603
MLCC (10–100 µF)Bulk power smoothing0805–1210
Ferrite BeadHigh-frequency noise suppression0603, 0805
Tantalum/PolymerMid-frequency ripple control (optional)1206+
  • Signal distortion
ComponentPurposeBest Use CaseSize
Series ResistorReduce ringing/overshootClock lines, SPI, GPIO0402–0603
MLCC CapacitorStable power = stable signalAll ICs, especially digital0402–0805
RC FilterFilter analog noise / soft edgesADCs, audio, sensors0603+
Ferrite BeadBlock RF noiseAudio, analog, low-speed signals0603–0805
Termination ResistorMatch impedance, reduce reflectionUSB, CAN, HDMI, LVDS0402–0603
  • EMI issues
ComponentFunctionBest for EMI UseSize
Ferrite BeadsBlock high-frequency noisePower lines, signal filters0603–1206
MLCC CapacitorsDecouple noise to groundPower decoupling, bypass0402–0603
Series ResistorsDamping signal edgesHigh-speed digital lines0402–0603
Common Mode ChokesBlock differential line noiseUSB, CAN, Ethernet0805–custom
InductorsForm filters with capacitorsCustom filter designs0805–1812

5. Repair and Rework

  • 0603 and 0805 are easiest to manually rework.
  • 0402 is okay with skilled techs.
  • 0201 and smaller: High chance of damage during rework, expensive microscopes needed.

Large sizes (1210, etc.): Easy to handle but not common on dense modern boards

Best Overall for Cost Efficiency:

  • 0603 (both resistor and capacitor):
    • Widely used, low cost, reliable for assembly, not too small to rework.
    • Strong supply chain support.
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BGA board assembly service.

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A Ball Grid Array or (BGA) is a SMT (Surface Mount Technology) package that is most commonly used for Integrated Circuits (ICs) with a large number of pins. Ball grid array packaging is a method for reducing package size and integrating a greater number of functions on a single chip module.

     X-ray service for PCB assembly.

With it being a high-density and low-cost packaging option, this technology helps create the best range of circuit boards with precision component placement and soldering excellence.  BGA (Ball Grid Array) also replaces solder balls on the component underside for SMT mounting.  ACME PCB assembly has capabilities that include (ball grid array) BGA assembly and rework up to 65mm squared up to 36-layer printed circuit board.

BGA technology, which uses an array of solder balls for electrical interconnection, offers up several advantages over pin-grid array (PGA).  A couple important advantages of this surface-mount package is:

Ball Grid Array enables assemble boards with reduced thickness. This is beneficial when it comes to making sleek electronic products like smart phone, and tablets.
They seldom require maintenance and repair.
The packaging is more stable because there are no pins that can be bent and broken.
Excellent improvement in both thermal and electrical performance, which efficiently uses the space of the circuit board.
BGA packaging is compatible with high-efficiency system products.

ACME Printed Circuit Board Assembly started it’s (Ball Grid Array) BGA assembly service in 1994.  With so many years of experience in BGA assembly with X Ray inspection machine, and having the right assembly procedure in place, we are confident in saying that we can build a high quality, good yield rate BGA assembly board.

ACME Printed Circuit Board Assembly is an EMS located in Southern California near Los Angeles airport, it especially for Small to Medium run PCB assembly. Our workmanship meets IPC 610 standard. ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer for Electronics Contract manufacturing since Year 2000.

ACME PCB assembly also does BGA prototype assembly for our customers. We are able to create a BGA prototype assembly with or without stencil to help save our customer’s prototyping cost.

Please contact us 310-715-1898, or email us if you have any question.

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A full service PCB assembly provider

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If you are in need of fully assembled printed circuit boards (PCBs) for your products, but you don’t know where to start, this article will guide you in the right direction. If you don’t have any printed circuit boards or any of the parts, and you certainly don’t want to burden your limited staff with the task of putting all those PCBs together, you will need a full-service PCB assembly provider.

Printed Circuit Board Fabrication

ACME PCB Assembly is an ISO 9001:2015 certified EMS. We make sure you get best price with highest quality, on time delivery schedule. All PCBs are meet the high standards established by the IPC 600. Since ACME PCB Assembly is a IPC certified trainer for IPC A-610, we know how important the quality of bare board is, and we know what can drive the PCB Assembly labor higher.

Being a full-service PCB assembly provider means that we handle every aspect of the project. You just give us your specs, and we’ll do everything else, including:

  • Fabricating the printed circuit boards
  • Ordering all the components of the PCBs
  • Assembling the PCBs according to your specs

At Acme PCB Assembly, we have the experience, the vendor relationships, and the well-trained staff of fulfill your PCB order. The great thing about full-service PCB assembly is that you don’t have to worry about a thing. You don’t have to find the right parts vendors or ship materials to us. We handle everything.

We closely match new incoming inquiries to board house equipment and capabilities, ensuring you receive only those inquiries that you are interested in Acme Circuit board assembly provide PCB fabrication service in the development and manufacturing of quality single, double sided and Multi-Layers printed circuit boards for the computer, medical, transportation, communication, aircraft, aerospace and related industries.

Of course, if you already have printed circuit boards on hand and the PCB components you need, then you can also opt for partial service.

Contact us today to learn about all of our service options, including our add-on services.

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BGA Board Assembly, Rework and Modifications

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BGA rework, replacement. Board Assembly uses the most powerful tools to maintain the state-of-the-art production. 

Performance may suffer in mass produced Ball Grid Array (BGA) devices due to many different reasons.  Defects in the device, lack of or excess solder joints, or oversights during upgradation processes can be included as one of the may reasons for performance issues.  These irregularities can be resolved with BGA rework. We provide a comprehensive BGA rework and re-balling services to maintain the efficacy of SMT circuit boards.

8,000 W medium wavelength IR heater measuring 500 mm x 625 mm. The IR/PL 650 XL is Ersa‘s flagship machine for extra large printed circuit boards (PCBs). PCBs up to 20″ x 24″ or 500 mm x 625 mm can now be safely and rapidly reworked. 

Soldering of BGA devices requires precise control and is usually done by automated processes. BGA devices are not suitable for socket mounting.

Board Assembly began offering Ball Grid Array (BGA) Assembly services in the early 90s. Over these many year’s experience BGA assembly with X Ray inspection machine, right assembly procedure, we are very confident to say that we know, and we can build a high quality, good yield rate BGA assembly board.

Ball grid array packaging is a method for reducing package size and integrating a greater number of functions on a single chip module. BGA (Ball Grid Array) also replaces solder balls on the component underside for SMT mounting. Our assembly capabilities include BGA assembly and rework up to 65mm squared up to 36 layer printed circuit board.

(Ball Grid Array) BGA board assembly, BGA board rework, and BGA board modifications are common processes in electronics manufacturing and repair. Here’s an overview of each process:

  1. BGA Board Assembly:
    • BGA Board assembly involves mounting BGA components onto a PCB (Printed Circuit Board). BGAs have solder balls beneath the component that are used to make connections to the PCB.
    • The assembly process typically involves solder paste deposition onto the PCB pads, placement of the BGA component onto the pads, and reflow soldering to melt the solder and create electrical connections.
    • Proper alignment, solder paste application, and reflow profiles are critical for successful BGA Board assembly.
  2. BGA Board Rework:
    • BGA Board rework is necessary when there are defects in the initial BGA board assembly, such as insufficient solder, solder bridges, or misalignment.
    • Rework BGA board can involve the removal of the faulty BGA component using specialized equipment like a rework station or reflow oven. This process often requires careful heating to avoid damaging the PCB or surrounding components.
    • After removal, the site is cleaned, and fresh solder paste may be applied if necessary. Then, a new BGA component is placed and reflow soldered.
  3. BGA Board Modifications:
    • BGA Board modifications are changes made to the BGA components or PCB after the initial assembly process.
    • This can include upgrading components, changing the BGA footprint, or adding/removing features on the PCB.
    • Modifications may involve removing existing components, adding new ones, cutting traces, or making changes to the PCB layout.
    • Care must be taken to ensure that modifications do not adversely affect the functionality or reliability of the circuit.

Common tools and equipment used in BGA assembly, rework, and modifications include:

  • Reflow ovens: Used for melting solder paste to create electrical connections during initial assembly and rework.
  • Rework stations: Equipped with heating elements and hot air nozzles for precise heating during BGA removal and placement.
  • Soldering irons: Used for touch-up soldering and fine-detail work.
  • Flux: Used to aid in soldering and rework by improving wetting and preventing oxidation.
  • Solder paste dispensers: Used for applying solder paste to PCB pads before BGA placement.
  • Inspection equipment: Including magnifying glasses, microscopes, and X-ray machines for inspecting solder joints and connections.

BGA board assembly, rework, and modifications require skill, experience, and attention to detail to ensure the reliability and functionality of electronic devices.

Contact Us for more information.

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Providing Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Since 1993

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Local PCB Assembly house in LA.

The electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry took off after the late 1970’s. Before this, most electronics manufacturing that was done in large quantity production runs was handled by in-house assembly only.

Now, the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider offers more flexibility and easier resources to deal with issues for smaller companies who doing limited runs.  An electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider is able to specialize in large manufacturing, raw materials procurement, and resources.

ACME PCB Assembly

Since the early 1990’s, the development of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) on PCB has allowed for the rapid assembly of electronics, many electronic components switched to Surface Mount Technology (SMT) from Through hole components.  SMT components are making more and more small footage, more and more fine pitch, the equipment for SMT components are requiring more and more accuracy. For small businesses, it is a good idea to outsource your EMS needs.

Outsourcing all your manufacturing needs to a Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider helps you to save money, it also helps you to control your overhead cost, which in turn reduces your companies overhead cost.  As a result, Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider gives you the opportunity to produce your products at a lower cost.

ACME PCB Assembly in Carson, California has been an Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider since 1993. OEMs are realizing the benefits of outsourcing versus in-house manufacturing. Outsourcing to Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider enables OEMs to concentrate on their core competencies by allowing Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers to supply manufacturing expertise. The main benefits of outsourcing include a reduction in costs and investment, additional capacity, shorter time-to-market and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities.

As your Contract manufacturer, ACME circuit board assembly will become a business partner who has a vested interest in your success. By outsourcing to ACME circuit board assembly, ACME PCB Assembly strive to understand your ever-changing needs in your specific competitive markets. Our objective is to provide not only quality products with a competitive price but become a partner for our customer, from product design to the distribution process.

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Does your PCB vendor maintain a clean environment?

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Does Your Circuit Board Vendor Maintain a Clean Environment?

March 9, 2024 by Erin

Does Your Circuit Board Vendor Maintain a Clean Environment?

Circuit boards are delicate things, even the smallest particle of dust or contamination can disrupt the functionality of the circuit board, leading to a drop in its efficiency. Circuit board assemblers use a conformal coating to protect circuit boards from contaminants, but problems can arise when contaminants are already on the circuit board before the conformal coating can be applied.

It is critical that a circuit board assembler maintain a sterile work environment and that they clean circuit boards thoroughly before adding the conformal coating. If you’ve noticed that your circuit boards are not performing ideally, it may be that they weren’t entirely clean before the conformal coating went on. That would imply that your vendor has gotten lazy and is not maintaining a clean work area.

At Yun Industrial Acme PCB Assembly, we take the quality of our work seriously. That means we implement the best practices in our industry and ensure that your printed circuit boards are problem-free before we ship. We offer a variety of different conformal coating options for our clients and always maintain a clean working environment to protect your circuit boards.

Contact us today to tell us about your circuit board needs.

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Is Your EMS Provider Experienced Enough?

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Working with a new, unproven vendor is a big risk. Essentially, you will be their guinea pig, helping them to work out all the kinks in their system. That’s a great opportunity for them, but not so much for you! That’s why it is so important to know how long a company has been in business before you decide to work with them. Any company that has been around for at least five years is likely to have their systems down and to have confronted a wide variety of issues and challenges that they can now address with ease.

When it comes to electronic contract manufacturing service (EMS) providers, even more experience can be useful. Technology changes so rapidly that any EMS provider who has survived ten years or more has shown that they can continually adapt along with the printed circuit boards they work on.

At Yun Industrial and ACME PCB Assembly, we have been in business for over 28 years! We have proven our ability to work with a wide variety of clients and to keep pace with changing technology. Contact us today if you want to work with an experienced contract manufacturing service provider.

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Common Terms for PCB Assembly Services

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February 2, 2022 by Marilyn

What the Heck Is Your PCB Vendor Talking About? – Common Terms for PCB Assembly

Every industry has its established lingo, which helps its members communicate more efficiently. If you are on the outside looking in, however, it can seem like they are speaking a foreign tongue. This becomes a problem when you need to work with vendors on ordering printed circuit boards for your device or your prototype. If you’ve gotten lost while trying to speak to your vendor (SMP, SME, SMD?), then you’ve come to the right place. Here is our no-nonsense guide on the most common terms in the printed circuit board industry:

  • PCB – Stands for Printed Circuit Board. Printed circuit boards are found in every single device that uses computing and data. PCBs act as the “highway” in transferring data between components within a device.
  • THM – Stands for Through-Hole Mounting (also known as Thru-Hole Mounting). THM is an older assembly technology that mounts components on a PCB by drilling holes through the PCB and placing component leads into them. This has largely been replaced by SMT assembly, though there are still some situations in which THM is preferred.
  • SMT – Stands for Surface Mount Technology. SMT was first introduced in the 1960s and rose to prominence in the 1980s. Today, it is the dominant form of PCB assembly. SMT does not require drilling holes through a printed circuit board. Its components are smaller than THM and can be placed on both sides of the PCB. This allows for a denser allotment of components and a more powerful PCB.
  • Substrate – The substrate is the actual board upon which wires and components are placed. It gives the PCB its structure and also insulates conductive parts. PCBs can be made from a variety of different substrates. All PCB substrates are non-conductive. Common substrate materials are: FR-4 (a fiberglass-epoxy laminate), Teflon, ceramics, specialized polymers
  • Traces – Traces are the things that electrically connect the connectors to the components. The most common material for the traces is copper. The copper layer of a PCB goes on top of the substrate. In double-sided PCBs, copper traces are placed on both sides of the PCB.
  • Soldermask – Have you ever wondered why almost all PCBs are green? This is the soldermask. This layer goes on top of the copper layer and functions to insulate the copper traces. It prevents the highly conductive copper traces from making contact with other metal components of the PCB.

While this is far from an exhaustive list of common terms used in the PCB industry, hopefully this guide will help you better understand and communicate with your printed circuit board manufacturer.

Contact Us for a quote.

Circuit Board Design Service

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A circuit board designer must design and create the layout of the circuits, before a circuit board can be populated. The circuit board designer must follow certain standards, such as not violating the minimum electrical clearance. This way, the finished printed circuit board, (PCB), can function as intended in an efficient manner.

This design service is usually done by an electrical engineer. The designer uses layout software to integrate both the component placement and routing to determine ideal electrical connectivity. The engineer would create a schematic to check that it follows all functional and mechanical requirements. But this is not a job anyone can do. Some common problems amateur PCB designers have are creating incorrect landing patterns, substandard layouts, insufficient width for traces, and creating blind/buried vias that are impossible to manufacture. Fortunately for you, we are not amateurs.

Founded in 1990, ACME PCB Assembly has decades of experience in the field of circuit board services. By looking at what product your company produces, we can identify which circuit board designer is best for you. ACME partners with several designers that all specialize in different fields. This is important if your board needs wireless capabilities or a specific power input. We can also make sure that your design is cost efficient where it needs to be. Having too many layers in a PCB can be expensive. But leave these worries with us: we are professionals.

Whether you’re in the stages of designing a circuit, fabricating a board, assembling PCBs, or conformal coating, ACME can be there to support your team.

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What is PCBA (PCB Assembly)?

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What is PCBA?

PCBA, (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), is the finished product after components have been bonded to a PCB, (Printed Circuit Board). These components can range from resistors and diodes to transformers and integrated circuits. The PCBA process tends to include a reflow furnace to heat the printed solder paste so that the components are formed onto the board.

The term PCBA is sometimes confused with the term PCB. PCB, in terms of circuit layers, is classified as either single layer, double layer, or multilayer. These boards can also be divided into a category: flexibility. There are 3 types of PCB in terms of flexibility, such as rigid board, flexible board, and flex-rigid board. This is different from the term PCBA since it is not a tangible object but rather a service. This service usually includes using SMT and DIP technologies so that all the components and parts are soldered/mounted on a PCB.

The most basic PCBA process has three steps. It begins with a solder paste printing station. This is where solder paste gets printed onto the boards. After pasting, the components are placed on the board by a pick-and-place machine. When all components have been planted, the board is then ran through a reflow oven so that the board can be completed.

Normally, the assembly process ends here. At ACME, we also include wave soldering, selective soldering, machine and visual inspection, and cleaning. One of the latest Nordson selective soldering machines is used to accurately solder in partially assembled PCBs. Our 3D AOI machine from YesTech inspects the components on the boards using not only the length and width, but also the height. This can check for correct solder heights, proper wetting, and missing components. Our quality check inspectors review the images to make sure the board passes IPC-A-610 standards.

For more information and the services ACME PCB Assembly provides, call (310) 715-1898 or visit our website at http://boardassembly.com.