Printed circuit board: description, purpose

The printed circuit board is a structural element that consists of a dielectric base and copper conductors that are applied to the substrate in the form of metallized areas. It provides the connection of all electronic circuit elements.

The printed circuit board has a number of advantages in comparison with volumetric (hinged) mounting using cables and wires:

• High density of installation of radio components and their connections, resulting in a significant reduction in the overall dimensions and weight of the product;
• Obtaining conductors and shielding surfaces, as well as radioelements in a single technological cycle;
• Stability, repeatability of such characteristics as capacitance, conductivity, inductance;
• High speed and noise immunity of circuits;
• Resistance to mechanical and climatic influences;
• Standardization and unification of technological and constructive solutions;
• Reliability of units, units and the device as a whole;
• Increased processability as a result of complex automation of assembly work and control and regulation activities;
• Low labor intensity, material consumption and cost.

The circuit board also has drawbacks, but there are very few of them: limited maintainability and high complexity of adding design changes.

Elements of such boards include: dielectric base, metallized coating, which is a picture of printed conductors, contact pads; Fixing and mounting holes.

Requirements, which makes to these products GOST

• Printed boards must have a uniform in color dielectric base, which must be monolithic in structure, do not contain internal bubbles, shells, foreign inclusions, cracks, chips, and stratifications. However, single scratches, metal splashes, traces of single removal of the non-etched area, as well as the manifestation of a structure that does not change the electrical parameters of the product, are allowed, does not reduce the allowable distance between the elements of the figure.
• The figure is clear, with an even edge, without blisters, tears, detachments, tool marks. Insignificant local mordants are allowed, but not more than five points per square decimeter, provided that the rest of the track width will correspond to the minimum acceptable; Scratches up to six millimeters and a depth of up to 25 microns.

To improve the corrosion characteristics and increase solderability, the surface of the board is covered with an electrolytic composition, which must be continuous, without peeling, tearing and tanning. Fixing and mounting holes must be located in accordance with the drawing. It is allowed to have deviations determined by the accuracy class of the board. In order to improve the reliability of soldering on all internal surfaces of the mounting holes, a layer of copper is deposited, the thickness of which must be at least 25 microns. This process is called - the metallization of holes.

What are PCB classes? This term implies the classes of accuracy of board manufacture, they are provided in GOST 23751-86. Depending on the density of the picture, the PCB has five accuracy classes, the choice of which is determined by the level of the technical equipment of the enterprise. The first and second classes do not require high-precision equipment and are considered cheap in production. The fourth and fifth classes require special materials, specialized equipment, ideal cleanliness in production facilities, air conditioning, maintaining the temperature regime. Domestic enterprises mass-produce printed circuit boards of the third class of accuracy.