Even if you have a background in electronics, it can be challenging to wrap your head around prototype PCB assembly. Some engineers are intimidated by the amount of work that needs to go into circuit board assembly, and many may feel uncomfortable learning how to solder and handle all the tiny components. However, lucky for you, there are some tips and tricks that will make your small batch PCB assembly go by without a hitch. Here we explain.

Take time to specifically go and organize your materials

Making sure you have everything before you start your PCB fabrication is absolutely crucial. But before you can even do that, you must determine what it is your board will be used for. Once you have figured out its needs, then you can go through and organize your materials. This is incredibly important because after all, you don’t want to be stranded in the middle of your entire project and realize you can’t go on because you need materials!

Clean your materials

After you get all your materials together, it is important that you actually clean them. This is because clean solder wets better, meaning your solder will have an easier time adhering. It is also important to de-oxidize once everything is clean, and this can simply be done with rubbing alcohol. Then, once everything is completely attached to the board, make sure to clean before it is used.

Print out everything first

You will want to have a design of your entire board all figured out before you get to soldering. Circuit board assembly tends to get quite cramped, so if you plan everything out beforehand, you will not have the problem of running into tight, cramped spaces when dealing with hot materials. Plus, it is always a good idea to print everything out just so you can get a feel for the board and what it will look like. You can always use this as a guide when you are going through the assembly process so you don’t forget anything!

with these three tips in mind, you are set to have a smooth sailing circuit board assembly process.