Professional SMT soldering is a complex process involving multiple processing steps, a few engineers might be able to solder SMD components by themselves, but I will tell you guys why it should only be handled by qualified professionals.
Firstly, What is SMT Soldering?
When soldering components on a PCB, there are two main technologies, through-hole technology (THT) and surface-mount technology (SMT).
THT is primarily used in older circuits where SMT is not available and is now used only in amateur and amateur circuits. The through-hole soldering process includes drilling holes in the PCB, mounting electronic components on the PCB, and soldering the component leads to copper traces on the other side of the circuit board. This welding process is expensive, slow, cumbersome and cannot be automated. In addition, components with lead terminals tend to be larger in size, and therefore are not suitable for modern electronic circuits with strict form factor requirements.
Today, SMT PCB soldering has almost replaced the traditional soldering method in professional PCB manufacturing. In SMT soldering, components are placed directly on the PCB surface, rather than through drilling. Surface mount devices (SMD) have a much smaller footprint than traditional THT components. For this reason, a large number of SMD components can be packaged into a smaller area, thereby realizing a very compact and complex electronic circuit design. Another huge advantage of SMT component soldering is that the process can be fully automated, which improves accuracy, speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Nowadays SMT soldering is now the default PCB assembly method.
Why Turn SMT Soldering to Professionals?
There is no doubt that SMT component soldering has many advantages, but the process is far from simple. In fact, professional SMT soldering is a complex process involving multiple process steps. Considering the complexity of the process and the level of expertise required, SMT soldering work must be performed by trained professionals.
• special tools and machines
• component procurement
• skills and expertise
The tools and machines required for SMT soldering are often very expensive. It is very difficult for a novice to set up the right laboratory with all the necessary tools and machines, as this can cost a fortune. However, professional SMT soldering companies like PS Electronics have the correct setup for all the necessary equipment. Therefore, outsourcing SMT component soldering work can make the workflow easier, straightforward, and cost-effective.
In addition to providing tools and machines, expertise and expertise are equally important. Without proper expertise, machines are useless. SMT soldering is a complex process that requires a lot of dedication and practice to master. Therefore, it would be more efficient to leave the assembly task to a professional rather than reinventing the wheel yourself.
Also, companies with SMT soldering expertise also specialize in component procurement, which allows them to purchase components faster and cheaper.
In 2016, the SMT component soldering market was valued at USD 3.24 billion, with an expected growth rate of 8.9% between 2017 and 2022. The SMT market is a huge market with many market segments. The target audience includes IC designers, OEMs, product manufacturers, R & D organizations, system integrators, and consulting companies.
Because precision printed circuit boards are used in all walks of life, there are no areas unrelated to SMT soldering technology. Highlighted areas include consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, automotive, medical and industrial electronics. The following figure shows the market segmentation by region.
From what has been discussed above, it is clear that handing over SMT soldering tasks to professional companies is the only best solution to ensure speed, efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
