4PCB
Advanced Circuits, Inc. (ACI)

As experts in the manufacture and assembly of printed circuit boards, we work to make our blog a helpful resource on PCB topics and the industries that we work with, including automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace and many more. Here you'll find insights into PCB design, tech trends, assembly issues, and trending topics in the general news media as they relate to printed circuit board technology.

Have an idea for a blog topic you would like us to cover? Get in touch with us

Tag Archives: PCB

Surface Mount Technology Advantages for Unique PCB’s | Blog

PCB Surface Mount Technology Surface Mount Technology (SMT) adds to the benefits of manufacturing boards more efficiently and with reduced weight for multiple reasons: Components are placed directly on the board surface rather than connecting through holes in the board … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Assembly, PCB Manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

PCB Design and Prototypes

Engineers designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) commonly generate a prototype board prior to full-scale manufacturing of boards for end products. Multiple prototype runs will often be included in the development of the final fabricated PCB, for good reason. Prototypes may … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Development, Printed Circuit Boards | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Advantages of a Good PCB Layout Software | Blog

PCB Artist™ Download the best free PCB design software with a library of over 500,000 parts.  Click here» Printed circuit board (PCB) layout software is a critical tool in the designer’s toolbox. With functionality provided by sophisticated software, board designers … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Development, Printed Circuit Boards | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

High Density Interconnected PCBs (HDI)

 What Is Different About HDI PCBs? High Density Interconnected printed circuit boards (HDI PCB) have made technological advancements in electronics possible. They have been referred to under a variety of names: Sequence Build Up (SBU), Microvia Process (MVP), and Build … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Development, PCB Manufacturing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

PCBs and Surface Mount Technology

Surface Mount Technology in Printed Circuit Boards Just what is surface mount technology? Prior technology of printed circuit board design and fabrication consisted mostly of components situated on the board and connected to conductors through holes and typically soldered in … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Assembly | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Laser Direct Imaging in PCB Manufacturing

  How Does LDI Work? LDI processing requires a board with a photosensitive surface, positioned under a computer-controlled laser. A computer scans the board surface into a raster image. Matching the raster image to a pre-loaded CAD/CAM design file that … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Manufacturing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Gerber File Problems and Solutions

What Are Gerber Files, and Why Should PCB Designers Use Them? Printed circuit board (PCB) designers are tasked with creating innovative, functional, and efficient designs for boards to be utilized in a myriad number of products. Some may be very … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Development | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

PCBs and Why They Contain Gold

What is Gold Used for in PCB Fabrication? Businesses and consumers alike rely on electronic devices for nearly every aspect of day-to-day life. Automobiles are packed full of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for everything from lighting and entertainment to sensors … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Choosing the Right PCB Company

What is Important About Choosing the Right PCB Company? Electronics are taking center stage in a continuously growing variety of industries. From computers and high-performance servers that drive web sites and global enterprises to machine tools utilized throughout industrial sectors … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Manufacturing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Many Aspects of Wearables and Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

Wearables are becoming more and more omnipresent in the lives of the everyday consumer. With the Apple Watch, the Galaxy Gear, the Fitbit and many others, customers are finding out exactly what wearable technology can do for them. This is … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Development, PCB Manufacturing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment