The surface mount technology (SMT) of printed circuit board (PCB) assembly was introduced in the 1980s. In this technology, the components are mounted directly onto the surface of the electronic board. Ever since this technology was introduced, it was well-accepted in the PCB manufacturing industries due to its simple yet effective application. Owing to a wide range of benefits offered by surface mount technology, it quickly overtook the through-hole technology of PCB assembly in significant areas. Do you know what benefits make SMT stand out? If not then this post is for you. This post discusses seven key benefits of SMT that makes this technology a standard adoption in PCB assembly.
Seven Reasons That Make Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Popular?
The following are significant benefits of surface mount technology (SMT) in the PCB assembly process, which makes it popular over Through Hole Technology.
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Miniature Component Mounting: In modern electronics, the component sizes are getting smaller by day as the PCB designs are getting compact. Due to the same, the component sizes are being reduced by over 60-90%. In such conditions, the conventional through-hole assembly technology limits the size of the drill, therefore, small component mounting is difficult. On the other hand, as surface mount technology mount the components on the surface itself, miniaturization of a component does not affect the PCB assembly. Therefore, the smart PCB designs can be opted for using the SMT component mounting.
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Compatibility with Automation: SMT is highly compatible with automation. The activities like design standardization, component serialization, pick-and-place component mounting, and soldering, etc are automated in the SMT.
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Enhanced Production Efficiency: The efficiency of production increases due to SMT as human errors and equipment switching time is reduced. However, the number of PCB assemblies in a specific time can be accelerated by using automated equipment.
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Material Cost Reduction: SMT requires no material removal from the board, therefore scrap material reduction takes place. Also, SMT reduces the consumption of packaging material. Reduction in the cost of raw material and packaging material eventually reduces the material costs.
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Easy Mounting Process: SMT features easy pick-and-place component mounting, therefore, the complexity of the overall process is reduced.
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Reduced Radio Frequency Effect: Since surface-mounted components have short leads or no leads, the parameter distribution in the electronic circuit is reduced due to which the radio frequency effect is less in surface mounted PCBs.
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High Speed Signal Transmission: The surface mount technology is commonly utilized for high-density PCBs. These boards may feature 5.5 to 20 joints per square centimeter. Due to the high density, there are short circuits that reduce any transmission delays. Therefore, high transmission speed is offered by surface mounted boards.
However, to reap the benefits of
surface mount technology, one must source this service from a trusted
PCB assembly services provider like Sierra Assembly. The company offers PCB assembly with surface mount technology (SMT) to several industries like aerospace and satellite, computer and business electronics, telecommunication, medical, and more. With several years of experience, the company has equipment, resources, and engineering expertise to produce PCB Assembly. You can call Sierra Assembly today to discuss your requirements.
