Types of circuit boards – PCB printed circuits and Printed Electronics.

PCB BOARDS – Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

They are electrical circuit boards that use the printing method to shape conductive circuits and component connections on insulating panels.

PCB was invented by Paul Eisler while working on a radio in 1936. A PCB made of plastic or fiberglass contains ICs and other components.

Manufacturing printed circuit boards is an important stage in the process of manufacturing electronic circuit boards. Previously, the printing circuit board was separated from the circuit diagram. Today computer-assisted design and production systems (CAD-CAM). They ensure automatic continuity from circuit diagram design to assembly. They mitigate human intervention and produce lower cost products.

The most common technology is often associated with the name PCB.

This is a board made of copper conductive circuits on a hard bakelit insulated substrate, or a high quality FR-4 (Flame Retardant 4) platform commonly referred to as “fip”. The original circuit board was an insulating cover with copper coating. The circuit image is drawn in advance, and is put on the surface of the plain layer in the printing stage, in the form of photo printing or grid printing, creating a water-proof coating.

Then corrode or scrape off the unused copper, and the rest is artery.

New technology is electronic printing (Printed electronics) using inkjet or laser printing.

Print engraving with printhead and suitable materials to create layers, conductive circuits, resistors, capacitors, transistors … on hard substrates or film. The inkjet printing process may include the insulating injection stage. This is used to separate electrical paths from where they cross each other. This is more true printing technology but not considered typical of printed circuit. This technology is used in fabricating many types of circuits. In addition, it is sometimes also done on PCB-type semi-finished circuit boards to create connectors or components. This technology is highly automated and produces low-cost products.

Today printed circuits are now designed on computers with specialized software designed electronic circuits. Typically: Orcad, Altium, Proteus, PADS, Sprint layout, Eagle … These software support design from circuit diagrams principle to Layout.