SMT Assembly: A Powerful Technique for Electronics Assembly
SMT/surface mount technology assembly is a game-changing technique used in the world of electronics assembly because it makes possible smaller electronic devices, while also boosting the efficiency and lowering the cost of assembling printed circuit boards (PCBs).
In this blog, we’ll explore SMT meaning and advantages, uncover how automated SMT assembly lines work and explore the multitude of products enabled by SMT assembly.
What is Surface Mount Technology?
SMT assembly is a specialized process for soldering electronic circuit boards that involves mounting components directly onto the surface of a PCB and is used during the manufacture of electronic devices. The SMT assembly process was created to replace traditional through-hole technology, which is a costly and time-consuming method of electronics assembly.
To compare the two methods, in SMT assembly processes, components are soldered directly onto the surface of the circuit board, whereas in traditional electronics assembly processes, the electronic component leads are passed through the hole in the circuit board (thus the term through-hole technology).
SMT assembly lines have made manufacturing electronic circuits more efficient and cost effective, while also allowing smaller component sizes and higher component densities on PCBs, facilitating the development of the smaller, lighter and more powerful electronic devices we enjoy today.
SMT assembly lines feature a multi-stage process with tight quality control and include the following steps:
Reflow soldering
Soldering electronic circuit boards occurs in a reflow oven or soldering machine with tightly controlled temperatures, ensuring that the solder paste melts and creates solid metallic connections between the PCB and the components.
Inspection/testing
The newly assembled PCBs are inspected and tested to ensure quality and functionality. Automated inspection systems are used to detect defects such as poorly aligned components and insufficient soldering.
Solder paste printing
A sticky mixture of solder particles, flux and other additives, called solder paste, is applied onto the PCB via a stencil to create a pattern for component placement.
Component placement
After the solder paste is printed, automated pick-and-place machines place components onto the PCB. Precision placement of components is achieved through the use of machine vision and motion control systems.
6 Industries with Devices Made Via SMT Assembly
Because SMT assembly is highly automated, it enables efficient, high-volume production of smaller, more powerful electronic devices that offer consistent quality and high levels of reliability, giving SMT technology many advantages over traditional through-hole assembly, which was time consuming, costly and prone to errors.
This ability to more efficiently produce smaller, lighter and faster electronic devices means that many of the modern electronic products we use in our daily lives contain components that were manufactured on SMT assembly lines.
Some examples of products made via SMT assembly include:
| Consumer electronics | Items such as our smart cellular phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches and fitness trackers, gaming consoles and digital cameras contain SMT assembled components because the SMT process enables manufacturers to fit more powerful electronic components into less space so consumers can use smaller, more advanced devices with longer battery life and more processing power. |
| Medical devices | Pacemakers, hearing aids, glucose monitors and other modern medical devices owe their lightweight designs to SMT assembly techniques. Implantable devices, portable monitors and diagnostic tools also feature devices that were likely made via SMT technology, which ensures compact and reliable electronic components that meet safety and performance requirements. |
| Automotive features | Modern vehicles are loaded with features made possible by the compact, lightweight and reliable electronic modules made via SMT assembly techniques, including GPS and navigation systems, driver assistance systems, entertainment systems, cruise control and electric vehicle battery management systems and other EV components. |
| Telecommunications technologies | Modems, wi-fi routers, IoT gateways and even modern network infrastructure are available thanks to SMT assembly. |
| Industrial electronics | Modern automated manufacturing is made possible with SMT assembly techniques, which are used to produce reliable, compact sensors, PLCs, robotic controllers, HMIs and other automation components used throughout today’s production facilities. |
| Aerospace and defense systems | SMT assembly is used in the production of avionics, navigation systems, radar systems and other electronics used in the aerospace and defense industries where miniature, lightweight and highly reliable electronics are critical. |
SMT assembly has transformed the design of electronic devices by enabling the development of very compact, reliable components that offer more processing power and longer battery life. SMT assembly saves electronics manufacturers time and money, while increasing the reliability of today’s electronics. To learn more, contact JHFOSTER today or request a quote.
