Ep.9: The PCB assembly inspection process

We think one of the best ways to understand what goes into PCB assembly is to speak to the experts themselves, those who spend day in and day out building your stuff!

On this week's episode we speak to Beata Laskowski, a quality control inspector at Worthington. Originally from Poland, Beata has been working in the electronics manufacturing industry for over thirteen years, seven and a half of which have been at Worthington. If you're a CircuitHub customer, it's possible you've had some back and forth communication with her answering questions on your order!

PCB assembly inspection is arguably one of the most important parts of assembly process as it ensures all components are placed and soldered correctly before your finished PCBs are shipped off to you. 

We had a great time chatting with Beata about what her day looks like, the types of challenges she faces and how she makes sure that the boards we deliver are of top quality!

Beata hard at work!

Show Notes:

What is the first article process like and why is it such a crucial step?

We touch on how using CircuitHub has improved Beata's daily workflow.

What is the inspection process like, what do we look for, and how to we make sure that the quality is there?

Beata also performs a lot of rework on components. She explains some of the challenges she's faced.

What are the advantages of 3D AOI inspection over 2D AOI inspection?

Design recommendations:

• If possible, use polarity markings on your boards that are still visible once parts have been placed.

• If you don't have a color preference, choose green soldermask since they are the easiest to process.

• If you have pictures of past pcbs you've had built elsewhere, include them with your order.

If you have any questions or feedback email us at contact@pickplacepodcast.com or tweet us @CircuitHub or @WAssembly!