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The typical PCB structure positions the CS and SS layers on the top and bottom sides of the board, respectively. However, in some cases, a PCB Mirror Board is required to allow soldering of components on both SS layers and separate PCBs on the CS layers.
In PCBA manufacturing, there are two types of PCB Mirror Boards. The first type is the Different Side Mirror Board, where one side of one board appears mirrored on the opposite side of another board. The second type is the Same Side Mirror Board.
PCBA manufacturers require PCB Mirror Board designs for two main reasons and benefits:
1. You can fully leverage the advantages of SMT long lines to achieve higher efficiency.
The overall efficiency of an SMT line cannot simply be judged by whether a machine is idle. Even if one machine is waiting without work, achieving 100% efficiency is challenging. With SMT machines operating faster and SOC (System On Chip) parts gaining popularity, PCB assembly processes are evolving. The bottleneck in many PCBA factories now lies in solder paste printing, where the printer operates continuously while other costly machines remain idle.
For instance, if solder paste printing takes 25 seconds and the subsequent pick-and-place operation only 15 seconds, there’s a 10-second idle period. This idle time equates to wasting potential production capacity—a situation akin to owning a high-performance Ferrari parked in a garage. To maximize returns, every expensive SMT machine must be continuously utilized without downtime.
Panelization has emerged as a solution to enhance the utilization of pick-and-place machines, significantly boosting efficiency. By arranging boards in a positive and negative inverted Yin-Yang pattern, each side of the panel accommodates diverse electronic parts simultaneously, enabling SMT long lines with multiple layers to operate at full capacity.
Another crucial advantage is the ability to streamline operations on a single line without the delays associated with line changes.
2. It can save the space wasted by PCB bare boards, thereby increasing Panelization efficiency and reducing costs.
PCB bare boards traditionally waste space, hindering Panelization efficiency and increasing costs. To optimize for mass production and cost-effectiveness, standard-size panels are commonly purchased by PCB manufacturers. Some opt for larger baseboard sizes to minimize waste rather than procuring a diverse range of sizes.
Non-square circuit board designs offer opportunities to combine multiple PCBs into a single board layout, enhancing board efficiency and cost savings. PCB pricing is typically based on the area of the base plate used. Thus, using the same base plate size, Design A might produce only one board while Design B could yield two, making Board A twice as expensive as Board B.
