Author Archives: WorkingBear


Apr02
Can Surface Mount Devices Run Through the Wave Soldering Without Falling Into the Pot?

In previous discussions, Workingbear introduced the “wave soldering” process, which was used in early day of PCBA soldering. SMT assembly, on the other hand, emerged later. Can wave soldering be used for Surface Mount Devices (SMDs) after SMT placement? Workingbear … Continue reading

Mar26
What is AOI? What Defects Can 2D AOI Detect in PCB Assembly?

AOI (Auto Optical Inspection) is an automated optical recognition system that has become widely used in the electronics industry for inspecting the quality of soldering, component placement accuracy and the presence of missing components on PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) … Continue reading

Mar19
The Purpose of Nickel (Ni) Plating on Components or Circuit Boards in the Electronics Industry

Firstly, let’s clarify that Workingbear is not a metallurgy expert. The content of this article is based purely on personal experience and information gathered from the internet. If there are any errors, feel free to point them out for correction. … Continue reading

Mar12
Why Do PCBs Have Those Small Circles? What purpose of Test Points on PCBs?

Have you ever noticed those tiny circles on PCBs and wondered why they’re there? They don’t seem to have any parts soldered onto them, and some don’t even have solder paste. Well, those small circles are called test points, and … Continue reading

Mar05
What are ICT(In-Circuit Test) and MDA(Manufacturing Defects Analyzer) in Electronics Manufacturing? Any Benefits?

Do you know what ICT (In-Circuit Test) is? Please note that we are not talking about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) here. And what about MDA (Manufacturing Defects Analyzer)? If these tests are commonly implemented in PCB assembly manufacturing, what … Continue reading