Category Archives: SMT


Sep26
The Role of Immersion Gold and Electroplated Gold in PCB Soldering

Workingbear previously wrote an article about how insufficient gold thickness in the ENIG surface treatment of a PCB led to the oxidation of Electroless Nickel, weakening solder joints and causing components detachment during plug and unplug. However, many sources explain … Continue reading

Sep19
Does the Gold Thickness in ENIG PCBs Affect Component Detachment?

Does the Gold Thickness in ENIG PCBs Affect Component Detachment? Do you know how the thickness of the gold layer in ENIG surface-finished PCBs impacts soldering quality? What role does the gold layer play in PCBA soldering? How could the … Continue reading

Sep05
Using 2D X-Ray to Diagnose BGA Solder Void Issues

This is an X-ray inspection image of an MCU’s BGA soldering that failed after reflow. The owner mentioned that the BGA package was not functioning, but when pressing on the MCU, it would temporarily work again. Since Workingbear didn’t have … Continue reading

Aug29
How to Use 2D X-Ray to Identify BGA Issues like Non-Wetting, Cold Solder, and HIP or NWO

If you’re an SMT engineer, you’ve probably used an X-Ray inspection machine to check the soldering quality of BGAs. But, after looking at the BGA solder balls repeatedly, they all seem to look the same. So, how can you tell … Continue reading

Aug22
What is ENIG Surface Finished for Circuit Boards? What Are Its Advantages and Disadvantages?

ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold), also known as immersion gold (Au), chemical Ni/Au, or soft gold, is a type of surface finished for printed circuit boards (PCBs). It is widely used in the assembly of mobile phone circuit boards and … Continue reading