PCB Blog - What is blank pcb board?

A blank PCB board is a circuit board without any necessary components to make it work. Copper-plated empty pcb boards are sometimes referred to as "copper-clad" circuit boards. When the component is installed on the circuit board,due to copper coverage,the current can flow freely and effectively.

The only characteristics of a blank printed circuit board are its main channel, pattern, copper coating and circuit substrate. The layout of such boards is very simple. Engineers and designers can add more components.Having a empty pcb board on hand allows for customization and mass production. This is why it is so common.

The importance of blank PCB boards

When we make a PCB, a blank pcb board is essential as the basis for all circuit boards. Because all the circuitry and wiring needs to be manipulated on a blank circuit board, manufacturers usually print a design on a blank PCB to represent the circuitry, then add components and solder the circuitry to make it work.

When someone needs to make a PCB, a whiteboard is a crucial element. Even without a empty board, circuits and wires cannot accept or prohibit current from passing through the machine. For a blank board, users typically create a layout and add slots and devices to make it work properly.

Compared to other circuit board wiring methods, blank circuit boards require more design work. However, after assembling and manufacturing empty circuit boards, automation can often be achieved. This makes blank PCB boards the cheapest and most effective choice.

Use a blank PCB board after adding components. The blank circuit board ultimately becomes a completely empty PCB board. If matched with suitable raw materials, it will have multiple uses. Therefore, blank circuit boards have greater flexibility than single-sided and double-sided circuit boards, providing flexibility.

Empty PCB board material

There are many materials used to make empty PCB boards, most of which are coated with copper. Some people say that the color of the material is about quality. This statement is incorrect. The color of the material is only a personalized expression and is not related to quality.

There is a copper coating on the surface because copper is an excellent conductor and heat resistance. The superior heat resistance of copper enables blank PCB boards to work well with current during use.

How to make a blank PCB board?

The production of PCB boards involves four processes.

Line sketch - (drawn using PROTEL or other relevant LAYOUT software, then transferred to transparent paper or tracing paper)

1. Exposure - (Use a desk lamp or exposure lamp to illuminate the photosensitive circuit board, and print the line draft on the photosensitive circuit board)

2. Development - (After exposure, wash off the photosensitive agent with the developer and leave a draft line)

3. Etching - (wash away the unnecessary copper foil and leave the lines we need)

The purpose of blank PCB boards

As electronic devices become increasingly complex, more and more parts are needed. The circuits and components on the circuit board are becoming increasingly dense. Blank PCB boards are commonly referred to as "printed circuit boards". The substrate of the circuit board itself is made of insulating and inflexible materials.

The small circuit material visible on the surface is copper. Aluminum foil covers the entire board with the original copper foil. However, during the manufacturing process, a portion of it was etched off, and the remaining part became a small network of circuits. It is used for circuit connections of components on a PCB.

Why do it needs to test?

There are many reasons to test a blank PCB board. It is the basic framework of the circuit board. Blank circuit boards can fail when wires and components are installed, causing many problems.

Although failures are uncommon, the empty PCB board may already have defects before components are added. Some of the more common problems are over-etching, under-etching, and holes. Even small defects can cause other manufacturing functions to fail in the future. This can lead to more trouble. A quality check is necessary. Check for conformity.

When using a blank printed circuit board to fabricate other boards. As component density increases, the demand for multilayer printed circuit boards continues to grow. Quality inspection of blank printed circuit boards becomes more important. It is almost impossible to repair any faults that occur after the multilayer printed circuit board is assembled. It is assumed that the blank printed circuit boards are faulty from the very beginning. This would amount to a waste of time and manufacturing costs when manufacturing other circuit boards in the future.

The Benefits of Blank PCB Board Testing

There are many benefits of timely testing of empty circuit boards after they are completed. Don't forget to check for faults after completing the production. This step can avoid many problems during production. A small initial investment can save a lot of maintenance and replacement costs.

Meanwhile, the testing helps to detect problems early in the manufacturing process. Discovering a problem means finding the root cause of the problem and fundamentally solving it. If problems are found in the subsequent process. Finding the root cause is not easy. Once the components are covered on the PCB board, it is impossible to determine what caused the problem. Early testing can help eliminate the root cause.

Testing also simplifies the entire process. If problems are discovered and resolved during the prototype development phase, subsequent production stages can proceed without hindrance.

Blank pcb boards have only the main channel, the pattern, the copper coating and the circuit substrate. Blank circuit boards are very simple to design. Engineers and designers are free to add components as needed.