Technology is constantly evolving, especially for printed circuit boards (PCBs). The aerospace industry, in particular, is always looking for PCBs with greater capabilities, including closer tolerances and better heat resistance. Design improvements such as more efficient layouts are critical for PCBs in aerospace applications.

Space shuttles and other vehicles use PCBs for various purposes, including communication, control, guidance, and navigation. The assembly and fabrication of PCBs also play a vital role in today’s aerospace vehicles and platforms.

PCB ASSEMBLY IN AEROSPACE

PCB assembly for aerospace applications is the process of building and testing circuits on a PCB in an aerospace environment to ensure it works as intended. This process aims to identify and resolve any flaws with these systems before the PCB reaches the end user.

Aerospace PCB assembly offers several advantages over traditional PCB assembly methods. For example, it cuts parts and labor costs by eliminating the need to replace parts later in the assembly process. These PCBs function correctly from the first day of the assembly, a crucial requirement in aerospace. The production of quality parts also establishes a manufacturer’s reputation, leading to repeat business.

Aerospace PCB Assembly Requirements

The great importance of strength and reliability for PCBs in the aerospace industry means they need a high aspect ratio. This parameter describes the relationship between the size of the board and its circuits, which should be no more than 1:10. The general purpose of a PCB is to transfer electricity between its components, and one way to do that is to add more layers. This feature allows the PCB to handle more current, making it less likely to fail due to electrical overload.

Tolerance is another area of PCB design that manufacturers must consider, as there are several tolerance grades available. The two main types are commercial-grade and military-specification (mil-spec), with tolerance being the primary distinction between them. Commercial-grade boards have a five to ten percent tolerance, while mil-spec boards have tolerances below two percent. The boards used in aerospace are typical of mil-spec quality.

Aerospace-grade PCBs also have more significant requirements for the separation of components. This requirement primarily refers to separating ground and power planes and separating parts that generate high and low frequencies. The insufficient separation between these components increases noise and signal interference, which is particularly undesirable in aerospace applications.

High resistance to radiation is also essential for PCBs used in space, where there is no atmosphere to absorb high-energy particles that can damage electronic equipment. Radiation tolerance must therefore be an integral part of an aerospace PCB’s design.