PCB Assembly, Surface Mount

Surface mounting is a method of PCB assembly whereby electronic components are mounted directly to the surface of the board. This has become a much more prominent assembly method in comparison to through-hole technology, with the latter generally reserved only for components that cannot be surface mounted. Therefore, it is not uncommon for PCB boards to undergo both surface mount and through-hole assembly depending on the components required.

Surface mount technology has enabled much more rapid production of PCBs. Surface mounted components also tend to be much smaller than their through-hole counterparts, owing to the fact that they do not require long leads. Therefore, the overall size of surface-mounted PCBs tends to be smaller. Whilst this is certainly beneficial, it also heightens the risk of defects occurring within production and therefore, surface-mounted PCBs must undergo a higher level of testing to ensure that they meet required standards.