With all the global uncertainty today, some companies are researching repatriating their production. If your company is looking to install a new SMT or Through-Hole assembly line, or you want to modify one, it can be daunting; managing multiple vendors providing complex (and expensive) machines or tools, each one with different shipping lead times and logistics, set up procedures, and software compatibility issues. It can be a project managers nightmare, especially if you are running a business.

• Teaming up with our pick and place partners, Restronics South Central will help coordinate and manage this daunting task. By partnering with our SMT pick and place partner experts, we can:
• Source all the machines you need for the line (even if we don’t have a direct relationship with the manufacturer).
• Manage the delivery logistics, making sure everything arrives on time and together.
• Manage the installation and line bring up.
• Manage the SW compatibility between the different machines from the different manufacturers.
• Make sure your people are trained.

WHAT IS SMT ASSEMBLY?

SMT (Surface Mounting Technology) is a technique to make electronic circuits that places components right on the board’s surface. SMT assembly is an alternative to the through-hole method of printed circuit board manufacturing, that originated in the 1970s and 1980s.

As electronics manufacturing gained momentum, a more efficient, better process became necessary. SMT assembly was born out of this need.

WHAT IS THROUGH-HOLE ASSEMBLY?

Through-hole technology (also spelled "thru-hole") describes the mounting scheme used for electronic components involving the use of leads on the components that must be inserted into pre-drilled holes in printed circuit boards (PCB). These leads are then soldered to pads on the other side by either manual assembly (placement by hand) or via the use of automated insertion mount machines.

The quality of the solder joint is important for several reasons. The solder joint is the connection between components and the circuit board. The quality of the solder joint equates to the quality of the connection. The appearance of the solder joint is less important but is often indicative of the quality of the solder joint.