Printed Circuit Boards

Printed circuit boards (or PCB) consist of thin strips of a conducting material such as copper which have been etched from a layer fixed to a flat insulating sheet and to which integrated circuits or other components are attached. These boards are usually 'baked' in industrial ovens although other manufacturing methods include silk screening or CNC milling. They are used for physically supporting and wiring surf-mounted and socketed components and allow signals and power to be routed between physical devices. There are various types of PCBs. The first is single-sided which consists of one copper layer. The double-sided board is the most common because two layers improves its flexibility. There are multi-layer circuit boards which allow for higher component density. Aluminium-backed PCBs are used for higher power applications. Other types include Flexible PCB, Rigidised Flexible PCB and Flex-ridged circuit boards. Printed circuit boards are used for all but the simplest electronic products so they are found everywhere. This means they are a major component of all computers, laptops, mobile phones and so on. The different circuit boards are used for specific applications. The aluminium-backed PCB is suitable for high power LED products and switching power supplies.