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PCB terms, explained.
Full forms and plain meanings of the terms you meet when buying single-sided, LED and power PCBs.
A to Z of single-sided PCB terms.
PCB
Printed circuit board. An insulating board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts. More
Single-sided PCB
A PCB with copper on one side only. Also called a single-layer PCB. More
MCPCB
Metal Core Printed Circuit Board: copper on a thin dielectric bonded to an aluminium base, used for LEDs because it carries heat away. In Hindi: MCPCB ek aluminium base wala PCB hai jo LED ki garmi bahar nikalta hai. More
Aluminium PCB
Another name for an aluminium MCPCB. More
DOB
Driver On Board: an LED board that carries both the LED driver and the LEDs on one PCB, used in LED bulbs. More
FR1
Flame Retardant grade 1: a paper phenolic laminate. The lowest-cost PCB base. More
FR4
Flame Retardant grade 4: woven glass-epoxy laminate. Strong, heat and moisture resistant. More
CEM1
Composite Epoxy Material 1: a paper core with glass-epoxy surfaces. The standard for punched charger and SMPS boards. More
CEM3
Composite Epoxy Material 3: a non-woven glass core. Between CEM1 and FR4 in cost and heat resistance. More
SMPS
Switch Mode Power Supply: a power supply that switches at high frequency, used in chargers, adapters and drivers. More
Gerber file
The standard file format for PCB artwork: copper, mask, legend, drill and outline layers. More
CAM
Computer-aided manufacturing: the engineering check and set-up of your Gerber before production. More
Solder mask
The coloured coating (white, green or black) that protects tracks and stops solder bridging. More
Legend
Printed text and component outlines on the board. Also called silkscreen. More
HASL and OSP
Surface finishes for pads. HASL is a solder coating; OSP is a thin organic protective layer. More
Copper weight
35 µm is 1 oz copper, the standard; 70 µm is 2 oz, for higher current. More
Creepage
The distance along the board surface between conductors at different voltages. Key on mains-powered boards. More
Isolation slot
A cut-out between primary and secondary sides of a power board that lengthens the creepage path. More
Blanking die
A punching tool that cuts the board outline and holes in one stroke, for volume production. More
CNC routing
Cutting the board outline with a milling bit. Used for samples, small lots and odd shapes. More
V-cut
A V-shaped score that lets boards in a panel snap apart after assembly. More
Panelisation
Arranging many boards on one panel to use laminate well and speed up assembly. More
BBT
Bare Board Testing: an electrical test for opens and shorts before dispatch. More
HSN 8534
The HSN code for printed circuits under GST. More
MOQ
Minimum order quantity. At Sara Circuits it is 40 m² of board per design. More
Questions? Answers.
What is the full form of MCPCB?
Metal Core Printed Circuit Board. Most MCPCBs use an aluminium base and are used for LED lighting.
MCPCB kya hota hai?
MCPCB ek aluminium base wala PCB hai. LED ki garmi aluminium mein jaati hai, isliye LED thanda chalta hai aur lamba chalta hai.
What is the full form of DOB in LED?
Driver On Board: the LED driver and the LEDs are on the same PCB.
What is the full form of FR4?
Flame Retardant 4, a woven glass-epoxy laminate.
What is the full form of CEM1?
Composite Epoxy Material 1, a laminate with a paper core and glass-epoxy surfaces.
What is the full form of SMPS?
Switch Mode Power Supply.
Related: Single-sided PCB guide · PCB HSN code · Material guide · Aluminium PCB
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