SMT Assembly

High-Speed SMT Assembly: Precision, Efficiency, and Quality.

With a production capacity of over 25,000 surface-mount (SMT) components per hour across four machines, our SMT electronics manufacturing service handles a wide range of component sizes, including QFB, BGA, µBGA, CBDA, CSP, Flip-Chip, and 0204.

Depending on your project and order size, your SMT assembly will be produced on our dedicated SMT manufacturing lines. Small and medium quantities are typically assembled on our stand-alone machines. After assembly, the boards are soldered using a reflow process, followed by an automated optical inspection (AOI) to ensure all components are properly soldered and ready for delivery.

For prototypes and small-series orders, we also offer vapor phase soldering in addition to standard reflow soldering. Using the Asscon VP 32 Vapor Phase (Galden LS230) system, we can solder components at lower peak temperatures, ideal for delicate or complex designs.

In addition to SMT manufacturing, we also offer conventional THT assembly, cable assembly, and device mounting. For faulty designs or problematic assemblies, we provide a range of SMT and BGA rework services, regardless of where your boards were originally assembled.

How Does SMT Soldering and Assembly Work?

Surface-mount technology (SMT) refers to the process where electronic components are mounted directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) using automated machines. Unlike through-hole technology (THT), SMT components are placed on the surface of the board without wire leads passing through the PCB. SMT is the most widely used method in the electronics manufacturing industry today.

The SMT assembly process involves several key steps:

• Applying solder paste (made of tin particles and flux) to the PCB
• Placing SMT components onto the PCB using solder paste
• Soldering the boards using a reflow process

Applying Solder Paste

Applying solder paste is the first step in the SMT assembly process. At Newmatik, we use Jetprint technology for application of solder paste. This ensures that solder paste is applied only to areas where components will be soldered.

After applying the paste, we perform a 2D solder paste inspection to confirm that the paste has been applied evenly and accurately. Once verified, the boards are moved to the SMT assembly line for component placement.

Component Placement and Assembly

The electronic components are loaded into trays or reels, which are then fed into the SMT machine. Intelligent software systems ensure components are loaded correctly, avoiding errors. The SMT machine automatically picks each component with a vacuum pipette and places it on the board using pre-programmed X-Y coordinates. Our machines can assemble up to 25,000 components per hour. After assembly, the boards proceed to reflow ovens for soldering, which permanently affixes the components.

Component Soldering

We use two main soldering methods, each with distinct advantages depending on the order size:

• Reflow Soldering: Used for series production, reflow soldering involves heating the boards in a nitrogen atmosphere. As the boards warm up, the solder paste melts, and the flux vaporizes, fusing the components to the PCB. The boards are then cooled, and as the tin hardens, the components are permanently affixed to the board.

• Vapor Phase Soldering: For prototypes or sensitive components, we use vapor phase soldering. This process heats the boards until the specific melting point of the solder paste is reached, allowing us to solder at lower temperatures or solder different components at their individual soldering temperature profiles.

AOI and Visual Check

Soldering is followed by an Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), which is crucial for quality control. Our AOI system uses cameras to inspect each board and compare it against a pre-defined reference image. If any deviations are detected, the operator is alerted, and corrective actions are taken. This ensures consistency, accuracy, and quality in every SMT assembly.

With Newmatik, your SMT assembly project benefits from advanced technology, precision craftsmanship, and a robust quality assurance process.