The literature on Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) is extensive and details on the design and manufacture of PCBs are outside the scope of this text.
A brief description of a multilayer PCB will be followed by a discussion of the components of a PCB that are most relevant to making permanent connections, mechanical and soldered, to a PCB and how those components impact on PCB and connector materials and design.
For mechanical permanent connections the focus will be on compliant press-in connection materials and design. With respect to the PCB this will require consideration of Plated Through Hole (PTH) manufacturing. For soldered connections the focus will be on PCB land/pad and connector contact solderability considerations, for both wave soldering and Surface Mount Technology (SMT). From the connector perspective, additional discussion of some of the key connector contact lead design issues as they apply to SMT applications will be necessary.
