Profession printed circuit board assembler

Printed circuit board assemblers read blueprints and drawings to assemble printed circuit boards. They use hand- and automated soldering tools and machines to connect electronic components to the board.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Integrated circuits

  Electronic components, made up from a set of electronic circuits which are placed on semiconductor material, such as silicon. Integrated circuits (IC) can hold billions of electronic components on a microscale and are one of basic components of electronic devices.

• Printed circuit boards

  Printed circuit boards (PCB) are essential components to almost all electronic devices. They consist of thin wafers or substrates on which electronic components, such as microchips, are placed. The electronic components are electrically connected through conductive tracks and pads.

• Electronics

  The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.

• Circuit diagrams

  Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.

• Semiconductors

  Semiconductors are essential components of electronic circuits and contain properties of both insulators, such as glass, and conductors, such as copper. Most semiconductors are crystals made of silicon or germanium. By introducing other elements in the crystal through doping, the crystals turn into semiconductors. Depending on the amount of electrons created by the doping process, the crystals turn into N-type semiconductors, or P-type semiconductors.

• Through-hole technology

  Through-hole technology or THT is a method of mounting electronic components onto the printed circuit board through inserting leads on the components into holes in the circuit board and soldering the components to the board. THT components attached in this way are usually larger than SMT components, such as capacitors or coils.

Skills

• Ensure conformity to specifications

  Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

• Ensure public safety and security

  Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.

• Coat printed circuit board

  Add a protective layer of coating to the finished printed circuit board.

• Read assembly drawings

  Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.

• Meet deadlines

  Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

• Assemble printed circuit boards

  Attach electronic components to the printed circuit board through applying soldering techniques. Electronic components are placed in holes in through-hole assembly (THT), or are placed on the surface of PCB in surface-mount assembly (SMT).

• Solder components onto electronic board

  Solder electronic components onto bare electronic boards to create loaded electronic boards using hand soldering tools or soldering machinery.

• Prepare board for soldering

  Prepare the loaded printed circuit boards for solder operations. Clean the board and mark designated areas.

• Operate insertion mount machine

  Operate the insertion mount machine or inserter to insert the leads of electronic components into holes in the printed circuit boards.

• Apply through-hole technology manually

  Use through-hole technology (THT) to attach the leads of larger electronic components through the corresponding holes in printed circuit boards. Apply this technique manually.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB