PCB样品制备指南

Automated Microsectioning: An Economic Justification

Introduction

Microsectioning has become a standard requirement of printed wiring board (PWB) quality assurance due to the potential for hidden, subsurface defects, and for process control. In recent years, increasing numbers of PWB customers have begun to require certified vendors to perform statistical sampling of their product. Cost reduction initiatives are the driving forces which have shifted this responsibility to the vendor. Many wiring board manufacturers, however, are unprepared for this shift. Their microsectioning capabilities remain manual in nature, and they are poorly equipped to handle the volume of coupon cross-sectioning necessary to meet their customer’s requirements. Often, all that is needed is a small investment in microsectioning automation, but the perceived costs keep many PWB production houses from taking this critical step. In addition, many are fearful that automation will result in loss of jobs. While it is true that automation will free significant amounts of time for workers to focus on other efforts, it does not eliminate the need for operators altogether. This paper offers a look at manual and automated microsectioning of PWB’s, with the purpose of illustrating the time and cost benefits of automation.