PCBasic

How do you apply solder paste evenly to the tiny pads on a BGA chip?
This video shows the BGA solder paste application process using a stencil. Proper stencil alignment and controlled paste application help ensure consistent solder coverage before the next soldering step.

Capacitor Short Circuit on a PCB — Is the Capacitor Really the Problem?
When a PCB test shows a short circuit across a capacitor, replacing the capacitor immediately may not solve the problem.
Sometimes the capacitor itself has failed. But sometimes, another component on the same power rail — such as an IC — may be internally shorted and pulling the line low.
That's why troubleshooting matters before replacing components. Otherwise, powering the board again could damage the replacement part or cause further failures.
When you find a shorted capacitor rail, how do you usually locate the actual faulty component?
Share your troubleshooting experience in the comments.

How Can One Tiny Solder Joint Ruin an Entire PCBA?
A solder joint may be tiny, but it carries critical power and signals across a PCBA. Insufficient solder, poor wetting, solder bridges, or cracks can lead to open circuits, short circuits, and intermittent failures.
The challenge becomes even greater with BGA and QFN packages, where solder joints are hidden underneath the component. A board may look normal and even pass initial testing while hidden defects remain.
In this video, we explain why solder joint quality matters and how X-Ray inspection helps detect voids, bridging, insufficient solder, and head-in-pillow defects.
For high-reliability PCBA manufacturing, passing a power-on test is only the beginning.

SPI vs AOI vs X-Ray: What Does Each PCBA Inspection Check?
SPI, AOI, and X-Ray all inspect PCBA quality—but they look for different problems.
In this 60-second overview, we explain what each inspection method actually checks:
SPI: Solder paste volume, height, area, and position
AOI: Visible component and soldering defects
X-Ray: Hidden solder joints under BGA and QFN packages
These inspection methods work together at different stages of the PCBA manufacturing process. Understanding what each one can—and cannot—detect helps you build a more effective inspection plan.
Need help deciding which inspections your PCBA project requires? Contact us to discuss your project.

What Hidden Defects Can X-Ray Inspection Detect in PCBA?
Some PCBA defects are impossible to see from the surface.
X-ray inspection helps reveal hidden soldering issues beneath BGA, QFN, and other bottom-terminated components, including solder voids, solder bridges, missing or insufficient solder, and abnormal solder joints.
For PCBAs where solder joint integrity and long-term reliability matter, X-ray provides an important inspection method beyond visual inspection and AOI.
Follow PCBasic for more practical PCB assembly and quality control insights.

If you see L, SW, F, K, or T printed on a PCB, do you know what they mean?
PCB silkscreen reference designators provide quick clues about the type of component installed at each location.
Test yourself and see how many you can recognize.

How to Identify PCB Components by Silkscreen Markings
You see R, C, D, Q, and Y printed all over a PCB—but what do they actually mean?
These letters are reference designators used to identify different electronic components on the board.
How many can you recognize without checking the answer?

Testing a PCBA Before Shipping | Functional Testing
Before a PCBA is shipped, functional testing helps verify that the assembled board works as intended.
Depending on the product, FCT may include power-on checks, voltage verification, signal testing, communication interfaces, I/O functions, buttons, displays, sensors, and other product-specific functions.
PCBasic can also develop customized functional test fixtures based on the PCB design, interfaces, test points, and testing requirements, helping make testing more efficient and repeatable for batch production.

Reduce SMT Line Waiting Time from Feeder Loading
If feeders are not prepared correctly, changeover can lead to waiting, rework, and repeated confirmation. Standard loading helps the line enter stable production faster.

How to Read SMD Codes? A Beginner's Guide
Ever looked at a tiny SMD component and wondered what those letters and numbers mean?
In this video, we'll show you how to read common SMD codes and quickly identify key component information.
Whether you're new to PCB assembly, electronics repair, or component inspection, understanding SMD markings is a useful basic skill.