PCB assembly

Overview

Surface mount, through hole and mixed

We populate single and double sided boards with surface mount (SMT), through hole (THT) and mixed technology, including selective solder for sensitive or through hole parts.

Every job runs under our latest manufacturing execution system (MES) software, so materials, steps and results are tracked from receiving to finished board. That means clean traceability, repeatable quality and fast, accurate builds whether you need five prototypes or a large production run. Our Mycronic pick-and-place lines place up to 59,000 components an hour, backed by Mycronic stencil and jet printers for solder paste. Our inspectors are IPC-A-610 certified and the whole department is ESD-safe.

Assembly technologies we run

Most boards call for more than one of these on the same line. We sequence the process to protect your most sensitive components, every time.

Surface mount (SMT)

From small (0201) to micro BGA and QFN designs, dense components are printed, placed and reflowed on our Mycronic lines, up to 59,000 placements an hour, single or double sided.

Through hole (THT): solder or press-fit

For connectors and components that need real mechanical strength, not just a surface pad. Leads are either soldered through the board or mechanically press-fit into a plated hole for a solder-free, gas-tight connection.

Selective solder

Heat-sensitive SMT parts on the same board as through-hole joints? Our Pillarhouse selective solder cells target each joint individually. No wave, no risk.

Mixed technology

SMT and THT on the same board isn’t a special order here, it’s how we build. Every process is sequenced so no component ever sees more heat than it’s rated for.

PCB assembly specifications

Real, in-house PCBA capacity on our Mycronic lines, with inspection and test built into the line, not bolted on at the end. Bring us a challenging board and we will tell you exactly how we build and test it.

Inspection and test: verified, not assumed

Layered inspection and test catch issues early and prove each board performs before it ships.

• SPI and AOISolder paste inspection and automated optical inspection check placement and solder quality across the board.
• AXI CT scan X-rayX-ray CT scan inspection sees hidden and bottom-terminated joints such as BGAs that optical inspection cannot reach.
• Functional testingBoards are powered and exercised against your test plan to confirm they perform to spec before assembly or shipment.
• Conformal coating and pottingA PVA automated conformal coating machine, plus optional potting and encapsulation, protects boards from moisture, dust and chemicals in harsh operating environments.

Our PCB assembly process

Every job follows the same controlled path, from receiving to final test, so boards come off the line accurate, repeatable and ready for the next step whether you order five prototypes or a large production run.

1. Quote and DFM reviewSend assembly drawings, Gerbers, ODB file and a bill of materials. We review footprints and panelization for manufacturability, flag anything that would slow the line, and quote fast.
2. Receiving and setupMaterials are received, and the line is set up and tracked step by step in our MES software for full traceability.
3. SMT placementSurface mount parts are printed, placed on our Mycronic lines at up to 59,000 components an hour, and reflowed, on single or double sided boards as needed.
4. THT and selective solderThrough hole parts are added, and our Pillarhouse selective solder cells handle sensitive joints without running the whole board through a wave.
5. Inspection and testSPI, AOI, X-ray and functional testing confirm build quality at each stage, so issues are caught before sign-off, not after.
6. Clean, coat and shipBoards are cleaned on our Kolb wash system to remove flux residue (when required), optional conformal coating or potting is applied, then boards are packaged and shipped or sent to mechanical assembly.

Industries we serve

Star Precision assembles boards for demanding Texas and national manufacturers, including the regulated and technical sectors below, where IPC-A-610 certified inspection and ESD-safe handling matter as much as the board itself:

• Aerospace & defenseAvionics, radar systems, satellite components, military communications, UAV and drone electronics.
• Medical & life sciencesDiagnostic equipment, patient monitoring devices, surgical instruments, lab equipment and biotech instrumentation.
• AutomotiveInfotainment systems, ADAS, EV battery management, sensors and engine control units.
• TelecommunicationsNetwork infrastructure, base stations, routers, fiber optic equipment and 5G hardware.
• Industrial & automationPLCs, robotics, motor controls, factory automation equipment and sensors.
• Oil & gas / energyDownhole tools, seismic monitoring equipment, pipeline monitoring and drilling instrumentation.
• Renewable energySolar inverters, wind turbine controls, energy storage systems and EV charging infrastructure.
• Consumer electronicsSmart home devices, wearables, audio equipment and IoT devices.
• Computing & IT hardwareData storage, networking equipment and embedded computing boards.
• Food service & food processingPoint-of-sale systems, commercial kitchen controls and food safety monitoring equipment.
• Security & surveillanceCCTV systems, access control, alarm systems and biometric devices.
• Transportation & railSignal systems, onboard controls and fleet tracking hardware.
• Agriculture (AgTech)Precision farming sensors, irrigation controls and equipment automation.
• HVAC & building automationSmart thermostats, building management systems and environmental controls.
• Retail & point of saleKiosks, payment terminals and inventory scanning systems.
• Marine & maritimeNavigation systems, communication equipment and vessel monitoring.
• Instrumentation & test/measurementLab instruments, calibration equipment and scientific devices.

What to expect when you work with us

Working with a PCBA partner should be straightforward. From the first file you send to the finished boards arriving on your dock, here is what you can count on from our team.

• Fast, honest quotesWe check footprints, panelization and component availability, then quote fast with no surprises later.
• One point of contactOne team owns your job from receiving through test and assembly, all under one roof.
• NDAs on requestWe sign NDAs on request, so your data remains fully confidential.
• On-time deliveryYou get dependable, on-time delivery from our Texas shop, not an overseas queue.

PCB Assembly FAQs

Quick answers about our PCBA services. Company-wide questions are covered in the FAQs at the bottom of the page.

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