Your Professional Military PCB Manufacturer Since 2008

Your Excellent Military PCB Supplier

PCBMay provides durable, effective, and accurate Military PCBs suitable for harsh environments. When it comes to a mission-critical industry like in the military, Military Grade PCB from PCBMay is the right choice.

Our company provides specialized products and services for over 12 years. We have profound experience and expertise in manufacturing your exact needs for defense applications.

Our products exceed the tight requirements need for long operation applications. All parts we use in fabricating this product measure up to military specs. It includes high-temperature laminates, aluminum, and copper. These are excellent military PCB substrate materials.

Unlike other types of PCBs, military PCBs are developed with high precision, efficiency, high levels of resistance, and above all, exhibit high levels of reliability. It has the durability required for maximum current load and works in harsh environments. PCBMay military PCB is a highly rigorous, unique PCB, perfect for the mission-critical industry.

A variety of PCBMay military PCB types are available here, including Single-Sided Military PCB, Double Sided Military PCB, Multilayer Military PCB, Rigid Military PCB, etc. Plus, we also offer custom services for your specific needs in military PCB. Just send your requirements, and we will handle the perfect manufacturing process.

You can find PCBMay Military PCB assembly in a wide application in an array of areas including but not limited to base/camp protection and security, artillery and mortars, military robotic systems, ruggedized computers, power distribution, defense communication and navigation, and more.

As your professional PCBs manufacturer, we are fully committed to providing state-of-the-art prototypes and excellent production services for the defense and military industry. We have passed ISO-9001 quality system certification, ISO-14001 environmental system certification, USA and Canada UL(E477880), and RoHs. Our advanced testing standards and our industry certifications stand evidence of the quality we offer.

Military PCB

Aside from military PCB production, we also manufacture Backplane PCB, IC Substrate, Edge plating PCB, Hard Gold PCB, etc. We are your one-stop-shop solution for PCBs in China.

PCBMay is your reputable, trustworthy, and knowledgeable manufacturer of Military PCBs.

For more information, you can contact or email us at sales@pcbmay.com.

Military PCB: The Ultimate FAQ

It is a well-known fact that military environments are harsh or extreme environments to work in.

They are normally characterized by abnormally high temperatures, high humidity, dust, salt spray, etc. Due to this, military devices need devices that have reliable, faultless, and long-lasting military PCB to withstand this harsh operating environment.

This guide will help you understand military PCB, its applications, how it is manufactured, its design considerations, factors to consider when choosing military PCB and more powerful information about military PCB.

Military camp base.

The military is Military Grade PCB?

Military-grade PCBs are special boards that are used in various military devices and systems. Military equipment and systems operate in harsh working environments and therefore need reliable and durable boards.

Because of this, military PCB is designed with unique properties that enable them to operate in harsh military environments.

Military electronics PCB case.

What Are The Applications of PCB In the Military?

PCB has several applications in the military. In this section, we are going to look at a number of those applications. PCB can be used in the following military devices or systems:

• LED lighting systems
• Radio communication systems
• Electronic countermeasures
• Power converters
• Temperature sensors
• Underwater navigation systems
• Automation networks -Command and control systems
• Firearms and explosives testing equipment
• Robotic systems
• Control tower systems – Electronic Counter-Countermeasures
• Airborne Warning and Control System
• Warning and Control System
• Close-In Weapons Systems
• Auxiliary power units for radar control systems
• Defense navigation and communication systems
• Cyber counterintelligence systems
• Air cartographic photography
• Jet instrumentation
• Satellite subsystems
• Cross targeting systems
• Unmanned vehicles
• Integrated Air Defense System

Military radar

What Are The Components Of Military Grade PCB?

Military PCB has four main components. They are substrate, copper Layer, solder mask, silkscreen. Let’s go into detail about each component.

Substrate

The substrate is the base material or layer for the Military PCB.  The Military board is built on the substrate and this makes it the most important component. Call it the skeleton or framework of the military PCB. The substrate is mostly made of fiberglass which has the ability to resist breakage and also provides core strength to the PCB.

Copper Layer

The second part of the military PCB is the copper layer. The main function of the copper layer on the Military PCB is to transport signals to and from the PCB. This function of the copper layer can be likened to how nervous systems carry signals between the human brain and muscle.

Solder mask

Solder mask is a polymer material that covers the copper layer on the Military PCB. The purpose of the solder mask is to protect the copper layer and prevent short-circuiting. How? The solder mask’s cover on the copper layer prevents it from touching other parts of the military PCB.

Silkscreen

The last component of the military PCB is the silkscreen. The silkscreen is the compartment of the military PCB that helps users to know what’s really happening on the PCB. By viewing the silkscreen, one can see the part numbers, part reference, test points, and symbol switch settings of the board.

Military PCB layout

What Design Considerations Should Be Taken For Military PCB Manufacturing?

Like any other manufacturing process, design is one of the most important stages of military PCB manufacturing.

To manufacture reliable, accurate, and high-performing Military PCBs, manufacturers should strictly follow Military-grade standards when designing Military PCB.

All Military PCBs should be designed and manufactured using MIL-PRF-50884, MIL-PRF-31032, and MIL-PRF-55110 standards.

Below are some of the standard design considerations for Military PCB. Manufacturers should:

• Separate high-frequency components from low-frequency components of the Military PCB. Why? This is because high-frequency parts produce vibrations that may damage low-frequency components.
• The noise produced as a result of this vibration affects the quality of signal which is dangerous for military devices and systems. Military devices need to operate with the highest accuracy.
• So, this disruption in signal must be avoided entirely by separating high and low vibrating components.
• Use a tight tolerance that ranges between 1-2% for the various components of the Military PCB. Commercial PCB components can have a much larger tolerance between 5-10%, which is not favorable for military devices. Only military-grade parts should be used.
• Use thermal materials in areas where heat will be dispelled.
• Design Military PCB such that they can accommodate the maximum load. Designers should calculate the maximum load the Military PCB is going to take and design PCB accordingly. This will eliminate PCB breakdown and failures as a result of too much load.
• Give a large clearance space to components that emit excessive heat. This will prevent these components from heating surrounding components, thereby making the PCB safe.
• Solder profit components to avoid vibration on the Military PCB.
• Use quality heat-resistant materials to help handle high temperatures effectively. Examples of these materials are Pyralux AP and FR408.
• Conduct simulation with quality software to know how the military PCB will operate in the real world.
• Create shields to protect clock signals. Aluminum is a good material for creating these enclosures for clock signals on the military PCB.
• Position military PCB routings at 45° or less to enable seamless transmission in circuits.

What Materials Should You Use For Military PCB?

Because Military PCB devices operate in high-temperature environments, materials for manufacturing military PCB should be highly resistant to heat.

Examples of materials with high heat resistant properties are Isola FR408HR, DuPont Pyralux, and Nelco N7000-2HT. Use these PCB materials for Military boards.

What Are The Manufacturing Processes of Military PCB?

Manufacturing a military PCB involves many processes but the major steps involved the following:

• Design
• Checking and Confirmation
• Fabrication
• Testing

Design

PCB Design is the first step of Military PCB manufacturing. Before design kicks off, all the performance requirements of the Military PCB are determined. Once this is done, these requirements are factored into the designing of the military PCB.

Design software is used to create an accurate design of the military PCB. Extended Gerber — also called IX274X is popular design software used by many manufacturers. The design software can calculate an accurate number of copper layers, solder masks, and other components required for the military PCB. This ensures the accuracy and seamless operation of the military PCB.

Verification of Design

Once the design is complete, various checks are done to verify if it meets the outlined requirements. Quality simulation software is used for this purpose.

A software simulator gives designers an idea of how the Military PCB will function under real operation conditions. It reveals the limitations of the design and helps you do necessary modifications to the design so that the PCB can perform effectively.

Other important factors like design tolerance are checked and verified to make sure they match with the required tolerance of the military PCB.

After this, another extensive check is done by an engineer to verify the design.  The engineer reviews and checks the design to verify if all the components are in place and void of any error.

The design is then printed with a special printing machine called a plotter printer. The plotter printer prints the military PCB design into a “film” or laminate.

Fabrication

When the design verification is complete and the results are accurate, fabrication of the Military PCB begins.

Fabrication of the military PCB involves many processes. The fabrication process mostly depends on the type of military PCB or the type of device it will be used on.

Under this stage, the different parts of the military PCB – copper layer, solder mask, silkscreen is printed, examined, and assembled.

The copper layer is printed and pre-bond onto the printed design laminate to form the structure or “skeleton” of the military PCB. The copper layer is masked with solder to prevent short-circuiting. The silkscreen is printed with an ink-jet printer to show data like Company ID numbers, Warning labels, Manufacturers marks or logos, Part numbers, Pin locators, and Similar marks on the military PCB.

At different stages of the fabrication processes, the parts are inspected with highly advanced equipment to ensure accuracy in the manufacturing process.

Fabricated multi-layer military PCB

Testing

The last stage of the military PCB manufacturing process is testing. The assembled PCB is tested to verify if it meets its performance requirements.

What Software Is Used For Designing Military PCB?

There are a lot of software for designing military boards but the most popular software is Extended Gerber — also called IX274X.

What Factors Should Be Considered When Selecting Materials for Military PCB?

When PCB materials are heated to a certain point or limit, they begin to change from a solid glass state into a soft deformable nature. The point at which PCB materials change from a solid-state to a soft deformable state is called glass transition (Tg). Tg is expressed in degree Celsius (°C).

Military PCB Materials should have high Tg values so that they can withstand high temperatures and not melt easily..

To choose the right material for military PCB, you need to determine the temperature of the working environment of the Military PCB device. Once you know this temperature,  select a material having high Tg value than the temperature of the device’s working environment.

So let’s say, the military PCB will operate in an environment with a temperature of 180°C, you need to use a material with a Tg value higher than 180°C. It is important to note that the military PBC material should have at least a 20°C allowance.

What does this mean? Let’s say the military PCB will be used in a device that would operate in a 150°C working environment.

To choose the appropriate material, add 20°C to 150°C to get 170°C. That means the Military PBC material for this device should be 170°C.

What Temperatures Are Favourable For Military PCB?

It all depends on the temperature of the military PCB’s working environment.

PCB materials can be grouped according to their Tg values. There are basically three groups of PCB materials: Low Tg value, Medium Tg value, and High Tg value materials.  Low Tg value materials range between 130°C- 160°C; High Tg value materials have a Tg value between 160°C-200°C, and High Tg value materials are 200°C and above.

Military PCB uses materials with high Tg values.

What Should You Look For When Choosing A Military PCB Manufacturer?

The reliability and accuracy of Military PCB have a close relationship with the kind of manufacturer that produces it. This means you need to be cautious when choosing a Military PCB manufacturer.

These are some important things you should look for when choosing a PCB manufacturer.

The manufacturer needs to be an  ITAR registered company and also use Military standards for their Manufacturing.

The PCB manufacturers should use military-grade materials for their PCB.

Look for a manufacturer with great military PCB experience – choose manufacturers with at least 10 years of proven experience. Check samples of their products on their website. Find out if they meet military standards and your requirements.

The manufacturer should have a professional team with great expertise. They need to use modern machines and modern technology for their production.

The best Military PCB manufacturers have excellent customer service and great after-sales service. Find out if the manufacturer offers after-sales services like installation, at least 1 year warranty, training on how to use and maintain PCB. They need to also have flexible payment and shipping systems.
<h2id=”faq11″>What’s The Minimum Order Quantity For Military PCB?

Most credible manufacturers offer a minimum of 1 Military PCB for purchase.

1 Piece of military PCB

What Are The Processes Involved In Ordering Military PCB From a Manufacturer In China?

Ordering Military PCB should be easy if you know the steps involved. In this section, we will look at the steps you need to follow to order military PCB from China.

Do a quick Google search for potential military PCB manufacturers in China. Use the keyword “Military PCB manufacturers in China” for this search.

A long list of Chinese military PCB manufacturers will pop up from the search results.

List all the manufacturers from Google’s first-page search results. You can do the same for the second page.

Having made this list, proceed to the websites of these manufacturers.

Make a shortlist of military PCB manufacturers that have at least 10 years of experience in the PCB industry. The ideal manufacturers should have professional engineers, excellent designers, and a top-quality team.

One other thing you need to look out for is the equipment and technology the manufacturers use. Shortlist manufacturers that use modern technology and highly advanced equipment for manufacturing.

The next thing to do is to contact the shortlisted manufacturers. Send a message through their website’s contact form and request a quote through the contact forms on their websites.

While sending this request, you can attach details or requirements of your military PCB to the manufacturer. That means you need to understand the operating conditions of your military PCB so you can send the right details.

Once the manufacturers start sending you their quotes, critically analyze them and choose the right manufacturer.

When you receive feedback from the manufacturers, you need to analyze, compare and choose the right manufacturer based on your requirement and budget.

Get back to your chosen military PCB manufacturer and ask them for their PCB ordering process to order your PCB. They will guide you to go through the process.

Are China Military PCB Safe And Worthy?

Yes, China Military PCB is worth buying.

Manufacturers in China use a flexible and efficient manufacturing process to produce  Military PCB that meets your budget and requirement.

Chinese manufacturers use military standards and materials with high Tg to manufacture reliable and durable military PCBs.

As one of the world’s leading countries in technology, Chinese manufacturers use modern technology and equipment to produce long-lasting and highly dependant military PCBs.

Credible Chinese manufacturers like PCBMay have massive expertise and experience in the military PCB industry. Because of this, we can help you budget, design, manufacture the best military PCB that meets your specifications.

China military PCB is not only quality, but they are also safe and cheap. Importing PCB military PCB from China is simple and easy.

Military airplane

What Are The Standards Of Military PCB?

Military PCB needs to be reliable and accurate. To achieve this, high military standards should be followed. Below are the military standards for manufacturing military PCB: MIL-PRF-50884, MIL-PRF-31032, and MIL-PRF-55110 standards.

How Do I Import A Military PCB from China?

To have a smooth importation of Military PCB from China, you need to follow the following steps:

Choose a reliable Military PCB manufacturer

Before you even think of importing military PCB, you need to first choose a reliable manufacturer. We’ve already looked at how to choose a good manufacturer in China in this guide. So, you can refer to that topic.

Get in touch with the manufacturer

Once you settle on a manufacturer that meets your requirements, connect with them. You can do this by sending a message via their email or contact form on their website. Send the details of your Military PCB to the manufacturer.

Agree with the manufacturer by signing a contract.

It is very important you sign a contract with the manufacturer when importing a  military PCB from China.

The contract is a legal document that binds you and the manufacturer. It will protect you and help solve any misunderstanding.

The contract should contain vital information such as the cost of the military PCB, how it will be transported, and mode of payment.

Determine How the Military PCB Will be Transported

Chinese Manufacturers use various ways to transport military PCB and other products to their customers around the world. The PCB can be shipped or sent through air – airplane

Agree with the manufacturer on how they would transport the PCB to you. Shipping seems to be the most common medium of transporting PCB from China.

Declare Imports

Declaration of import is the next step of the importation process. Import declaration is different in various countries so you need to find out from your local authorities how this is done in your country.

Determine Duty Fees

At this stage, you’ve to determine how much it will cost you to import. Again, duty fees depending on your country.

Receive All Important Legal Documents

The next step of the importation process is to collect all relevant legal documents from the manufacturer. This includes the packing list, sales contract, and bill of lading documents.

It is super important to receive these documents from the manufacturer before the PCB gets to your country. You can receive your PCB at the port only when you have these documents.

Obtain Delivery Codes

Depending on your country, you may be required to have a delivery code before you can import. Find out from your local authorities about delivery codes and take them from your manufacturer if necessary.

What Causes military Grade PCB Failure?

There are various causes of Military-grade PCB failure but the most common ones are the following:

Design

Design is the most common cause of military PCB failure. When your design doesn’t meet the performance requirement – reliability and longevity – of the PCB, it may lead to failure. The right components and materials should be selected during design based on the operation requirement of military PCB. The design should be well laid out and verified before manufacturing begins.

Environmental Factors

The second cause of military PCB failure is the environment in which it functions. This makes it super important to consider the environmental conditions of the board and design it to suit it.

Military PCB operates in an environment that has a high temperature, dust, and high humidity.

Understand the board’s operation temperature and use materials with high transitional value (Tg). The transitional value or melting temperature of the selected material should be at least 20°C higher than the operational temperature. Another consideration is to use through-hole components which have the ability to conduct more heat.

If the board would be exposed to dust, choose components that can withstand dust. Also, use enclosures with the right ingress protection.

For boards that operate in high humid environments, make sure to use moisture protection methods to protect vital components of the board.

Manufacturing Defect

Manufacturing defects are a common cause of military PCB failure. Low-quality solder joints, contamination, and material degradation are examples of manufacturing defects that cause board failure.

A sure way to avoid low-quality solder joints is to ensure that pads and traces are well aligned. There should be conformity in the structure of the board.

Material degradation that eventually leads to the faulty board is mostly caused by excessive heat. To eliminate this problem, choose materials that meet the operation requirement of the board. Also, follow military standards and board thermal design for manufacturing when building your military PCB.

Why Should I Choose MayPCB Military PCB?

As a leading PCB manufacturer in China, PCBMay has massive experience in the PCB industry. We have experts with extensive knowledge in the military PCB manufacturing industry. MayPCB uses best-in-class equipment, high-quality software for accurate designs, and military standard for all our Military PCB. You’re assured of a highly reliable and long-lasting, efficient military PCB from MayPCB.

Conclusion

This guide has provided you with great information on military PCB. We have looked at what military PCB mean, their uses, its design considerations, manufacturing process, what makes these boards fail and how to overcome them, and other useful information about military PCB. We hope this information has helped you understand military PCB. With this knowledge, you will be able to make well-informed decisions about this board.