Helpful Zero PCB Manufacturer in China

Providing Refined Zero PCBs for All Your Projects

Are in need of an affordable, high-class Zero PCB supplier? Then, look no further. PCBMay has got solutions for you.

• Provide adequate Perfboard, Veroboard, and Stripboard for you
• Ensure correct number and spacing of pad-per-hole
• All boards withstand manual soldering and are thermally resistant
• Minimal risk of the moisture problem
• Support numerous types of PCB layout and PCB schematic

We are the company that cares for PCB designers and hobbyists. We know your desire to experiment with circuit boards. To aid you, we offer the best Zero PCB supplies with no Minim Order Quantity (MOQ) requirement. That’s right! You can order just one piece from us—and we’ll deliver it.

Anywhere you are in the world, we will do business with you. Your order is important to us, whether it is a bulk order or just a small quantity. All PCBs that exit our factory passes through quality tests to ascertain product performance. We are champions in what we do—we would not last this long if we don’t deliver well.

To keep our knowledge in tip-top shape, we participate in Electronica Munich and other similar trade shows. When it comes to supplying you with the Zero PCB you need, we embrace global standards. As such, you don’t need to fret about environmental safety. We are fully ISO:14001 compliant.

Why not email, chat or call us now? We have sales staff waiting for you every day, Monday to Sunday, anywhere you are in the world.

Contact PCBMay now for exemplary PCB products and services. Your Zero PCB is just the beginning!

Zero PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

PCBs are the heart and soul of every electrical product. They are in charge of electrical devices. Zero PCB is one of the most fundamental PCBs since it does not have any components attached.

Manufacturers choose these PCBs because they are effortless to deal with. Are you interested in learning more about Zero PCB? This is the ideal resource for you.

In this Zero PCB FAQ guide, we will cover every element of the product. And now, let us get down to business.

What Is Zero PCB?

Zero PCB is a general-purpose PCB, also termed DOT PCB. There are holes pre-drilled at specified intervals over the grid with 2.54mm spacing across gaps on a rigid copper sheet. Each hole is surrounded by a copper pad that is circular or square.

To avoid short-circuiting surrounding pads or other leads, it is necessary to put the component wire into the slot and solder the around pad. Using an appropriate conducting wire or fusing them, link the component’s lead to another component’s lead.

Zero PCBs are popular among enthusiasts, newbies, and students for rapid development and project work since they are inexpensive and easy to use.

Zero PCB

What Are Zero PCB Materials?

Zero PCB is a prototype material used for the construction of electrical circuits. An example is a thin, stiff sheet with pores pre-drilled at specified intervals throughout a grid. It is typically a square grid with 2.54 mm spacing between holes.

It is constructed from a pre-formed PCB board material with copper strips mounted on an insulating laminated paper board.

Around these holes are round or rectangular copper pads. A more affordable Zero PCB will likely just include pads along one side, whereas a higher-quality Zero PCB will probably have pads across both sides of the device (plated-through holes).

Because each pad is individually separated from the others, the builder must use wire wrap or micro point-to-point wiring methods to join them all together. Discrete components, like resistors, capacitance, and microchips, are connected with the prototype board during the assembly process.

It is common for the substrate to be constructed of paper bonded with phenolic resin or an epoxy composite with fiberglass reinforcement.

Zero PCB Materials

What Are The Two Types Of Zero PCB?

A Zero PCB is a handy platform for prototyping electrical circuits since it is small and lightweight. It is a fast and simple method of mounting and connecting leaded electrical components, so it is readily interchangeable for testing different combinations of the elements.

PCB is available from All Electronics in several layouts and sizes with slots on a 0.1″ grid to accommodate most standard components. In addition, we have specific boards with surface-mount components available.

Zero PCBs are available in two basic configurations: solderable and solderless. The solderable boards make it possible to make more permanent connections, making it more difficult to modify them.

One or both sides of solderable boards may have soldering dots on them, or the board may simply be a perforated board without any solder points.

Solderless boards allow you to connect parts by plugging them into the panel and connecting them using wire jumpers instead of soldering them together.

They usually incorporate inbuilt, +/- bus strips enabling power to any circuitry area and other features. Because the parts do not need to be soldered, changes may be made more quickly and easily, with less risk of harm to the elements.

Solderless Zero PCB

What Is The Difference Between Zero PCB And Regular PCB?

There is a substantial difference between a Zero PCB and a standard PCB that may go unnoticed. In this section of the article, we will look at some of them.

1. Copper clad

The copper cladding on a high-reliability PCB satisfies the quality requirements of IPC4101 ClassB/L. This is critical if you want greater control over the thickness of the dielectric layer.

Soldering the PCB’s components is made possible by coating the copper layers on the Zero PCB. The copper-clad are IPC certified.

2. Thickness

The typical PCB has a thickness of 0.78 mm. As a result of this innovation, the board’s capacity to withstand z-axis growth is improved.

Zero PCBs have a thickness of roughly 2mm, making them convenient to deal with.

3. Components

Conventional PCBs are made up of a variety of electrical components. Zero PCB, on the other hand, is devoid of any parts.

4. Short circuit

To prevent short circuits, manufacturers must design standard PCBs meticulously. A short circuit may be caused by a circuit board that is poorly constructed, and the device may not work as a result.

Zero PCB embeds the circuits randomly to assure the hardware’s ongoing operation. Thus, the risk of a short circuit is reduced.

Regular PCB

How Are Zero PCB Commercially Produced?

Zero PCB is a prototype medium for electrical circuitry (DOT PCB). Pre-drilled holes on a grid, generally 2.54 mm square, give it strength and durability.

Copper pads surround the holes. Cheaper Zero PCBs may only have pads on one side, whereas higher-quality Zero PCBs may have both (plated-through holes).

Using wire wrap or micro point-to-point wiring methods, the builder connects each electrically separated pad. Resistors, capacitors, and ICs are attached to the prototype board.

In most cases, the substrate is paper bonded with phenolic resin or epoxy layered with fiberglass (FR-4). In addition to DIP-packaged integrated circuits, the 0.1-inch grid system may accept a wide range of additional through-hole components.

PCB Manufacturing

What Are The Uses Of Zero PCB?

Easy soldering and corrosion prevention are the aims of the copper layer laminated into zero pcb. It is perfect for hobbyists, high school or college students, and engineers. Electronic projects make extensive use of this PCB.

They are frequently used in handheld gaming (e.g., Gameboy zero PCB), Zero delay PCB, Projects (e.g., Raspberry Pi zero PCB layout), Zero delay USB encoder PCB, etc.

Zero PCB Project

How To Solder A Zero PCB?

Soldering is an essential skill required to dabble with electronics. Since you learn about and create electronics without a soldering iron, you’ll quickly realize that this one critical skill opens up a whole new universe.

Getting the Right Soldering Tools

Metal components are heated to a solder melting point by the tip. Solder then melts as a result.

Solder Wick is soldering’s eraser. When dealing with the jumper, a solder wick is very helpful.

The copper absorbs solder, enabling you to “erase” excess solder. The Solder Vacuum is ideal for extracting solder from through-holes after desoldering.

How to Solder

The tip must be tinted. It aids in heat transfer and provides a base for solder flow. To “tin” solder tips, add a thin solder coating to their ends.

Step 1: Preheat the iron.

Preheat the soldering iron. Make sure it is hot enough before you start soldering it. If the soldering iron is new, it may be treated as a corrosion inhibitor.

Step 2: Make A Little Room

When it takes the soldering iron to heat up, create a small workspace for your work. Put a moist sponge in the stand’s base to prevent overheating.

Step 3: Soldering the tip

It is vital to cover the tip fully. Be prepared for a lot of solder dripping throughout this operation.

Step 4: Cleaning The Soldering Tip

Once the tip is fully covered with solder, clean it with a moist sponge to remove any flux residue. Do this quickly before the flux dries up and solidifies.

Step 5: Done!

Your soldering point is now tinned. Do this anytime you change or wash the iron’s tip.

Soldering Zero PCB

This video will enhance your notion of soldering Zero PCB.

How To Put SMD Parts On Zero PCB?

While you could use CAD and a laser printer to create your PCBs, sometimes you simply want to connect things up and be done. The best part is that conventional 0.1-inch PCBs can easily accommodate multiple SMD packages.

A-List of Necessities

Tools:

• A soldering iron
• Flux
• Tweezers
• Magnifier
• Knife
• Wire Shears

Soldering Tools

Parts:

As previously indicated, many SMD components will fit on standard Zero PCBs.

• TSOP
• SOT
• 603, 805 & 1206 chip-type components
• SMB
• PLCC
• Capacitors

Surface Mounted Through Holes

Grab the leads. The leads are fat towards the chip’s body, then rapidly cut away to narrow pins. Bend the chip at a 90-degree angle from the fat end to the thin end using pliers. Surface mount leads are now ready to solder.

Just bend the leads into an L shape and trim using cutters for other components.

Components soldering

In our opinion, it is best if you flux all pins and then apply solder to the board while the solder is still hot. It is then simple to solder the remaining leads. This method is utilized for all board pieces.

Capacitors

Because SMD electrolytic caps have lengthy leads, you have to be cautious where you place them.

Flux the leads and solder a pad before soldering. The leads protrude slightly over the body, allowing for a temporary solder junction. Move the component to the other side and heat the lead and the pad underneath it.

Chips

Chip components, like resistors, and diodes, are straightforward to solder in.  They are huge and usually line up across two or three holes.

PLCC

Many of the more extensive PLCC packages will lay on a PCB and have exposed leads on the edges of the microchip that may be soldered to. They fit perfectly on four pads and are ready to solder. Next, add some resistors and wire up the board.

What Is The Difference Between Zero PCB And General Purpose PCB?

A large number of individuals are perplexed by this subject. Is it better to use a general-purpose PCB or a zero PCB? This section will resolve any uncertainty you may be experiencing.

Zero PCB features holes for installing the component and hand soldering from the circuit traces.

General-purpose PCB is a previously printed board. A modest amount of soldering is necessary to insert the components in the proper locations once the circuit traces have been produced using chemicals.

General Purpose PCB

How To Design Zero PCB Layout?

Creating a circuit board might seem like a lengthy and complicated process. You will need the correct design software to build a circuit board using through-hole technology or a layout with vias, pads, and other signal integrity challenges.

Altium Designer’s user experience is enjoyable for both novice and seasoned PCB designers. It provides a simplified circuit board creative process inside a single unified PCB layout platform.

Step 1: Schematic

Whether starting from scratch or using a template, it is generally better to start with the schematic. Your schematic is analogous to the schematics for your new technology, and you must comprehend it.

Step 2: Design a Blank PCB

After creating your schematic, utilize Altium Designer’s schematic capture tool to insert parts into a new PCB layout.

Step 3: Sync Schematics to PCB

The schematic, PCB layout are all connected in Designer Software and may be viewed concurrently.

Step 4: PCB Stackup Design

When you import your schematic into PcbDoc, the component footprints appear alongside the board outline. Using Layer Stackup Manager, specify the PCB layout before putting components.

Step 5: Define PCB Design Guidelines and DFM Specifications

Some guidelines may not apply to all designs due to their complexity. Right-clicking on the rule in the PCB Rules will allow you to choose or deselect it.

Step 6: Arrange Parts

Designer software enables you to add parts to your PCB swiftly. Components may be placed automatically or manually.

Step 7: Drill Holes

You should drill pilot holes in your traces before routing them.

Step 8: Route Traces

After placing your components and mechanical pieces, you may start routing your traces.

Step 9: Identify and label

So, you have validated your circuit board layout and can add labels and other imagery. Add part references and identifiers to help with PCB assembly.

Step 10: Produce Design Outputs

Always do a design rule check on your PCB layout before creating manufacturer deliverables (DRC). Designer software automatically does this when you make and route your circuit, but a manual DRC is not a bad idea. If your board passes, you may distribute manufacturer deliverables.

Zero PCB Layout Design

What Is The Wiring Process Of A Zero PCB?

Delicate PCB assembly and error-free wiring result from rigorous layout preparation. Most board layouts come with grid paper or plain graph paper that may be used to build a components layout and wiring guide. Your components arrangement will closely resemble your project’s schematic design.

Of course, you will need to test-fit the parts on the board, considering the hole pattern and spacing.

You can learn a board’s layout and wiring by installing push-in terminals, IC sockets transistors, and power and common buses. Instead of bus strips, utilize a 20-gauge (or stronger) solid bare connecting wire.

For connectivity, use 28-gauge solid wire for tool-free handling. Whenever feasible, utilize bare wire, but if necessary, use insulated wire.

For off-board components, use 24 or 26 gauge insulated stranded connection wire. Pin 1 of every DIP IC should be labeled to prevent misunderstandings throughout your build. E-Z-Code self-adhesive pin numbering strips are even better.

Pencil Wiring

The wiring of PCB assemblies has been changed lately. Vector’s Model P173 wire pencil is meant for Zero board work.

The wiring pencil avoids the need to cut and strip wires. Pencil wiring allows you to link several terminals with a single wire much quicker than point-to-point wiring.

Wire Wrapping

This wiring allows for quick circuit adjustments by wrapping wires around terminals without soldering. 6-8 wrap posts with a square, razor-sharp wire is the standard covered link norm.

Zero PCB Wiring

At the beginning of the wrap, an extra one or two rounds of insulated wire are added to provide further anti-vibration protection.

What Are The Advantages Of Zero PCB?

Students in high school and college can utilize PCBs for their projects since they are ideal for prototyping, and you can purchase them in small quantities.

Zero PCBs are the ideal solution if you have not yet completed the design or are creating the circuit for a school or university project.

Using Zero PCB has the following advantages:

• Zero PCB board price is low compared to other types.
• Suitable for tiny circuit prototyping and testing
• Ideal for beginners in electronics
• Having a short design time
• It is possible to modify the circuit

How Much Current Can Zero PCB Handle?

PCB current load is measured using an IPC table or formula, but only straight traces. Nevertheless, dust or pollutant must be carefully considered during actual printed circuit manufacture or assembly to avoid damaged partial traces.

So, while designing rated current carrying capacity,  safety factors must be incorporated to prevent overloading.

The current capacity of a Zero PCB is governed by trace cross-sectional area and temperature increase. Another factor that affects the cross-sectional area of traces is the thickness of copper.

A 10 mil trace containing 1oz copper can tolerate a maximum current of 1 amp, while a 50 mil trace can survive currents greater than 1amp.

It is much more difficult. MIL-STD-275 states that a 50 mil-trace can withstand 2.6 amps.

PCB Current Measurement

What Are The Drawbacks Of Using Zero PCB?

We discussed the benefits of Zero PCBs previously in this article. However, there are several disadvantages to using PCBs. Let us highlight them.

• It cannot be mass-produced.
• Problems are hard to diagnose and fix
• Soldering expertise is necessary.
• Useless for sophisticated circuits.
• Customized PCBs need a significant amount of time and skill to manufacture.

PCB Mass Production

How To Test Zero PCBs?

When ordering printed circuit boards, you realize the cost of failure. If your PCBs suddenly fail, it would be disastrous for your financial situation.

Here’s a primer on PCB testing. This should help you prepare for manufacturer discussions:

1. In-Circuit Testing

It powers up and activates the specific circuits on the board. Most tests are meant for 100% coverage. However, you will obtain closer to 85-90 percent. More extensive connections and BGA are used for ICT.

2. Flying Probe Testing

Flying probe test is a less costly alternative to in-circuit testing.

The test uses needles and a sensor on an x-y matrix from fundamental CAD. Last but not least, this test does not power the board.

3. Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

AOI may help spot problems early and stop production quickly. It doesn’t power the PCB and may not cover all component kinds.

What Is The Easiest Way To Cut A Zero PCB?

The Zero boards are accessible at electronic parts shops and online. Multiple circuits may be created by purchasing bigger Zero PCBs and slicing them.

Cutting

1. Using a soft, non-abrasive cloth, cleaning the PCB removes loose dust and grime.
2. Raise the tabletop paper cutter’s blade.
3. Use a paper cutter or a table saw to cut a PCB with the copper line side facing outward.
4. Use the cutter to line the PCB with a guide to ensure that the board is plumb at all times.
5. Forcefully lower the cutting blade to cut the PCB. Turn on the table saw and pass the PCB through it.

PCB Cutting

Sanding

6. Remove the sliced PCB from the table saw or paper cutter. Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe the cut edge of the board.
7. Use 200-grit sandpaper to sand the cut edge. Sand to a fine edge
8. Scrub the PCB with the scrubbing pad to eliminate any debris and oxidation.
9. Rinse the PCB with a moist towel or rag. With a paper towel, dry the PCB.

This video shows the perfect way to cut your PCB.

How To Find The Best Zero PCB Manufacturer?

PCB manufacture is economical, and there is enough capacity for new boards globally. Finding a manufacturer for your endeavor might be tricky.

Fabricators and assemblers vary in service levels, competencies, and access to procedures and materials. You can choose your project’s manufacturing partner from a wide range of alternatives available.

• Do they assemble PCBs?
• Size Limit
• Regulatory Certifications
• PCB Materials they use
• Reviewers’ comments

PCB Manufacturer

Conclusion

Zero PCB is a kind of PCB that is commonly utilized in the electrical industry. They are inexpensive and simple to use.

We made every effort to cover every element of Zero PCB in our FAQ guide. We think this will clear up a lot of misconceptions. If you have any queries about Zero PCB, please let us know, and we will do our best to answer them.