Practical Components now supplies AIM's print test board and kit

Practical Components and AIM have announced a new print test board.

Practical Components now supplies the AIM print test board and kit that was designed to include many printing challenges commonly encountered on manufacturers' assemblies.

In addition to BGA and microBGA pads, both have circular and square pad designs to test paste release. AIM has included the standard IPC slump test pattern in order to further challenge the properties of any product tested thereon. This print pattern is more "real life" and can more accurately predict slump since individual pads are used as opposed to one pad that is common in the "thermometer" method. There is a number on the board indicating the distances between pads, ensuring that a hard number can be used for paste evaluations.
 
Common pad sizes were incorporated into the layout including 1206, 0805, 0402 and 0201 rectangular pads for discrete components. These pads have varying distances between them, allowing users to determine paste solder beading. Four 250 x 250 mil pads are available for use with various aperture styles to allow for wetting tests. There are also several fine-pitch QFP pads designed to check for the propensity of any given product to cause bridging, and to confirm the existence of torn prints, peaking (dog ears) or bridging.
 
Board material is FR4 170Tg with a standard ImAg finish. Digitized Gerber files are provided by Aegis Software at no charge. Additionally, the kit is available with lead-free components. Practical Components Inc. has strong working relationships with leading industry suppliers and is able to supply cutting edge products such as this because of these relationships.