A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. In PCB and assembly manufacturing, customers always require printed or laser barcodes on printed circuit boards. MADPCB uses CO2 laser to burn through the solder mask, or uses auto silkscreen printer to print silk-screened barcodes on printed circuit boards.
The printed circuit board (PCB) is the output of your design and technology, and therefore important to a device’s operation. When considering how to protect the PCB, barcode labels come into play, enabling automatic identification.
Barecodes in manufacturing includes:
- When and where the board was made (date code, manufacturer’s logo)
- Serial number
- Fabrication part number
- Batch number
- UL 94V-0, lead-free assembly and etc.
This information helps track the PCB from the bare board to the completed unit, so you have real-time data on inventory, work-in-progress, and other essential information that improves your operational efficiency.
While electronic equipment manufacturers appreciate the value of automated data collection, the challenge has been finding the right barcode label and label printer for printed circuit boards. PCB barcodes need to be scannable, even at a tiny size, and they must withstand heat and chemicals without shrinking, curling up, or falling off. With solder temps rising to 550°F, the choice of printer, label material and adhesive is critical.
Barcode technologies also add value to manufacturing processes. The ability to tie large amounts of data to an object via a small code or chip allows for greater accuracy in the manufacturing process and efficiencies in tracking inventory. You might see a barcode or two on the box for your new laptop or tablet, but there were likely many barcodes that successfully got your product from parts to product. Here are a few ways that barcodes contribute to manufacturing processes. Linear barcodes have been joined by 2D barcodes, RFID chips and Near Field Communication (NFC) tags.