Technology in this day and age is quite impressive. When you consider the leaps and bounds that have been made in that industry, in such a relatively short amount of time, it is hard not to think that we are living in a futuristic, science fiction version of a creative imagination that dreamed outlandish and otherworldly possibilities once upon a time. The old joke of how hard past generations had it can be seen as pretty reasonable when you think of what can now be done so efficiently and effortlessly, where there was once a bit of hassle or even arduous work that went into certain tasks.

The way it once was

You will often hear talk of simpler times, or old timers (and not so old) speaking of back in the day. But as complex as much of today’s technology is, it truly has made many everyday tasks much easier. And there are even actions that were once impossible or difficult that have become integrated into things that can now easily be everyday tasks, such as accessing virtually any tidbit of information at the touch of a button or screen, or chatting with someone halfway across the world. And while so much of what we do, see, and experience today seems so simply accessible because of this technology, there really is an entire world of complex systems that make it all possible. Just one small example of this would be the process of creating a printed circuit board prototype, and the functionality that results.

The versatility of printed circuit board prototypes

Printed circuit board prototypes, or PCB prototypes, provide the foundation for mass PCB production if necessary, or help to showcase the functionality of a specific printed circuit board to test and approve before final production and use. Prototype circuit boards are essential, because of the multitudinous intricacies that go into them. A prototype PCB manufacturer should work out any kinks before final production, as there are any number of things that could go wrong, resulting in a faulty end product that does not function in the way that it is meant to. These types of failures are generally deemed to be the result of one of two problems.

The first problem has to do with problems with performance due to environmental stresses, and the second possible issue is a result of problems during the production process, and a hiccup somewhere along the way by the manufacturer. Quality prototype PCB assembly will be thorough and careful, sometimes taking a bit of time. But the time that is spent perfecting the prototype can often diminish the production process for the final product.

Printed circuit boards are everywhere. Over the course of the last 30 years, PCB assemblies have found their way into the design stages and operation of many of the traffic lights and systems throughout the North American continent. Worldwide, the estimated projection for the PCB market is that it will reach over $72 billion by the year 2022. We truly do live in the future.