PWB

Printed Wiring Board; same as PCB.

Pull_Strength

See Bond Strength.

PTH

Plated through-holes. Plating the holes on their internal wall.

Production_Master

A 1 to 1 (1:1) scale pattern which is used to produce one or more printed boards (rigid or flexible) within the accuracy specified on the master drawing.

Process_Indicator

A detectable anomaly, other than a defect, that is reflective of material, equipment, process and/or workmanship variations.

Probing_Systems

Equipment for making electrical contact between the bare PCB, components or assemblies and the continuity tester. Probling devices range from manual units for low volumes to computer-controlled systems.

Printed_Wiring

A conductive pattern within or bonded to the surface of a base material intended for point-to-point connection of separate components and not containing printed components.

Printed_Wiring_Layout

A sketch that depicts the printed wiring substrate, the physical size and location of electronic and mechanical components, and the routing of conductors that electrically interconnect components, in sufficient details to allow the preparation of documentation and artwork.

Printed_Wiring_Board

See Printed Board.

Printed_Wiring_Assembly_Drawing

A document that shows the printed board (rigid or flexible), the separately manufactured components which are to be added to the board, and any other information necessary to describe the joining of these parts to perform a specific function

Printed_Contact

A portion of conductive pattern formed by printing, serving as one part of a contact system.

Printed_Component

A component part, such as an inductor, resistor, capacitor, or transmission line, which is formed as part of the conductive pattern of the printed board.

Printed_Circuit

Circuit where the interconnections between components, terminals, sub-insulating board

Printed_Circuit_Assembly

A printed circuit board to which discrete components; hardware, and other electronic devices have been attached to form a complete operating unit.

Printed_Board

The general term for completely processed printed circuit or printed wiring configuration. It includes signle, double, and multi-layer boards, both rigid and flexible.

Printed_Board_Assembly

A printed board with electrical or mechanical components, other printed boards, or a combination of there, attached to it with all manufacturing processes, soldering, coating, etc. Completed.

Primer

A coating applied before the application of an adhesive to improve the bond.

Press_fit_Contact

An electrical pin contact which can be pressed into a hold in a printed board to make immediate contact.

Prepreg

Sheet material consisting of the base material impregnated with a synthetic resin, such as epoxy or polymide, partially cured to the B-stage.

Pre_heat

The process portion of the re-flow heat curve in which the PCB is heated from ambient at a pre-set rate and prior to full liquidus at the solder joint areas.

Positive_acting_Resist

A resist which is decomposed (softened) by light and which, after exposure and development, is removed from those areas which were under the transparent parts of a production master.

Positive_(noun)

An artwork, artwork master, or production master in which the intended conductive pattern is opaque to light, and the areas intended to be free from conductive material are transparent.

Populated_PCB

A printed board on to which all passive and active components have been assembled. Synonyms: printed board assembly (PBA), card, assembled board.

Polyimide

(kapton) Higher melting point plastic film used as base for flexible portions of flexi-rigid boards as well as for many flexible circuits.

Polyimide_Resins

High temperature thermoplastics used with glass to produce printed circuit laminates from multi-layer and other circuit applications requiring high temperature performance.

Polyester

(mylar) low melting point plastic film used for cheap flexible circuits.

Plotting

The practice of mechanically converting X - Y position information into a visual pattern, such as artwork.

Plating

A uniform coating of conductive metal upon the base material of the printed circuit board.

Plating_Up

The process consisting of the electrochemical deposition of a conductive material on the base material (surface holes, etc.) after the base material has been made conductive.

Polarization

A technique of eliminating symmetry within a plane so that parts can be engaged in only one way in order to minimize the possibility of electrical and mechanical damage or malfunction.

Poise

A centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to that of a fluid requiring a shearing force of one dyne to move from a square centimeter area which a velocity of one centimeter per second (cps).

Plating_Resists

Materials which, when deposited on conductive areas, prevent the plating of the covered areas. Resists are available both as screened-on materials and as dry-film photopolymer resists.

Plating_Bar

The temporary conductive path interconnecting areas of a printed board to be electroplated, usually located on the panel outside the borders of such a board.

Plated_Through_hole

A hole with the deposition of metal (usually copper) on its sides to provide electrical connections between internal or external conductive patterns.

Plate_Finish

Pertaining to Laminating. The finish present on the metallic surface of metal clad base material resulting from direct contact with the laminating press plates without modification by any subsequent finishing process.

Pitting

Small holes or sharp edges on the surface of a solder joint generally caused by flux entrapment, oxidation or over-heating.

Pit

A depression in the conductive layer that does not penetrate entirely through it.

Pink_Ring

Chemically-induced fracturing or de-lamination on or below the surface of the base material; it is usually exhibited by a light area around holes, other etched areas or both.

Pinholes

Small imperfection which penetrate entirely through the conductor and/or solder.

Pinhole

A minute hole through a layer of pattern.

Pin

A terminal on a component. A component lead that is not readily formable without being damaged.

Pin_Density

The quantity of pins on a printed board per unit area.

Pilot_Hole

See Locating Hole.

PIH_Assembly

Pin-in-hole a printed board assembly made up of components with leads which pass through holes in the board and lands. Synonyms: traditional assembly, conventional assembly.

Pick_and_place_Machine

A programmable machine usually with a robot arm for picking components from a feeder. It moves the part for placement and/or insertion to a specific site on the board.

Physical_Layer

A conductive board layer or artwork image representing a complete conductive layer.

Photoplotter

A plotter that writes using light.

Photopolymer

A polymer that changes characteristics when exposed to light of a specific frequency.

Photomaster

See Artwork Master.

Permanent_Mask

A resist which is not removed after processing, e.g., plating resist used in the fully-additive process.

Peel_Strength

The force per unit width required to peel the conductor or foil from the base material.

PEC

Printed Electronic Component.

PCB

Printed Circuit Board.

Pattern

The configuration of all conductive and/or non-conductive areas on a PCB. Letters and inscription may also be included. Pattern also denotes the circuit configuration on related tools, drawing and masters. Synonym: image

Pattern_Plating

Selective plating of a conducive pattern.

Parylene

A polymer resin (Polyparaxylense) that provides a thin, uniform coating on PCBs and components. It can be applied via vacuum for deposition on sharp edges and complex shapes.

Panel_Plating

The plating of the entire surface of a panel (including holes).

Panel

The base material containing one or more circuit patterns that passes successively through the production sequence and from which printed circuit boards are extracted. See Backplanes/Backpanels.

Pad

A portion of the conductive area of which components, terminals, traces, etc., are mechanically attached.(Also called land).

Packaging_Density

Quantity of functions (components, interconnection devices, mechanical devices) per unit volume, usually expressed in qualitative terms, such as high, medium, or low.