The evolution of printed circuits

Now in the 21st century, it is impossible to imagine the world without printed circuits. We can find them in almost every electronic device: computers, smartphones, TV sets or radios. The circuit board is responsible for connecting the individual components and ensures electrical contact of the mounted components. It is worth mentioning that printed circuits are already 100 years old! How have these systems changed over the years?

First steps in the PCB and electromechanical industry

Already in the 1920s, the first makeshift printed circuits were created. The appearance of them was mostly dictated by military needs. After the First World War, a better way of assembling electrical components was sought for. The first PCB circuits were made then mostly on wood. This brought a huge breakthrough in many areas, including telecommunications. The first printed circuits quickly found application in turntables, radios and radio stations.

Rapid development of printed circuits in the 1950s and 1960s

The first versions of "printed circuits" were inefficient and extremely defective due to the dense wiring that caused many problems. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed a rapid development of PCB circuits. The first double-sided tiles appeared. One was assembled with individual elements, and the other with copper paths for electrical connection. The first system was created, which was photographed, then transferred to a zinc plate, from which it was then duplicated to subsequent plates, thus enabling mass production.

Already at the end of the 1960s, the first technologies appeared that allowed for gradual automation of printed circuit production. Better and better materials were also used, which allowed greater chemical and mechanical resistance. In the 70s we can observe the process of miniaturization of tiles to ever-smaller sizes.

Modern and durable circuits at the end of the 20th century

In the following years, miniaturization of the plates progressed, thanks to which popular electronic equipment was also systematically becoming smaller. Miniaturization of PCB circuits allowed to reduce the size of devices. In the 1990s, tile production began to be computer-assisted. This enabled the creation of very advanced circuits with microscopic circuits in them. This led to the design of modern circuits that we use to this day. We currently use copper plates coated with special paint in screen printing.

Automated circuit production

It is also worth saying a few words about the development of production. In the 21st century, ultra-modern SMT lines were created, which made it possible to produce up to several thousand complex tiles in one hour. Nowadays even the smallest formats invisible to the human eye are supported. In this way, the production of PCBs has become much faster and cheaper. At the same time, we can count on circuits characterized by reliable operation and the highest quality of performance.