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One Way Circuits Ltd are a PCB manufacturer that go the extra mile to supply the very best quality whilst offering exceptional service. Our philosophy is to focus on great customer service, so that you don’t need to look anywhere else for a PCB manufacturer and supplier. We believe in working alongside each and every customer and really listening to their requirements, no matter how demanding, time-sensitive or specific.
We are able to bring our substantial history, experience and expertise to every project we work on, helping customers to identify quicker, easier, more reliable and often more cost-effective ways of approaching PCB design. Click on the link to find out more about us, and to discover the difference with One Way Circuits. Remember – all PCB manufacturers are not the same – there really is only One Way.
Our Front End department plays a key role in our service. Upon receiving the customer order from the Sales department, our expert engineers undertake a full and detailed review of the customer’s data, checking that there are no design errors and that the unit can be manufactured in our facilities. We utilise an extremely comprehensive CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) package to move the data onto a manufacturing panel. The data is then stepped correctly and drill and rout files are produced. Then it’s on to our dark room for film processing, using a laser photo-plotter, and developing. We can work with many varied formats of data, so do please contact us for details.
Using data sent from our Front End department, skilled operatives in our Drilling department drill panels to customer requirements. As with all our services, we are sticklers for precision and accuracy, so we start off with a test panel to make sure that everything is correct and that the appropriate drills are used. We can drill holes ranging in size from 0.3mm to 6.4mm. Anything larger than this would be routed. We can undertake runs of all sizes, using our multi-spindle machines for larger quantity runs. Currently we have 22 drilling spindles, with 16 of these also having routing capability.
The Graphole Line is a process by which we are able to insert a small amount of graphite down the holes of panels. This process is undertaken when a connection is required between the top and bottom layers of the panel, ie Pth and multi-layer. Panels are totally immersed in graphite and emerge from the graphite chamber with a thin coating of graphite all over. After baking the solution on to the panel, we remove the graphite from the surface of the panel, leaving only the graphite down the holes. Typical of our attention to detail, we continuously analyse the chemicals to ensure that the line is running accurately at all times.
Our meticulous photo etching process begins with a light surface clean of the required panels, which are then laminated with ultra-violet light sensitive dry film. Film produced by our Front End department is then aligned onto the panels. In the Exposure unit, ultra-light UV lights expose the image onto the dry film. The dry film is then washed away, leaving only the artwork on the panels. Great care is taken by our photo etching operatives to ensure a quality impression of the artwork supplied.
We utilise large copper tanks to plate the appropriate amount of copper onto the surface of panels, as well as down the holes. Using an electrolytic process, we first place panels onto jigs and then into the plating solution. An electric current is then passed through the jigs onto the panels. Varying the current enables us to choose the amount of negative copper solution placed on the boards. We calculate the required amount of current according to the amount of copper area to be plated, thus ensuring that we achieve the appropriate thickness. Knowing that it is important to have the correct thickness, we always aim to plate between 25 to 35 microns.
The first step in our etching process is to remove the dry film laminate from the required panels, using a process called ‘film strip’. Panels are then passed through the Etcher, where the exposed copper is chemically removed. Once this is complete only the copper track is left on the panels. As always, we aim for perfection, so when complete the panels are visually checked by one of our qualified inspectors.
Our Solder Resist process begins with scrubbing the panels in a machine which uses fine brushes to clean both sides of the panel. Panels are then put through the Curtain Coater. The Curtain Coater utilises a ‘curtain’ of ink. Panels pass through this curtain and then into the IR (Infra-Red) oven, in which they are partially cured. Next, we take solder resist artwork that has been provided by our Front End department and expose the boards again. Thus the image of the solder resist pattern appears on the panels. The final step in this process involves baking the panels at approximately 150˚ for 50 minutes. Care is taken throughout the process to ensure a quality product.
First of all, we pass the panel through the flux machine, cleaning the exposed copper and leaving behind a layer of flux, which facilitates the adherence of tin lead to the copper. The next step is to insert the panel into a tank of melted tin-lead in the Solder Leveller machine. We make sure that all the exposed copper is completely covered. When that is achieved the panel is removed at a set speed. At that point, we pass compressed air over the panel to remove excess tin-lead, aiming for a finish of 10 to 15 microns. The last stage is to put the panel through a washer system, removing any excess flux. As ever, we pay attention to detail at all times, to achieve the best results.
You let us know the legends you require on a panel and we will then make up a screen from the art work provided by our Front End Department. Then, on the screening table, ink that is specifically designed for screening is applied through the screen mesh onto the panel. The most commonly used ink is white, but inks are available in any colour. Finally, the ink is baked onto the panel in an ultra violet curing machine, providing you with a panel printed with any legend of your choice.
Comprehensive and precise testing and inspection of boards is of critical importance, so we place great emphasis on doing everything possible to make sure that our customers’ boards meet the highest standards. During the course of the inspection process, each board is checked by one of our expert qualified inspectors at least three times. We then move on to electronic testing, using one of our Bare Board Testing (BBT) machines. All this means you can be assured that any faulty boards are detected.
Our profiling service produces boards of exactly the size and shape you require. Our Front End department gives us the data required and then small cutting tools are used to move along the profile and produce the requested configuration. Further, we have the facility to score panels, so can produce boards with a scored panel, enabling them to be easily snapped out after assembly.
Whether you are after fast track prototypes or volume production, we can handle the job effectively. We offer Surface Mount Technology (SMT) PCB assembly, carried out either by hand or using our fully automated Essemtec FLX2010c SMTY machine. This efficient machine utilises quick-change intelligent feeders and can handle components from 0402 resistors through to fine pitch devices. We handle the whole assembly process. You just need to provide us with your design and we will take it through procurement, PCB sourcing, contract assembly, testing, packaging and despatch. You can be sure of an efficient and comprehensive assembly service from One Way Circuits Ltd.
Info
| Registration Number: | 02438188 |
| VAT Number: | n/a |
| Registered at Companies House: | 31 October, 1989 (34 years and 5 months ago) |
| No of Employees: | n/a |
| Annual Turnover: | n/a |
| Importers: | |
| Exporters: |
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