high-power PCBA module made by PCBONLINE
When designing or analyzing an electronic product, two terms, PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) and module, often appear together. They may seem similar, but they refer to different levels of integration within an electronic system. Let's clarify how they differ and where they overlap.
1. What Is a PCBA?
A PCBA is a circuit board populated with all required electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, ICs, and connectors, through surface-mount or through-hole assembly.
Once a bare PCB has been assembled, it becomes a PCBA, ready to perform the electronic functions for which it was designed.
A PCBA is the core electrical building block inside electronic devices. It focuses on electrical circuit design, component placement, soldering quality, signal integrity, and power distribution.
A PCBA needs to be integrated into an enclosure or a larger system, such as a smart speaker, router, or automotive electronic control unit.
2. What Is a Module?
A module is a functional unit designed to perform functions or tasks, built around one or more PCBAs. They include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, camera modules, GPS modules, power supply modules, etc.
Modules are self-contained and have interfaces (pins, connectors, or wireless interfaces) to integrate into other systems.
Unlike a PCBA, a module is not just a circuit but a complete subsystem that can be operated independently, with its own firmware, shielding, and connectors.
3. Differences between PCBA and Module
S PCBA is a circuit-level component that makes the electronics work, and a module is a functional unit that makes the product smart, connected, or interactive.
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Aspect
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PCBA
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Module
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Definition
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A printed circuit board with mounted components
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A functional subsystem built around one or more PCBAs
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Functionality
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Performs part of a system's electrical function
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Provides a complete, standalone function
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Level of integration
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Electrical level
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System or functional level
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Form factor
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A circuit board populated with components
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Enclosed or shielded, with interfaces
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Reusability
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Custom-designed for a specific product
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Designed for multiple applications
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Example
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Smartphone main board
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Industrial camera module
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A module may contain one or several PCBAs, but not every PCBA qualifies as a module. That's why the answer to "Is a PCBA a module?" is not really: a PCBA is the foundation, while a module is the functional outcome.
Examples of Our PCBA and Module Projects
As an OEM PCB manufacturer with more than 20 years of experience, PCBONLINE provides one-stop PCBA and module manufacturing from prototypes to mass production. You can partner with us for turnkey services of your custom PCBA and module projects. Below, you can find out 9 examples of the PCBA and projects made by us.
Project 1. Cloud Server OEM PCBA
Our PCBA service includes:
- 12-layer HDI back-drilled PCBs
- Purchase of components and metal enclosures
- One-stop box-build assembly
- Software burn-in and functional testing
- IPC-A-610 Class 3 industrial-grade quality standard
We reduce procurement costs for our client by 26% via supply chain optimization, with installment payment support.
Project 2. Automotive Navigation Module
Our OEM module service details:
- 6-layer HDI PCBs
- Procurement of components
- Turnkey PCB assembly
- Software burn-in and functional testing
- IPC-A-610 Class 3 automotive-grade quality standard
- FPGA welding voiding rate < 13%.
We provide free DFM and passive component replacement, significantly reducing mass production costs and increasing efficiency by 21%.
Project 3. Car central control unit one-stop PCBA
Our OEM PCBA service details:
- 8-layer HDI PCBs
- Procurement of components
- Turnkey PCB assembly
- Software burn-in and functional testing
- IPC-A-610 Class 3 automotive-grade quality standard
Our rich electronics manufacturing experience offers improved shock resistance of the PCBA, with optimized thermal management technology ensuring rapid cooling of high-heat processors and power components, enhancing the overall performance of the PCBA.
Project 4. Industrial control motherboard one-stop PCBA
Our OEM PCBA service includes:
- 10-layer HDI PCBs
- Procurement of components
- Turnkey PCB assembly
- Software burn-in and functional testing
- IPC-A-610 Class 3 automotive-grade quality standard
We offer free DFM includes PCB impedance control optimization, concentrated placement of computational chips and power management chips to improve heat dissipation, and using shielding to reduce EMI interference.
Project 5. Current transformer motherboard one-stop PCBA for EV charging
Our OEM PCBA service includes:
- 6/4/4/6 oz thick-copper PCBs,
- 70% of components and aluminum heat sinks are procured by PCBONLINE,
- IPC-A-610 Class 3 standards
Customized copper busbars enhance the PCB's high-current capacity. Our optimal heat dissipation design, large-area PTH assembly, mature solutions, and experience bring success to our high-current PCBA production.
Project 6. AI camera ODM PCBA
Our AI camera PCBA project features:
- Recognition Accuracy > 95%
- Resolution: 720p / 1080p
- Refresh rate > 20fps
- Behavior recognition < 1s
- Power consumption < 3W
- Computational power: 4 TOPS NPU, DSP, CortexA53@1.2GHz
Our AI camera modules can be used in these application scenarios:
- Riding behavior recognition,
- Pavement riding,
- Red light running detection,
- Wrong direction riding
PCBONLINE independently develops this AI camera module for our client, which is suitable for industrial applications. If you are interested, please contact us to get the product manual and pricing support.
Project 7. CCS (cell connection system) module
Our OEM service includes:
- From design to mass production
- Free design of CCS structure and hardware,
- CCS solutions based on battery pack structure,
- Technical consulting for BMS system compatibility,
- From prototype to mass production,
- Automotive-grade quality acceptance standards
We offer free technical support (including battery pack technology). Based on the product characteristics, we can provide a solution, including cost analysis, R&D, sample, small-batch production, BMS, etc.
Project 8. IoT lighting control motherboard one-stop PCBA
Our OEM PCBA service details:
- 95% of the components are procured by PCBONLINE,
- Fixture/jig design,
- Software burn-in and aging testing,
- One-stop PCB and PCBA
This project features:
- Using Chinese communication modules reduces costs by 16% while maintaining performance.
- Installment payment support,
- Scheduled and timely delivery,
- Helping the customer simplify their supply chain process and save on inventory management costs.
Project 9. Smart projector ODM
Our OEM device service details:
- From R&D to mass production
- Structure design,
- Hardware and software design,
- Mold and plastic enclosures (outsourced),
- User interface software development,
- From prototype to mass production,
- Industrial-grade quality acceptance standards
This project features:
- Intellectual property belongs to the client,
- Refunding the R&D fees once the order reaches the agreed quantity,
- Refunding the R&D fees once the order reaches the agreed quantity,
- Selecting the most cost-effective MCU to save the customer's costs,
- Designing the enclosure according to the customer's requirements while minimizing the mold production fees.
Partner with PCBONLINE for Turnkey PCBA
Since the foundation in 2005, PCBONLINE has been committed to turnkey OEM PCBA. We focus on PCBA manufacturing from prototypes to mass production. We can also provide box-build assembly to the PCBA a module and the final device.
Our turnkey OEM PCBA services offer:
- Turnkey PCBA manufacturing: From PCB prototypes and testing to mass PCBA and box-build assembly, our PCB assembly services are custom and one-stop.
- Complete procurement: We source and customize enclosures, cables, and accessories from reliable suppliers.
- Engineering support: We check enclosure and accessory designs for compatibility with your PCBA and can suggest design changes.
- Free DFM/DFT: We provide free Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT) checks to ensure that designs are optimized for a smooth production process.
- Quality assurance: IPC-A-610 Class 2/3, automotive-grade or industrial-grade inspection standards.
- Turnkey delivery: From PCB fabrication to final product packaging and shipping.
PCBONLINE manufactures, assembles, and tests PCBs and PCBAs to box builds as a source factory manufacturer under one roof, from prototypes to bulky production, saving costs and time for you.
We have powerful manufacturing strength for advanced PCBs and high-end assemblies, such as HDI PCBs, high-frequency PCBs, ceramic PCBs, waterproof sealing, and 01005 fine-pitch assembly.
We can precisely control reflow/wave oven temperatures, design PCBA fixtures, and help create user manuals, installation guides, and compliance labels.
Our high-quality PCBA contract manufacturing is certified with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, RoHS, REACH, UL, and IPC-A-610 Class 2/3.
Our one-on-one free and professional DFM helps you debug and improve design, to ensure the manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and final device success.
Whether you need turnkey OEM PCB assembly for server automatic transfer switches, AI hardware, IoT devices, medical-grade products, or automotive modules, we can deliver the PCBAs and modules of high quality and in time, meeting any of your project requirements. To get a quote for your PCBA or custom module project, email us at info@pcbonline.com.
Conclusion
A PCBA is a circuit-level assembly without the enclosure, while a module is a functional unit that may contain more than one PCBA and the enclosure. With more than 20 years of electronic manufacturing experience in turnkey OEM PCBA, we are ready to check your Gerber and provide turnkey services for your server ATS project. Contact PCBONLINE today!
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