As PCB manufacturing continues to progress, traditional silkscreen printing methods are becoming less effective in meeting the growing demand for visually enhanced and highly detailed circuit boards. Silkscreen printing, while widely used for labeling and marking, is often limited in color precision, resolution, and customization options. Recognizing these challenges, PCBWay, a leader in PCB fabrication, has introduced advanced UV printing technology as a superior alternative.
Unlike silkscreen printing, which relies on ink pushed through a stencil, UV printing uses UV-curable inks and LED curing technology to produce high-resolution, multi-color images directly onto PCB surfaces. This method not only enhances the clarity and vibrancy of printed designs but also provides greater durability, ensuring resistance to fading, smudging, and environmental factors. Additionally, UV printing supports complex graphics, gradients, and fine details, making it ideal for customers seeking custom branding, aesthetic appeal, and precision labeling on their circuit boards.
With this innovation, PCBWay now offers high-quality color printing on a variety of PCB substrates, including fiberglass, metal, ceramic, flexible, and rigid-flex boards, ensuring both functional reliability and exceptional visual appeal
About PCBWay:
PCBWay is a well-established name in the PCB industry, known for delivering high-quality PCB fabrication, assembly, and prototyping services. With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, PCBWay continuously enhances its manufacturing capabilities, offering advanced solutions like multilayer PCBs, flexible circuits, rapid prototyping, and now, color PCB printing with UV technology.
Benefits of using UV Printing for PCBs:
Unlike conventional silkscreen printing, UV printing utilizes UV-curable inks, which provide superior durability and aesthetic quality. This technology offers numerous benefits:
- High-Precision Image Printing: Professional-grade UV printers ensure accurate and vivid color representation on PCB surfaces.
- Instant Drying Process: Utilizing UV-LED lamp curing, the ink dries immediately, boosting production efficiency.
- Enhanced Durability: The printed graphics remain firm and clear, resistant to fading or smudging.
- Eco-Friendly Production: Unlike traditional methods, UV printing does not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring a safer working environment.
- Customization Options: Offers multi-color printing to meet personalized customer needs.
- Survives SMT Reflow: The printed layers can withstand surface mount technology (SMT) reflow processes.
- Water Resistance: UV printed surfaces are water-resistant and can be cleaned with water without affecting the print quality.
- Alcohol Exposure: While cleaning with alcohol can be challenging after baking the board, prolonged exposure to alcohol and vigorous scrubbing may lead to the removal of UV ink, depending on the material of the surface.
- Scratch Resistance: UV printed surfaces offer moderate scratch resistance. However, compared to a solder mask, the UV ink is a thinner layer and may not be as durable in high-wear environments.
Prerequisites for Ordering UV Printing Services
To ensure optimal printing results, PCBWay has outlined the following specifications:
- Maximum PCB Size: 270*470MM per piece.
- Solder Mask Requirement: Customers must choose a background solder mask color.
Design Specifications
For precise and high-quality printing, customers should follow these design rules:
- Ensure Compliance with PCB Design Standards: Drill holes, traces, solder masks, and outline designs must adhere to specifications.
- Avoid Colored Characters on Solder Mask Openings: Refrain from placing colored text on surface-mount or through-hole pads.
- File Submission Guidelines:
- Method One (Recommended): Design colored characters on the silkscreen layer in the Gerber file and provide a reference image.
Method Two: If using colored silkscreen information in the Gerber file, each color should be placed on a separate layer. However, if only one layer is available, only one color can be printed.
- Supported File Formats: Customers should submit images in AI, PDF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc., and indicate the desired printing location.
- QR Code Printing: Ensure that any QR code provided is scannable and accurately readable.
Important Notes for UV Printing
- Default Matte UV Printing: If multi-color UV printing is selected, matte UV printing is applied by default.
- Designing Bottom-Layer Characters: Avoid mirrored inversions, as color printing differs from standard silkscreen printing.
- Full-Color Printing Adjustment: If the entire top or bottom surface requires full-color printing, PCBWay will apply a white solder mask before printing to ensure optimal quality.
- File Upload Requirements: Users must compress and upload the print image, positioning image, and Gerber file together.
Matte UV vs. Glossy UV Printing
| Feature | Matte UV Color Printing | Glossy UV Color Printing |
| Surface Thickness | No significant thickness increase | Slightly increases PCB thickness |
| Appearance | Smooth, refined finish | Beautiful but slightly uneven |
| Impact on Soldering | No interference | Can affect component pad soldering |
Experience the Future of PCB Printing with PCBWay
With its cutting-edge UV printing capabilities, PCBWay is revolutionizing PCB aesthetics while maintaining high-quality, durable, and eco-friendly production methods. Whether you need branding, high-resolution images, or multi-color labels, this advanced technology provides unparalleled precision and flexibility.
Try PCBWay’s UV printing today and elevate your PCB designs with vibrant, high-resolution color printing! PCBWay continues to enhance its manufacturing capabilities, ensuring more choices and personalized services for customers worldwide.
