What's the difference between PCB and PCBA

PCB is the abbreviation of Printed Circuit Board. Because it is made by electronic printing, it is called "printing" circuit board. PCB is an important electronic component in the electronics industry, a support for electronic components, and a carrier for electrical connection of electronic components. PCB has been widely used in the manufacture of electronic products, and its unique features are summarized as follows:

1. High wiring density, small size and light weight, which is conducive to miniaturization of electronic equipment.
2. Due to the repeatability and consistency of the graphics, reducing wiring and assembly errors, saving equipment maintenance, debugging and inspection time.
3. Conducive to mechanization and automated production, increasing labor productivity and reducing the cost of electronic equipment.
4. The design can be standardized, which is conducive to interchange.

PCBA is the abbreviation of Printed Circuit Board +Assembly, which means that PCBA is the whole process of passing the bare PCB through SMT and DIP.
Note: Both SMT and DIP are ways to integrate parts on the PCB. The main difference is that SMT does not need to drill holes in the PCB. In DIP, the pins of the part needs to be inserted into the drilled hole.

SMT (Surface Mounted Technology) surface mount technology, mainly using the assembly machine to mount some micro-miniature parts on the PCB, the production process is: PCB board positioning, printing solder paste, assembly machine placement, reflow soldering and finished inspection.

DIP is a "plug-in", which is to insert parts on the PCB, which are integrated parts in the form of plug-in that are large in size and not suitable for placement technology. Its main production processes are: adhesive backing, inserts, inspection, wave soldering, brushing and inspection.

From the above introduction, it can be known that PCBA refers to a processing flow, which can also be understood as a finished circuit board, The PCB refers to an empty printed circuit board with no parts on it.

In general: PCBA is a finished board; PCB is a bare board.