| A PCB (printed circuit board) mechanically supports | | | | Circuit boards consist of an insulator which consists of |
| electronic parts that are electrically connected with | | | | one or numerous layers of material glued into a single |
| the help of conductive pathways, traces etched from | | | | entity. The additional layers serve as grounding to the |
| copper sheets which are laminated onto a | | | | board. The copper traces on the circuit board are |
| non-conductive substrate. Much of the electronic | | | | either created by laying down individual lines |
| industry's assembly, PCB design and quality control | | | | mechanically or by coating the entire board in copper |
| needs are set by standards which are set by the IPC | | | | and stripping away the excess. By stripping away the |
| organization. The main generic standard for the | | | | excess, the needed printed circuits are left which |
| design of a printed circuit is IPC-2221A, regardless of | | | | connect electronic parts. |
| the material used to manufacture the board. | | | | |