If your company is involved in the production and manufacturing of electronic products, then you know how important it is to have the right printed circuit boards (PCBs) available at all times. PCBs come in many different shapes, styles, and compositions, but they should all contain a legend that allows the end user to easily identify where a particular circuit is located in order to make repairs and troubleshoot the PCB over time.

Here are three simple ways that you can start incorporating a legend on the surface of your PCBs in the future.

1. Add a legend through silk screening.

When you need an established and proven method for adding a legend to the surface of your PCBs, then you may want to consider silk screening as a viable option. Silk screening relies on a specialized epoxy ink to transfer a printed legend onto the surface of a PCB.

Because of its affordability and reliability, silk screening is the most commonly used method for incorporating legends onto PCBs. This means that you will be able to enjoy the benefits of a proven transfer method when you opt to use silk screening for your legend-transfer needs in the future.

2. Use liquid photo imaging to add a legend.

If you opt to invest in liquid photo imaging to create a legend on the surface of your PCBs, then you will end up with a clean and crisp image. The liquid photo imaging process requires you to submerge your PCBs into a photo emulsion prior to embedding the circuits into the surface of the board.

The emulsion acts as a conduit to transfer the legend image from one medium to the PCB, allowing you to create a legend that is easy to read over time.

3. Create a legend through ink jet printing.

Ink jet printers are becoming more popular among industrial manufacturers looking to add a legend to the surface of their PCBs.

When you opt to use an ink jet printer for your legend printing needs, you are able to print directly onto the surface of the PCB rather than transfer an existing image from another medium. This allows you the versatility of incorporating identifying information like bar codes or serial numbers in addition to the circuit location information that comes standard on all legends.

When you are able to identify some simple ways to add legends to your PCBs, you are able to make these circuit boards more useful for your end users in the future.