--- title: Should PC Boards be Constructed with Through-Hole Methods or Surface Mount Technology? description: In order for your electronics business to attract and satisfy customers, you need to be focusing on the product design and manufacture of pc boards. image: https://info.zentech.com/hs-fs/file-718751736-jpg/images/pc-boards4.jpg --- - [Contact Us](https://www.zentech.com/contact) (443) 348-4500 - [Customer Login](http://207.87.225.180/portal/) - [Blog](https://info.zentech.com/blog) - [News](https://www.zentech.com/news/) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ZentechManufacturing/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/zentechman) MENU [![Zentech Manufacturing, Inc](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/zentech-logo.png)](https://www.zentech.com) X - [Blog](https://info.zentech.com/blog) - [News](https://www.zentech.com/news/) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ZentechManufacturing/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/zentechman) - [Contact Us](https://www.zentech.com/contact) (443) 348-4500 - [Customer Login](http://207.87.225.180/portal/) ![Banner Image](https://info.zentech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/top-page-banner.jpg?width=2000&height=176&name=top-page-banner.jpg) # Should PC Boards be Constructed with Through-Hole Methods or Surface Mount Technology? Posted by [Matthew Turpin](https://info.zentech.com/blog/author/matthew-turpin) on Fri, May 02, 2014 @ 07:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![pc boards](https://info.zentech.com/hs-fs/file-718751736-jpg/images/pc-boards4.jpg?width=330&height=220&name=pc-boards4.jpg)In order for your electronics business to attract and satisfy customers, you need to be focusing on the very basics of product design and manufacture: PC boards. As the demands of the consumer market change, and technological processes evolve, so must your way of thinking about printed circuit boards. Although it's true that through-hole mounting was the standard for PC board construction for years, surface mount technology (SMT) is the 'new kid on the block', and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In the years since its introduction in the 1980s, SMT has taken the manufacturing industry by storm. It is now the most popular method for building PC boards. In order to understand why this is the case, though, you must have a thorough understanding of how both processes work. In this post we will [explore how both through-hole and SMT methods related to the construction of PC boards](https://info.zentech.com/blog/bid/246390/The-Difference-Between-Through-Hole-And-Surface-Mounted-Technology), their key differences, and when and how each can be applied. **In the Beginning: Through-Hole Technology** Many decades went by in which through-hole methods were undisputed in terms of the production of printed circuit boards. In fact, nearly all boards were constructed following these methods. With the use of through-hole technology, leads on electrical components are inserted into holes that have been previously drilled on the board. These components are then soldered to pads which are located on the opposite side of the board. The strong mechanical bonds that are created in [this process make through-hole mounting a very reliable](https://info.zentech.com/blog/bid/246434/SMT-Production-Adds-Efficiency-To-Any-Process) way of manufacturing boards, but the fart that so much drilling is required makes it more expensive than other methods. Another hangup has to do with the fact that the holes drilled tend to restrict the area available for routing signal traces on the layers that are located immediately below the top layer. **Moving Forward with Surface Mount Technology** Recognizing the problems associate with through-hole mounting, industry professionals sought out a new way of doing things. Thus, surface mount technology came to be. Instead of drilling holes, the SMT process makes it possible for electrical components to be directly mounted on the the surface of PC boards. In many cases, the components used have smaller leads or no leads a tall which makes them smaller and more compact. As a result, higher circuit densities may be achieved on smaller boards. This is important, as the consumer market is demanding smaller, more lightweight electronic devices than ever before. In addition to everything else, SMT is nearly always less expensive than other methods, such as through-hole technology. By taking advantage of SMT methodologies, electronics businesses can scale back their costs while still providing high quality products that will meet all of their customer's expectations.  **Putting it all Together: Key Differences![electronic assembly](https://info.zentech.com/hs-fs/file-716960528-jpg/images/electronic-assembly1.jpg?width=350&height=318&name=electronic-assembly1.jpg)** Some of the biggest differences between using through-hole or SMT methods to construct PC boards include: - **Space** - Through-hole mounting presents a number of problems that are related to a lack of space. By eliminating the need to drill holes and waste surface area, surface mount technology resolves this issues and allows for a more densely constructed PC board. - **Leads** - In order for through-hole technology to work, all electrical components must have lead wires to pass through the drilled holes. In SMT, this need is significantly reduced and can even be eliminated as components can be directly mounted to the board. - **Cost** - The components used in the construction of SMT boards are usually less expensive than in through-hole technology.  - **Speed** - The compact size of boards manufactured through SMT make them better suited to high-circuit speeds. - Production - SMT tends to lend itself to assembly automation. Ultimately, this means that a higher production volume can be achieved for less cost. Although still relevant in certain specific scenarios, through-hole methods are generally considered to be a way of the past. By embracing surface mount technology, you can take your boards and your business to higher levels.  [![New Call-to-Action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/165279/2462b439-5598-4d76-a86b-a0fe9c8fe9bc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/165279/2462b439-5598-4d76-a86b-a0fe9c8fe9bc) Topics: [boards](https://info.zentech.com/blog/topic/boards), [PB board assembly manufacturer](https://info.zentech.com/blog/topic/pb-board-assembly-manufacturer), [pc board](https://info.zentech.com/blog/topic/pc-board) ### Archives - [February 2024 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2024/02) - [January 2024 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2024/01) - [December 2023 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/12) - [November 2023 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/11) - [August 2023 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/08) - [July 2023 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/07) - [June 2023 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/06) - [May 2023 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2023/05) - [May 2021 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2021/05) - [January 2021 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2021/01) - [August 2020 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2020/08) - [March 2020 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (3)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2020/01) - [November 2019 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/11) - [September 2019 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/09) - [August 2019 (3)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/08) - [July 2019 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/06) - [May 2019 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/05) - [March 2019 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/03) - [February 2019 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/11) - [October 2018 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (3)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/08) - [July 2018 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/07) - [June 2018 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/06) - [May 2018 (3)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/05) - [April 2018 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/04) - [March 2018 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/03) - [February 2018 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/02) - [January 2018 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2018/01) - [November 2017 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/11) - [October 2017 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/10) - [September 2017 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/09) - [August 2017 (9)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/08) - [July 2017 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/07) - [June 2017 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/06) - [May 2017 (3)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/05) - [April 2017 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/04) - [March 2017 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/03) - [February 2017 (6)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/02) - [January 2017 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2017/01) - [January 2016 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2016/01) - [December 2015 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/12) - [November 2015 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/11) - [August 2015 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/08) - [July 2015 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/07) - [June 2015 (9)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/06) - [May 2015 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/05) - [April 2015 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/04) - [March 2015 (9)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/03) - [February 2015 (12)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/02) - [January 2015 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2015/01) - [December 2014 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/12) - [November 2014 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/11) - [October 2014 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/10) - [September 2014 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/09) - [August 2014 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/08) - [July 2014 (8)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/07) - [June 2014 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/06) - [May 2014 (8)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/05) - [April 2014 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/04) - [March 2014 (5)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/03) - [February 2014 (6)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/02) - [January 2014 (2)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (4)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (8)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/11) - [September 2013 (1)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/09) - [August 2013 (8)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/08) - [July 2013 (10)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/07) - [June 2013 (7)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/06) - [May 2013 (11)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/05) - [April 2013 (9)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/04) - [March 2013 (8)](https://info.zentech.com/blog/archive/2013/03) [![Zentech Manufacturing](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/zentech-footer-logo.png)](https://www.zentech.com) (443) 348-4500 [sales@zentech.com](mailto:sales@zentech.com) 6800 Tudsbury Road Baltimore, MD 21244 - ### Zentech Baltimore [![Zentech North](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/zentech-north.jpg)](https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.334434,-76.754229&z=13&t=h&hl=en-US&gl=US&mapclient=embed&q=6980%20Tudsbury%20Rd%20Windsor%20Mill%2C%20MD%2021244) ### Zentech Baltimore 6800 Tudsbury Road Baltimore, MD 21244 (443) 348-4500 [Tour our Baltimore facility.](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/ZENTECH-Manufacturing-Facility.mp4) - ### Zentech Fredericksburg [![Zentech Central](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/zentech-central.jpg)](https://www.google.com/maps/place/3361+Shannon+Airport+Cir,+Fredericksburg,+VA+22408/@38.2695318,-77.4502427,780m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b6c3cab010f5b1:0x769b9203a80ef188!8m2!3d38.2695276!4d-77.4480487?hl=en-US) ### Zentech Fredericksburg 3361 Shannon Airport Circle Fredericksburg, VA 22408 (540) 372-6500 [Tour our Fredericksburg facility.](https://info.zentech.com/hubfs/Zentech_May2018/images/Fredricksburg.mp4) ### Contact Us © 2018 Zentech Manufacturing, Inc. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.zentech.com/privacy-policy)