The printed circuit board is an electronic circuit manufactured using a largely automated process. The copper layer in the base plate made of insulating material (generally in the Europe format) is removed, apart from the conductor tracks needed to connect the electronic components, using two different processes. A distinction is made between the subtractive process (etching technique) and the additive process. Often, both sides of the printed circuit board feature conductor paths (double-sided printed circuit board) connected to each other via metallic bores.
The components required or the integrated circuits (IC) are mounted and their wire connections are connected with the conductor tracks by means of dip soldering.