As flexible PCB manufacturer knows that，Surface mount technology works best in settings where printed circuit boards need to be produced rapidly and consistently. As a result, manual fabrication does not lend itself well to this kind of PCB manufacturing. For many manufacturers, this is irrelevant, as quick turn manufacturing is more cost effective and cheaper than manual construction.

However, there is a case for manual assembly: prototyping. During this phase, PCB designers are working to settle on what will be mass-produced, and are continuing to tinker with various aspects of the design.

Because SMT methods fuse components to the board, it makes replacing failed components more difficult. For boards that may require long-term use beyond the lifecycle of individual components, this can make SMT undesirable. High-heat applications can sometimes loosen the component’s attachment with a printed circuit board. Finally, mechanical stress takes more of a toll on SMT than other methodologies.

Still, despite these setbacks, the advantages of surface mount technology compared to the setbacks make it the most used method of component application today. Consider a smartphone. Although expensive, consumers are more likely to purchase a new phone rather than go to a store to repair it. As printed circuit boards grow less expensive with each passing year, it has become easier for many to replace rather than fix.