Although there likely is overcapacity in optoelectronic printed wiring board (PWB) assembly, industry consolidation and niche applications may mean opportunities for the interested entrepreneur. This situation begs the question: "How does one enter this field?" It surprises many that optoelectronic PWB assembly is not far from standard PWB assembly. However, my definition of assembly does not include optoelectronic test. As we will see later, optoelectronic printed circuit board (PCB) test and especially repair are unique in their complexity and challenge. I will also not be discussing the assembly of the actual components themselves. Although this topic continues to generate great interest, it requires unique skills in optical alignment and materials processing that are not possessed by the typical PWB assembler. The optical alignments often require tolerance control within about 1 micrometer. These alignments are a challenge to achieve, but are even more difficult to maintain when the component substructures are bonded or welded together. Component assembly, with all of these unique processes is essentially a separate industry.
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