The surface finish on any printed circuit board is a critical factor that needs to be considered while designing a PCB. Everyone wants to ensure the long-life product, and its surface finish ensures PCB&#;s long life. Surface finish is applied for two important reasons that are,
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The surface of a PCB has the utmost importance. If the PCB has no surface finish, the copper on the surface will oxidize quickly. The oxidation will deteriorate the copper and affect the electrical performance of the PCB. At last, the PCB will be of no use. Thus, it&#;s important to have a surface finish on the PCB to give a long life to the exposed copper. Moreover, it offers a surface to solder the components easily.
There are different types of surface finishes, and you need to understand them before you select anyone. They have different pros and cons, and you must select the best one for your project. Today, we will discuss different types of surface finishes in detail. So, stay with us.
The types of surface finish are,
HASL is the most common and inexpensive type of surface finish. The process of HASL is quite simple; the bare PCB board is dipped into the molten solder. The solder covers the area over the copper and removes it from the tank. After that, the surface of the PCB is leveled using hot-air knives. It offers an excellent surface for soldering.
HASL is excellent for large components and SMTs. But if the SMT is smaller, it will not work as desired. It&#;s not suitable for Fine Pitch Technology (FTP). Furthermore, the processing temperature is in the range of 260-270˚C, which is quite high. Due to high thermal stress, there are chances of defects in the board.
Keep in mind that it contains lead. It&#;s usually dipped in Tin-Lead alloy, and the lead is a carcinogen. Thus, it&#;s not RoHS compliant. If you need a lead-free circuit board, then it&#;s not for you.
Hot Air Solder Level (HASL) PCB Double-sided Hot Air Solder Level (HASL)PCB Hot Air Solder Level (HASL) MachineLead-free HASL is similar to HASL, but it does not contain lead. Thus, it can be used for many purposes without any worries. It&#;s according to RoHS standards.
As far as the functions, pros, and cons are concerned, they are similar to HASL.
FR4 4 Layer Lead-Free HASL PCB Board FR4 4 Layer LF-HASL PCB Circuit Board FR4 Black Oil 4-layer Lead-free HASL PCB Circuit Board Automatic Lead-free Spray Tin MachinePlated Gold surface finish is also known as Hard Gold surface finish. It&#;s an expensive surface finish that uses a layer of gold on the PCB. It&#;s done through electroplating, and a hard layer of gold is attached to the surface of the copper. The adhesion between the PCB and the layer is firm, which increases the board&#;s durability. Since gold is an excellent conductor, it&#;s excellent for electrical performance. Moreover, its oxidation resistance is commendable. The surface finish is excellent for the PCB area, where high wear and tear is expected. It can last for a long time.
The problems associated with this type of surface finish are price and extra processing. It isn&#;t easy to process. Due to the high price, it&#;s rarely used, but it&#;s an excellent surface finish that can last longer. Moreover, the solderability of hard gold is poor.
FR4 ARLON Double Layer Gold-plated High-Frequency PCB BoardOSP is a process for the surface finish of copper foil of printed circuit board, which meets the requirements of the RoHS directive. OSP is the abbreviation of organic solvency preserves.
OSP has the characteristics of oxidation resistance, heat shock resistance, and moisture resistance. It protects the copper surface from further rusting (oxidation or vulcanization, etc.) in a typical environment. However, in the high-temperature welding process, the protective film must be easily and quickly removed by the flux so that the exposed clean copper surface can be immediately combined with the molten solder to form a strong solder joint quickly.
In this type of surface finish, a water-based coating protects the copper until it&#;s soldered. It prevents the oxidation of copper and increases its life. But remember that it&#;s only on an organic surface coating that is not durable enough; it&#;s quite sensitive. It has a short life span.
OSP is an inexpensive surface finish that can save money. It requires less time, and the process is also straightforward. If there are holes in the PCB, their size is not affected by the coating. It offers an excellent flat surface, and it&#;s environmentally friendly.
It can be used in areas where the PCB is handled carefully, and there are fewer chances of wear and tear.
OSP PCB Board OSP PCB 1.2mm 6 Layer OSP PCB Circuit BoardLearn more about What PCB OSP Surface Finish is.
Immersion silver is a flat surface finish that has a reasonable cost. Silver plating is done over the copper surface to protect it from oxidation in this type. The layer of silver is quite thin, but it offers excellent conductivity. It&#;s good for Fine Pitch Technology (FTP) because the layer is very thin, and it does not affect the size of the holes.
The problem with this type of surface finish is tarnishing. The silver plating tarnishes when exposed to air. Therefore, it&#;s packed as soon as possible in anti-tarnish packaging to prevent tarnishing. It is very sensitive, so you need to solder the board after taking it out of the package.
The life of immersion silver is moderate. It has a low cost, and it&#;s according to RoHS standards.
The immersion silver process is between OSP and electroless nickel/immersion gold. The process is relatively fast and straightforward; even if the PCB is exposed to heat, humidity, and pollution, the silver can still maintain good solderability, but it will lose its luster. Immersion silver does not have the good physical strength of electroless nickel/immersion gold because there is no nickel under the silver layer.
FR4 4-layer Immersed Silver Circuit BoardImmersion tin is a lead-free surface finish, which is excellent for small components. It is very thin and flat, perfect for Fine Pitch Technology (FTP).
The cost of this surface finish is reasonable, but it has some drawbacks. Tin can react with the copper on the PCB, which reduces the shelf life. Moreover, it&#;s also prone to tarnish, so it must be used as soon as possible. It&#;s very sensitive. After a few months, you will notice tin whiskers on the PCB.
Since all current solders are based on tin, the tin layer can be matched with any solder.
Immersion Tin PCBENIG is the most used type of surface finish because of its features and RoHS compliance. In simple words, there is a thick layer of nickel over copper and a thin layer of gold over the nickel layer. The components are soldered on the nickel, and the gold coating protects the nickel until it&#;s not soldered.
ENIG has a long shelf life; it is durable enough. But it&#;s expensive due to using two layers, especially gold. It has all the features, including a flat surface and a thin finish, to work with smaller components.
The only problem with ENIG is black pad syndrome, which is the building of phosphorus between the gold and the nickel layer.
6 Layer Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) PCB 4 Layer Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) Half-Cut/Castellated Holes/Half Hole PCBCLearn what PCB Immersion Gold ENIG Surface Finish is.
ENEG is also an expensive lead-free finish. It contains a layer of hard gold or soft gold over electrolytic nickel. Gold prevents the oxidation of copper. Gold plating in ENEG has excellent adhesion; therefore, electrolytic nickel gold lasts for a long time and never rusts.
The surface of ENEG is flat, where you can easily work with small components. It has excellent conductivity and great performance.
Electrolytic Nickel Gold (ENEG) PCBENEPIG is the best surface finish that resists corrosion and reaction with air. It has a longer shelf life, making it the best.
It is a three-layered surface finish that contains nickel, palladium, and gold. All these materials perform together to offer long life. Unlike ENIG, there is no risk of black pad syndrome in ENEPIG.
It&#;s RoHS-compliant, and there is no lead in it. The problems with ENEPIG are high cost and complex processing.
ENEPIG PCB ENEPIG PCB Board ENEPIG Surface Finished PCBA mixed surface finish is a mixture of more than two surface finishes to get the optimum performance. A single PCB has more than one finish surface finish as required. The most commonly used mixed surface finishes are ENIG +OSP, ENEG + ENIG, ENEG + HASL, and ENIG+ HASL.
FR4 Double-sided Immersion Gold + Gold-plated PCB Circuit Board FR4 Double-sided Immersion Gold + Gold-plated PCBThere are various types of surface finishes with distinct properties, pros, and cons. You need to select the best one according to your requirements. You need to develop a surface finish that can complete all your requirements at the minimum cost. We have explained all types of surface finish in detail. We hope you have a complete idea of the different types of surface finishes.
JHYPCB is a well-known PCB manufacturer in China. We have been providing high-quality PCB for more than a decade. We have strict quality control, which is compliant with RoHS and ISO :. For the ease of our customers, we offer all types of surface finishes. You can get the desired PCB, prototype, or PCBA at a reasonable cost. We can handle small-medium volume PCB manufacturing and fabrication. For more information, feel free to contact us.
Advanced Learning:
Printed circuit boards prove pivotal to the functioning of any electronic device. It can include your digital watch, smartphone, or large and complex industrial electronic devices. A PCB helps a device&#;s components communicate through electronic and electrical signals to serve their intended purpose. But regardless of the type of device, information on the type, make, and functionality of a PCB becomes instrumental in informing your purchasing choices. Otherwise, you can end up buying the wrong printed circuit board.
Are you an electronics enthusiast interested in buying PCB elements? Well, you might think that you have it figured out until you get to the market. But, unfortunately, PCBs can confuse you, especially when it comes to the right fit for your intended function. Therefore, the best buy PCB needs to have the crucial components and prove equally suitable to the intended device&#;s purpose. So what goes into shopping for a suitable printed circuit board?
Sometimes, the best way to shop for a PCB entails first understanding the type of PCB you want before shopping. Different types of PCBs exist, and each has its advantages when it comes to usage. For instance, an Eagle PCB can prove markedly from a Breadboard PCB. Secondly, you need to know the best place to get such a printed circuit board. Plenty of organizations produce PCBs with fluctuating quality, customization options, and prices. Therefore, you have to understand the available options, pricing, and other aftersales activities to get the best buying PCB experience. Finally, you have to understand the avenues available to you regarding the PCB ordering process. Companies differ in their approaches as some prefer you to order PCB online while others have alternative in-person arrangements.
The bottom line for all this entails knowing all the available PBCs and what type suits your intended application the best before buying.
Additionally, can the company produce your customized PCB design? The company you opt to procure a PCB from should have the capacity to customize the unique features you want to incorporate into your printed circuit board.
Once you figure out what kind of printed circuit board you want and consider earlier stipulated, it becomes instrumental in placing an order of the PCB from your preferred PCB Company. But, before you order, try and gauge whether the manufacturing company you have settled on only produces standard sizes or short runs as well. It will assist you in buying an inexpensive set without any need to pay upfront for a large custom PCB batch, especially when you only want a single or two pieces.
Steps.
Additionally, note that you will have to set your project dimensions based on the customary sized board the company offers, as you will likely get these from your order. Otherwise, the manufacturer may decline to build your PCB at the specified price.
An excellent benefit of using such design software entails the standardization of the output files into the Gerber format. It is a file format that gets used for plotters when the actual track-printing occurs on the board. Therefore, any tool you choose to deploy needs to have the export option that will allow you to export your design in the Gerber format.
PCBs have a diverse range of reliability, complexity, price, and quality points. However, the typical circuit board can cost as low as fifty cents to about three hundred dollars based on your requirements. But the cost of PCB gets influenced by many factors, including the following.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) provide the foundation for almost every electronic device. But what factors determine the cost of procuring custom PCBs?
This comprehensive guide examines the key considerations impacting PCB pricing including design complexity, board materials, manufacturing volumes, lead times, testing requirements, and more.
By understanding the drivers of PCB costs, electrical engineers can budget appropriately and make informed design tradeoffs. We&#;ll provide example quotes across hobbyist, prototype, and production scenarios to illustrate how widely prices can vary depending on application requirements.
Let&#;s dive in to understand what makes some PCBs cheap while others become quite costly!
Below are some of the main factors that influence the pricing when sourcing custom PCB manufacturing:
Manufacturing Volume &#; Small prototyping quantities cost much more per board than high-volume production runs.
Board Size &#; Larger boards require more materials and cost more than smaller boards.
Layer Count &#; Base 2-layer boards are cheaper; each additional layer adds expense.
Board Thickness &#; Thinner PCBs use less material than thicker boards.
Board Shape &#; Rectangular boards are most cost effective. Irregular board outlines increase cost.
Materials &#; FR-4 glass epoxy is standard. Higher performance materials cost more.
Trace/Space &#; Tighter trace spacing and thinner traces increase fabrication difficulty and price.
Finishes &#; Immersion silver or gold cost more than standard HASL, OSP or ENIG.
Coatings &#; Conformal coatings add additional process steps and cost.
Hole Sizes/Counts &#; Many small holes and vias increase drilling time and tooling complexity versus fewer large holes.
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Tolerances &#; Tighter fabrication and assembly tolerances require more attention and expense to fulfill.
Testing &#; Electrical testing, AOI inspection, x-rays, and other testing add cost but reduce escapes.
Lead Time &#; Faster turnaround requirements may command a premium to expedite the order.
Order Quantity &#; Due to setup costs, ordering many small panels costs more than fewer large panel batches.
Location &#; Local vs. overseas manufacturing involves tradeoffs of cost, lead time, communication, quality, and IP risk.
We&#;ll now explore how these factors contribute to overall board fabrication and assembly pricing across various use cases.
To better understand how the dependencies above impact cost, let&#;s look at PCB price examples for hobbyist, prototype, mid-volume, and high-volume production scenarios:
For hobby designers making boards at home in very low quantities, costs may be as little as $5-$10 per board in single unit batches.
Key characteristics:
At these vendors, customers upload Gerber design files which get panelized and batch processed together to amortize setup costs. The turnaround time is typically 1-2 weeks.
For hobbyists, attributes like lead time, minimum order quantity, and convenience often take priority over lowest cost per board. But unit costs up to $10 are attainable.
For professional engineers making 10-100 quantity prototypes in a lab, prices typically range from $50-$300 per board.
Characteristics include:
In this range, full-service domestic or regional prototyping shops are best suited to provide quick-turn fabrication with testing and engineering support.
For bridge manufacturing runs from 100- boards, pricing averages $10-$50 per board.
Attributes include:
Chinese manufacturers offer cost advantages at this volume through high automation, purchasing scale, and labor efficiencies.
For mass production quantities above units, costs drop below $10 per board, sometimes below $1.
Characteristics:
At this scale, overseas assembly allows drastic cost reduction through extreme economies of scale and highly mature automation.
As shown by these examples, PCB cost varies tremendously based on the design requirements, order quantities, lead times, and quality needs of the application. Let&#;s now examine the cost structure further.
A PCB&#;s total price consists of a combination of direct fabrication costs, engineering support expenses, and profit margin for the manufacturer.
This includes the raw materials, labor, and equipment usage required to produce the boards:
More complex boards require more processing steps and expense.
Additional services wrapped into board pricing often include:
These value-added elements increase with order complexity.
On top of base costs, manufacturers typically apply a profit margin from 10-30%. More competitive pricing requires minimizing this margin.
By understanding the underlying cost structure, engineers can identify opportunities to reduce pricing through design modifications, vendor negotiation, or fabrication process improvements.
Several design-stage choices influence PCB pricing. Below are techniques designers can apply to minimize fabrication and assembly costs:
While these guidelines help reduce cost, performance and reliability should not be sacrificed solely to lower price. Like any engineering decision, design tradeoffs should aim to balance technical needs and cost impacts.
When budgeting for a new board project, how can accurate cost estimates be obtained? Here are some tips:
Leverage Experience
Use intuition from past boards of similar specifications to gauge initial expectations for pricing.
Request Quotes
Reach out to potential manufacturers with key project details to receive formal quotations.
Use Cost Calculators
Many fabricators provide web forms allowing input of basic project parameters to estimate price ranges. These help set expectations.
Seek Manufacturing Input
Engage potential vendors early in the design phase to get guidance around cost optimization opportunities.
Compare Multiple Vendors
Collect several quotes to benefit from competition and get a sense for pricing distributions.
Analyze Bill of Materials (BOM)
Review material, component, and processing line items making up cost structure.
While the lowest bid may be tempting, quality should not be sacrificed solely for lower cost. Vet manufacturing partners carefully based on technical capabilities.
Beyond base fabrication and assembly pricing, a few additional factors influence overall budgeting:
NRE Charges
Upfront non-recurring engineering fees are common to cover DFMs, testing development, stencils, etc. This adds cost prior to volume production.
IP Protection
For sensitive designs, steps like exclusively working with trusted domestic vendors, securing SBIR data rights, or even producing in-house may be warranted to protect intellectual property. These steps can increase costs.
Expediting Fees
Aggressive delivery demands requiring manufacturers to rearrange production planning often incur premium charges. Timelines should provide reasonable scheduling flexibility.
Component Supply
Long lead times and shortages of certain components adds delays and cost. Vet component availability/lead times upfront.
Shipping/Logistics
Budget for shipping costs, customs clearance, duties, and taxes when using overseas production. These expenses can accumulate.
While focusing first on base manufacturing pricing, engineers should incorporate these additional contributors into total project cost estimates as well.
This guide provided a comprehensive overview of the factors impacting PCB cost and how widely pricing can vary across hobbyist, prototype, medium volume, and high volume production use cases &#; from under $10 per board into the thousands.
Key takeaways include:
Of course, sourcing boards is about far more than just price &#; quality, reliability, scalability, and manufacturability ultimately provide the value proposition. By using the knowledge provided here, engineers can make informed design and sourcing decisions optimizing all these vital factors.
For prototypes making 10 PCBs, expect costs around $200-$500 per design. Making 50 units may reduce this to $100-$300 per board. Costs drop sharply above 100+ quantity.
Basic testing like in-circuit test and flying probe can add $500 per design. Full ICT plus automated optical inspection may add $2,000-$5,000 for programming, setup, and execution.
Using cheaper substrate materials, reducing layer counts, optimizing panel utilization, standardizing processes, eliminating unnecessary requirements, leveraging supplier relationships, and qualifying alternate component vendors are key tactics.
Rules of thumb for initial estimating: $10/in2 for 2 layers, add $3-$5/in2 per additional layer. Add $5K-$10K for initial DFM and NRE. Reduce cost by 30-40% above 1,000 boards. Confirm with quotes.
For small volumes, total markup approaching 100% including margin is common. At higher volumes above 1,000 boards, expect more competitive pricing with margin reduced to 30% or below.
Estimating PCB prototyping and production costs involves assessing numerous design, manufacturing, and fulfillment factors. But by leveraging the guidance provided in this guide, engineers can forecast expenses accurately throughout the development lifecycle. With greater visibility into PCB sourcing budgets, projects can achieve the best tradeoffs between capability, quality, reliability, and meeting critical time and cost targets.
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