PCBpro - PCB Quote Form Parameters
Index : PCB Order Process : PCB Quote Parameters

Listed below is a complete description of the PCBpro Quote Parameters.
Please note that all measurements are listed in imperial inches.


Build time
PCBpro operates on a 24-hour clock, 5-day week (weekends and posted holidays are not counted). The cutoff time for receiving orders and files is 2:00p.m. (PST). Some files have been known to take 45 minutes to navigate the web, so please allow for this.


Date Code

This selection will have us place the year and week of manufacture on your board. It can be etched on the board or part of the Silkscreen.


Electrical Test

(1-sided / 2-sided)
Testing is used primarily to test for opens and shorts. PCBpro recommends it for all surface mount boards and Multi-layers. The quoted price is accurate up to 1000 test points for a one-sided test fixture, and up to 600 points for a double-sided surface mount test fixture. If the number of test points exceeds these numbers, then additional costs may incur and you will be notified of the new test fixture cost.

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Finished Copper

This is how much copper your board will have on its surface. It is the copper foil thickness, plus plated copper, minus surface preparation. It is given in oz / per sq foot. 1 oz = a minimum of 0.0012”- 0.0014” thickness.

We offer finished copper of 1-oz., 1.5-oz., and 2.5-oz. If you need a different finished copper amount, please complete our pcb request for quote.


Gold Fingers (Linear Inches)

We can plate your edge connectors with Gold. (Approx. Ni / Min. 30 Au). The input here needs to be the distance between the outside edges of the outermost tabs.

With your gold selection, a standard 30-degree bevel will be added to your edge connector. We can also bevel at 15 or 45 degrees upon request. For multi-layer boards please insure adequate back set for the bevels. Please mention this in the special instructions when placing your order.

Due to the nature of gold tipping and unique board designs, we require the design review on all orders with gold fingers. Also note that pricing adjustments might be made based upon review of your files. We will notify you immediately if this is the case.



Layers

The plains of copper connected by the plated through holes. On board text such as company name, logo, or part number that is correct reading on the top layer will insure the layers are placed correctly.

The pcb quote form can quote up to 8-layers. If your board has a higher layer count, please complete our pcb request for quote.

All orders placed as “1 layer” will be treated as single sided and the hole barrels will be non-plated. See Plated through holes (PTH)/Non-Plated through holes (NPTH) below.

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Lot Code

This selection will have us place our Lot number on your board. It can be etched on the board or part of the Silkscreen.


Minimum Traces & Spaces

Traces are the “Wires” of the Printed Circuit Board (also known as tracks). Spaces are the distances between traces, the distances between pads, or the distances between a pad and a trace. How wide is the smallest trace (line, track, wire), or space between traces or pads? Whichever is less of the two governs the order form selection.

We offer widths down to 0.006". If you need 0.005" traces/spaces, please complete our pcb request for quote. Note: Due to processing considerations, for our customers design files that use cross hatching, our limit for online orders is 0.010” line/ 0.010” space.


Number of Holes
Enter in the approximate number of holes on your board. We provided ranges (less than 500, 500 to100, greater than 1000) which helps us determine the density of your boards with respect to our drilling capabilities. Standard boards will not see any price modification, however, this would affect small boards with a high number of holes.

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Quantity

Enter in the number of boards you need. The pcb quote form allows quoting for all quantities up to 15,000 pieces. If you need larger quantities or would like to schedule out shipments, please complete our pcb request for quote.


Silkscreen
(also called Legend, Nomi or Nomenclature)
These are markings on the board that identify components for later assembly and trouble shooting processes. We can place them on one or two sides, depending on the board design.

Our default color is white, but we also offer yellow on one or two sides of your circuit board. If you need a different color, please complete our pcb request for quote.


Size X & Y

The size listed is a rectangle area your board will fit within. Our maximum size allowed is 14" x 18" and the minimum is 0.25" x 0.25". If you need a larger/smaller size, please complete our pcb request for quote.

If your board is round or odd-shaped then use the longest dimensions to ensure that your pricing matches (please note: if your board is not square or rectangular then your pricing might be adjusted when your order is reviewed by our Pre-Engineering department).

If your board is in metric, please convert to inches.

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Slots
/ Cutouts
Slots are internal cutouts usually long and thin. By selecting Slots we will add up to 5 slots per board. If your design has more than 5 slots, additional charges may need to be applied.

Cutouts are non-circular areas inside the board's outline that need to be removed. If you select cutouts, we will remove up to 5 areas per board using a 0.093” router bit (0.0465” radius). If your design has more than 5 cutouts, additional charges may need to be applied.


Smallest Hole

This is the smallest finished drill hole size used in your design. We offer three ranges: 0.010-0.016", 0.017-0.019", and >0.019".


Solder Mask

This is the typical “Green” color that is associated with circuit boards (we also offer blue, red, and black). We also call it LPI, for Liquid Photo-Imagable solder mask, which is the type, we use. It keeps the traces from shorting together when the soldering is done.

When none is selected, we coat the areas of the board not covered with optional solder mask with solder. This is a mix of Tin and Lead.

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Surface Mount

This relates to SMT (surface mount technology). The pitch of the surface mount is defined as the dimension in inches from center to center of surface mount pads. Standard pitch is >0.025", and fine pitch is 0.011"-0.025". If you need <0.011” surface mount pitch, please complete our pcb request for quote.


Routing

We offer many options with respect to routing: individual, tab routing, tab routing with perforation, and v-score.

Individual
Our standard method is to individually route your boards so you receive a board for each quantity that you order.

Tab Routing
Rather that completing the route path around the board edge, “Tabs” are left so as to leave boards attached in pallets for ease in assembly.

When this is selected on the order form “We” will take your one up board files, and step and repeat as many images as will fit into a 12X14” (approximately) pallet. These Pallets will have a standard space of 0.1” apart, with 4 (0.1”) tabs positioned at our discretion along the edges, and surrounded by a .5 boarder.

If you have any directions as to how many boards across and down, or have special requirements like “Perf” holes, Fiducials, or tooling holes you will need to send in a detailed pallet drawing of what you need along with your other files, and select “Design Review” on the order form.

 

Tab Routing with Perforation Holes
Same as tab routing above with the exception that we add perforation holes along the tabs to make it easier to break apart your boards at a later date. The picture below provides an example:

V-score
This method creates two beveled scoring lines along the perimeter of your boards. This makes it easier to break apart the boards at a later date. You would receive your boards in panel form like tab routing (see above image). Please note that the minimum back set is copper 0.030" from the cut line. See here for more information.

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Thickness

PCBpro's standard base thickness is 0.062” or 0.059". We also offer the following board thickness on PCBpro: 0.031", 0.093", and 0.125". PCBpro's tolerance is within 10% of the given measurement.


UL

UL stands for “Underwriters Laboratories Inc”. We are identified as a recognized component for Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL File Number E58527. All orders that include UL will need to be ordered with our design review, so we can make sure to follow the procedures required for the UL certified process and marked with our UL identification.

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