PCB questions and answers
Short answers from all our guides, grouped by topic. Every answer links to the full guide.
115 questions
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Design
Is a 4-layer board always better than a 2-layer board?
No. A 4-layer board gives you internal planes, which helps with noise and dense routing, but it costs more and takes longer. A simple or slow circuit is often best served by a well-routed 2-layer board.
From the guide: How Many Layers Does a PCB Need? · Read the full guide →
When is a single-layer PCB enough?
For simple circuits with few crossings, such as LED drivers, small power supplies and sensor boards. It is the cheapest and fastest option, but all traces are on one side.
From the guide: How Many Layers Does a PCB Need? · Read the full guide →
What is the maximum number of layers you manufacture?
Six copper layers in FR4. Aluminium (IMS) boards have a single copper layer.
From the guide: How Many Layers Does a PCB Need? · Read the full guide →
What is DFM?
Design for manufacturing: designing a board so that it respects the limits of the production process and can be made reliably at a fair price.
From the guide: PCB DFM Checklist Before You Order · Read the full guide →
Do you check my files before production?
Yes. Our engineers check every file before production and contact you if something is unclear or outside the manufacturing limits.
From the guide: PCB DFM Checklist Before You Order · Read the full guide →
What is the most common reason for a delay?
An incomplete file set: a missing layer, a missing outline or a drill file from a different export.
From the guide: PCB DFM Checklist Before You Order · Read the full guide →
What are the smallest trace width and spacing?
0.15 mm each on 18 µm base copper. Thicker copper needs larger values, for example 0.22 mm with 35 µm.
From the guide: PCB Design Rules and Manufacturing Limits · Read the full guide →
What is the smallest hole you can drill?
0.3 mm, with a pad of 0.5 mm. Holes above 6.4 mm are milled.
From the guide: PCB Design Rules and Manufacturing Limits · Read the full guide →
Which solder mask colours are available?
Green, white, black, red, blue and yellow.
From the guide: PCB Design Rules and Manufacturing Limits · Read the full guide →
Which KiCad version do these menus belong to?
The menu names follow KiCad 7 and 8. Other versions use slightly different names, but the same settings exist.
From the guide: KiCad Design Rules for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
Does a clean DRC mean that the board is ready for production?
It means that the board respects the numbers you entered. The calculator also runs an automatic check on the uploaded files, and every finished board is tested before shipping.
From the guide: KiCad Design Rules for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
Why do the minimum values depend on the copper thickness?
Etching removes copper sideways as well, so thicker copper needs wider traces and larger gaps to be etched cleanly.
From the guide: KiCad Design Rules for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
What is the smallest trace width and spacing you manufacture?
On 18 µm base copper, 0.15 mm trace and 0.15 mm spacing. With thicker copper the limits grow: 0.22 mm for 35 µm and 0.28 mm for 70 µm.
From the guide: PCB Trace Width and Current Capacity · Read the full guide →
How wide must a trace be for a given current?
It depends on the copper thickness, on whether the trace is on an outer layer, and on the temperature rise you accept. Use the IPC-2221 formulas or a trace width calculator, and add a margin.
From the guide: PCB Trace Width and Current Capacity · Read the full guide →
Are inner traces rated for less current than outer ones?
Yes, as a rule. Inner traces lose heat less easily than outer ones, so they need to be wider for the same current.
From the guide: PCB Trace Width and Current Capacity · Read the full guide →
What is the smallest drill diameter?
0.3 mm, with a pad of at least 0.5 mm.
From the guide: PCB Vias and Hole Sizes · Read the full guide →
What happens with holes larger than 6.4 mm?
Holes above the maximum drill diameter of 6.4 mm are milled instead of drilled.
From the guide: PCB Vias and Hole Sizes · Read the full guide →
Do I need separate drill files for plated and non-plated holes?
Yes. Separate files let us give each hole the right treatment, so keep them apart and specify the finished diameters.
From the guide: PCB Vias and Hole Sizes · Read the full guide →
Why is a mask bridge between pads important?
A strip of solder mask between close pads keeps the solder from forming bridges during assembly. Check the distance between the pads of fine-pitch components.
From the guide: Solder Mask and Silkscreen: Colours and Design Rules · Read the full guide →
How small can silkscreen text be?
A safe rule is letters at least 0.8 mm high and clear of pads; smaller text becomes hard to read.
From the guide: Solder Mask and Silkscreen: Colours and Design Rules · Read the full guide →
Can silkscreen overlap pads?
It should not. Ink on a pad prevents good soldering, so keep text and outlines away from the solderable surface.
From the guide: Solder Mask and Silkscreen: Colours and Design Rules · Read the full guide →
How many thermal vias do I need under a component?
There is no fixed number; it depends on the power and the copper area they connect to. A grid with a 0.3 mm drill and a pitch of about 1.0 to 1.2 mm is a common starting point. Confirm the result by measuring a prototype.
From the guide: PCB Thermal Management: Copper, Vias, Aluminium · Read the full guide →
When is an aluminium board better than FR4?
When the heat cannot be spread by copper and vias alone, for example with LEDs or power components. An aluminium board conducts heat into the metal base, but it has a single copper layer.
From the guide: PCB Thermal Management: Copper, Vias, Aluminium · Read the full guide →
Does thicker copper help with heat?
Yes. Thicker copper spreads heat better and carries more current, but it needs wider spacing between traces. We offer 18, 35, 50 and 70 µm.
From the guide: PCB Thermal Management: Copper, Vias, Aluminium · Read the full guide →
Should I split the ground plane into analogue and digital?
Usually not. A single continuous plane with a sensible placement of analogue and digital parts, and no signals crossing between the areas, normally performs better than a split plane.
From the guide: PCB Ground Plane and Return Paths · Read the full guide →
Why does the return current matter?
The return current and the signal current form a loop. The larger the loop, the more the board radiates and picks up noise. A continuous ground plane under the signal keeps the loop small.
From the guide: PCB Ground Plane and Return Paths · Read the full guide →
Where do I place stitching vias?
Next to every signal via that changes layer, and along the edges of ground pours, so that the return current can follow the signal and the planes stay tied together.
From the guide: PCB Ground Plane and Return Paths · Read the full guide →
What is the minimum hole diameter for castellated holes?
The hole diameter must be above 1 mm, with a hole-to-hole spacing (pitch) of 0.5 mm.
From the guide: Castellated Holes on PCB Modules · Read the full guide →
Do I have to tell you that my board has castellated holes?
Yes. Mention it when you order, so that the edge is milled with the plated option instead of the standard outline routing.
From the guide: Castellated Holes on PCB Modules · Read the full guide →
Can I solder a module with castellated holes by hand?
Yes, with a soldering iron or hot air, provided the pads on the carrier board extend beyond the module edge so the solder can flow into the half-holes.
From the guide: Castellated Holes on PCB Modules · Read the full guide →
Materials and stack-up
What does the Tg value mean?
The glass transition temperature, the temperature at which the laminate starts to soften. Above it, the board loses stiffness and expands more along its thickness.
From the guide: FR4 Material and Tg: What the Numbers Mean · Read the full guide →
Which Tg values do you offer?
Tg 135, 150 and 170 °C.
From the guide: FR4 Material and Tg: What the Numbers Mean · Read the full guide →
When do I need a higher Tg?
For lead-free soldering with several reflow cycles, for boards that run warm in use, and for multilayer boards with many holes.
From the guide: FR4 Material and Tg: What the Numbers Mean · Read the full guide →
How many copper layers does an aluminium board have?
One. If you need several copper layers, use FR4.
From the guide: FR4 or Aluminium (IMS) PCB? · Read the full guide →
When is an aluminium board the better choice?
When heat has to be removed, for example with LEDs and power stages, because the metal base carries the heat away from the components.
From the guide: FR4 or Aluminium (IMS) PCB? · Read the full guide →
Is an aluminium board tested electrically?
Yes. Every board goes through a 100% electrical test (short circuit and open circuit, flying probe) and AOI, and aluminium boards also get a high-voltage (hi-pot) insulation test.
From the guide: FR4 or Aluminium (IMS) PCB? · Read the full guide →
Can an aluminium board have two copper layers?
No. Our aluminium boards (IMS) have one copper layer on the aluminium base.
From the guide: Aluminium PCB for LED: Design Guide · Read the full guide →
Why is insulation tested on aluminium boards?
The thin dielectric between copper and aluminium has to withstand the voltage of the application, so we run a hi-pot test on these boards.
From the guide: Aluminium PCB for LED: Design Guide · Read the full guide →
Which surface finish do aluminium boards get?
Lead-free HASL, like our other boards.
From the guide: Aluminium PCB for LED: Design Guide · Read the full guide →
What is the usual stack-up of a 4-layer board?
Signal, ground, power, signal: the outer layers carry the components and signals, the inner layers carry ground and power.
From the guide: 4- and 6-Layer PCB Stack-up Guide · Read the full guide →
Can I define the stack-up myself?
State the finished thickness and the copper weight of each layer. We confirm the stack-up and contact you if it needs to change.
From the guide: 4- and 6-Layer PCB Stack-up Guide · Read the full guide →
Do you offer controlled impedance?
Not at the moment. If your design depends on it, tell us in the request.
From the guide: 4- and 6-Layer PCB Stack-up Guide · Read the full guide →
Which copper thicknesses do you offer?
18, 35, 50 and 70 µm.
From the guide: PCB Copper Thickness: Ounces to Microns · Read the full guide →
Why does thicker copper limit the fine details?
The etching removes copper sideways as well, so thicker copper needs wider traces and larger spacing. Fine details are possible on thin copper.
From the guide: PCB Copper Thickness: Ounces to Microns · Read the full guide →
When should I choose 70 µm?
When the board carries high currents or has to spread heat, for example in power electronics, and the layout allows wider spacing.
From the guide: PCB Copper Thickness: Ounces to Microns · Read the full guide →
Which board thicknesses can I order?
From 0.51 to 2.4 mm. The thickness you choose appears in the calculator together with the other options.
From the guide: Standard PCB Thickness: 1.6 mm and Alternatives · Read the full guide →
Which thickness is the usual standard?
1.6 mm is the most common thickness for printed circuit boards, and a good default when nothing speaks against it.
From the guide: Standard PCB Thickness: 1.6 mm and Alternatives · Read the full guide →
Does a thicker board cost more?
Thickness can change the price, as can the other options. The calculator shows the effect for your configuration.
From the guide: Standard PCB Thickness: 1.6 mm and Alternatives · Read the full guide →
Is HASL good enough for a normal prototype?
Yes, for boards with ordinary component pitches. It is robust, economical and easy to solder.
From the guide: PCB Surface Finish: HASL, ENIG, OSP Compared · Read the full guide →
When is ENIG worth the extra cost?
For fine-pitch components and BGAs that need a very flat surface, and for boards that wait a long time before assembly.
From the guide: PCB Surface Finish: HASL, ENIG, OSP Compared · Read the full guide →
Which finish does PCB-ELECTRA offer?
Lead-free HASL. ENIG, OSP and immersion tin are not available at the moment.
From the guide: PCB Surface Finish: HASL, ENIG, OSP Compared · Read the full guide →
Which surface finish do you offer?
Lead-free HASL (hot air solder levelling). It is the standard finish of all our boards.
From the guide: Lead-Free HASL and RoHS for PCBs · Read the full guide →
Is HASL suitable for fine-pitch components?
A HASL surface is less flat than a chemical finish. For very fine pitches, discuss the design with us before ordering.
From the guide: Lead-Free HASL and RoHS for PCBs · Read the full guide →
Can I get a RoHS certificate?
Yes. Request it with the order and it is supplied as a document.
From the guide: Lead-Free HASL and RoHS for PCBs · Read the full guide →
Manufacturing and quality
How long does it take to manufacture a PCB?
At PCB-ELECTRA standard production is 9 working days for 1- and 2-layer and aluminium boards. Multilayer boards take longer and urgent production is faster; the calculator shows the date for your exact configuration.
From the guide: How a PCB Is Manufactured, Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Is every board tested before it ships?
Yes. Every board goes through a 100% electrical test (short circuit and open circuit, flying probe) and automated optical inspection (AOI), at no extra charge.
From the guide: How a PCB Is Manufactured, Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Why do multilayer boards take longer?
The inner layers are processed first and then laminated, so there are extra imaging, etching and pressing steps, and the layers must be kept precisely aligned.
From the guide: How a PCB Is Manufactured, Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Are all boards tested?
Yes. Every board goes through a 100% electrical test (short circuit and open circuit, flying probe) and AOI, at no extra charge.
From the guide: PCB Electrical Test and AOI: How Boards Are Checked · Read the full guide →
Is AOI done on every board?
Yes. Every board gets a 100% electrical test (short circuit and open circuit) and AOI, at no extra charge. On multilayer boards AOI also covers the inner layers, and on every board it checks the copper pattern before the solder mask is applied.
From the guide: PCB Electrical Test and AOI: How Boards Are Checked · Read the full guide →
What does a flying-probe test check?
Movable probes check each net for continuity and for shorts between nets, according to the data of your design.
From the guide: PCB Electrical Test and AOI: How Boards Are Checked · Read the full guide →
What does AOI find?
Visible defects in the copper pattern, such as breaks, shorts, missing copper and wrong widths, before the board is finished.
From the guide: PCB Electrical Test and AOI: How Boards Are Checked · Read the full guide →
What are the IPC classes?
IPC defines classes 1, 2 and 3 of increasing demands: class 1 for general products, class 2 for dedicated service products and class 3 for high-reliability products.
From the guide: IPC Class 2 or Class 3 for PCBs · Read the full guide →
Which class do I need?
It depends on the product and on your customer’s requirements. Class 2 suits most industrial electronics; state the class in your request and we confirm it.
From the guide: IPC Class 2 or Class 3 for PCBs · Read the full guide →
Is an IPC class a certificate?
No. It is a set of acceptance criteria that you and the manufacturer agree on for the board.
From the guide: IPC Class 2 or Class 3 for PCBs · Read the full guide →
How long can I store bare PCBs?
It depends on the surface finish, in vacuum packaging and a controlled environment: HASL 6–12 months, Ni/Au 12 months, organic passivation and immersion tin under 6 months. In conditions other than the recommended ones (at most 30 °C and 65 % humidity) the period drops sharply.
From the guide: PCB Storage, Shelf Life and Baking · Read the full guide →
Do I always have to bake PCBs before soldering?
Baking before the components are mounted is recommended, especially when the boards have been stored for a long time, the packaging was opened or the humidity indicator shows exceeded limits. Boards stored correctly in vacuum packaging rarely need it.
From the guide: PCB Storage, Shelf Life and Baking · Read the full guide →
At what temperature do I bake?
FR4 with Tg 135 °C: 120 °C for at least 120 minutes, mounting within 24 hours. FR4 with Tg above 135 °C, flex or multilayer with 6 layers or more: 130 °C for at least 120 minutes, mounting within 8 hours. In a vacuum oven at 50 mbar, 20 °C lower and at least 60 minutes.
From the guide: PCB Storage, Shelf Life and Baking · Read the full guide →
Files and ordering
Which files do I need to send?
One Gerber file for every copper layer, the solder mask layers, the silkscreen layers and the board outline, plus the Excellon drill files. Put everything in one ZIP or RAR archive.
From the guide: Gerber Files for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
In which units and format should the drill file be?
Excellon format in millimetres, with plated and non-plated holes in separate files, and the same origin as the Gerber files.
From the guide: Gerber Files for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
Can I check my files before ordering?
Yes. The price calculator reads your archive, shows a preview of the board and detects the layer count and the dimensions, so you can spot a missing layer immediately.
From the guide: Gerber Files for PCB Manufacturing · Read the full guide →
Which program can open Gerber files?
Any Gerber viewer works, including free ones such as the Gerber viewer of KiCad or gerbv. Open all files together, so that you see the board the way it will be manufactured.
From the guide: How to Open and Check Gerber Files · Read the full guide →
What should I look for when I check the files?
That every layer is present, that the outline is closed, that the drill holes sit in the centre of the pads and that the solder mask openings match the pads.
From the guide: How to Open and Check Gerber Files · Read the full guide →
Is the preview in your calculator enough as a check?
It is a quick check that the archive is complete and readable. Our engineers also review every file before production and contact you if something is unclear.
From the guide: How to Open and Check Gerber Files · Read the full guide →
Which file format do you need?
Gerber files (RS-274X) for every layer and Excellon drill files, together in one ZIP or RAR archive. This is what the calculator reads and previews.
From the guide: Export Gerber Files: Altium, EasyEDA, Eagle · Read the full guide →
Do I need to send the paste layer or the pick-and-place file?
Not for bare boards. They are only used for stencils and assembly.
From the guide: Export Gerber Files: Altium, EasyEDA, Eagle · Read the full guide →
Can I send the native project file instead of Gerbers?
The Gerber set is the reliable way, because it contains exactly what will be manufactured. Native files depend on the program version and settings.
From the guide: Export Gerber Files: Altium, EasyEDA, Eagle · Read the full guide →
What do I need to send to get a quote?
The quantity, board size, layer count, material, thickness, copper weight, colours and delivery requirements, plus the Gerber and drill files in one archive. The calculator guides you through all of it.
From the guide: PCB Quote Request: What to Specify · Read the full guide →
How fast do I receive an offer?
The calculator gives an instant estimate in euros; our sales team sends the official offer within 1 business day.
From the guide: PCB Quote Request: What to Specify · Read the full guide →
Who can order from you?
Our offers are addressed to professional customers (B2B). By sending a quote request and ticking the acceptance box, the customer accepts the General Terms of Delivery and Sale and adheres to them automatically.
From the guide: PCB Quote Request: What to Specify · Read the full guide →
Do I need an account to request a quote?
No. You can send the request from the calculator without an account. With an account you can follow your requests in the client portal.
From the guide: How to Order PCBs Online: Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Is the price shown in the calculator binding?
It is an instant estimate in euro. The official offer sent by our sales team within 1 business day is the binding one.
From the guide: How to Order PCBs Online: Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Can I change the files after I have sent the request?
Tell us as soon as possible. A new file version restarts the checks and can move the delivery date.
From the guide: How to Order PCBs Online: Step by Step · Read the full guide →
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. You can order from 1 piece, and the calculator shows the price for your quantity.
From the guide: Ordering a Single PCB: Quantity and Price · Read the full guide →
Why is the price of 10 boards not ten times the price of one?
Because the fixed work of preparation and setup is shared by all the boards. The price of the material and processing grows with the number of boards, but the fixed part does not.
From the guide: Ordering a Single PCB: Quantity and Price · Read the full guide →
Does a panel make small orders cheaper?
Not by itself: if you define a panel, the area of the whole panel counts. A panel is chosen for assembly reasons; see the panelization guide.
From the guide: Ordering a Single PCB: Quantity and Price · Read the full guide →
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. You can order from 1 piece, and the calculator shows the price for your quantity.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes from 1 Piece: Instant Price in EUR · Read the full guide →
How long does production take?
9 working days for 1-layer, 2-layer and aluminium boards, and 6 working days with urgent production. Multilayer boards take longer; the calculator shows the date for your configuration.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes from 1 Piece: Instant Price in EUR · Read the full guide →
Who can order?
Our offers are addressed to professional customers (B2B). Prices in the calculator are shown without VAT, and the VAT treatment is stated in the official offer.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes from 1 Piece: Instant Price in EUR · Read the full guide →
What is the maximum panel size?
390 × 520 mm for 1-layer, 2-layer and aluminium boards, and 335 × 440 mm for 4-layer and 6-layer boards.
From the guide: PCB Panelization: V-Cut, Routing, Castellated Holes · Read the full guide →
Which is better, V-cut or milling?
V-cut separates boards along straight lines and suits rectangular boards that touch each other. Milling with tabs suits boards of any shape and leaves a small gap between them.
From the guide: PCB Panelization: V-Cut, Routing, Castellated Holes · Read the full guide →
Can I deliver the panel layout myself?
Yes. Send a drawing or the panelized files; otherwise we can deliver the boards as single pieces.
From the guide: PCB Panelization: V-Cut, Routing, Castellated Holes · Read the full guide →
Can I order a single prototype?
Yes. We produce from one piece, so you can start with a prototype and order a series later.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes: From 1 Piece to Series · Read the full guide →
How do I make sure the series matches the prototype?
Keep the same files and the same specification: layers, material, thickness, copper and finish. Change a file only deliberately, and tell us about it.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes: From 1 Piece to Series · Read the full guide →
When does a panel make sense?
When you assemble boards in series or when the boards are small. A panel makes handling easier on the assembly line; read the guide on panelization for the details.
From the guide: PCB Prototypes: From 1 Piece to Series · Read the full guide →
Price, delivery and compliance
What influences the price of a PCB the most?
The board area, the number of layers, the quantity, the lead time and options such as copper weight, thickness and special features. The area and the layer count usually weigh most.
From the guide: What Determines the Price of a PCB? · Read the full guide →
Why does the price per board fall with higher quantity?
The fixed work of setting up the order is spread over more boards, so each board carries a smaller share of it.
From the guide: What Determines the Price of a PCB? · Read the full guide →
How do I get a price quickly?
Enter your specification in the price calculator and upload the files: you get an instant estimate in euros. Our sales team then sends the official offer.
From the guide: What Determines the Price of a PCB? · Read the full guide →
How long does standard PCB production take?
9 working days for single-layer, double-layer and aluminium boards. Multilayer boards take longer; the calculator shows the date.
From the guide: PCB Lead Time: How Long Does Production Take? · Read the full guide →
Is urgent production available?
Yes. Urgent production takes 6 working days for single-layer, double-layer and aluminium boards, at a higher price.
From the guide: PCB Lead Time: How Long Does Production Take? · Read the full guide →
Does shipping time count in the lead time?
Shipping comes on top of production time and depends on the delivery country. The calculator and the offer show it separately.
From the guide: PCB Lead Time: How Long Does Production Take? · Read the full guide →
Does PCB-ELECTRA ship to the UK and Switzerland?
Yes, as a delivery outside the EU. The shipping cost is quoted on request and the offer states the terms; mention the destination in your request.
From the guide: PCBs to the UK and Switzerland: Customs and VAT · Read the full guide →
Do I have to pay duty?
Often not, when the boards qualify as originating in the EU and the documents show it, but this depends on the current rules. Confirm it with your customs broker.
From the guide: PCBs to the UK and Switzerland: Customs and VAT · Read the full guide →
Who clears the shipment through customs?
This is agreed before the order. State in the request whether you act as importer and whether the courier or your broker clears the goods.
From the guide: PCBs to the UK and Switzerland: Customs and VAT · Read the full guide →
Do I pay customs duties when I order from Romania?
Not between EU member states, where deliveries involve no customs formalities. Shipping and the VAT treatment are stated in the offer; deliveries outside the EU are handled separately.
From the guide: European or Overseas PCB Supplier: What Differs · Read the full guide →
Is a European manufacturer always more expensive?
Not necessarily for prototypes and small series, where shipping, customs and waiting time reduce the difference. For large volumes of simple boards an overseas supplier can be cheaper per piece.
From the guide: European or Overseas PCB Supplier: What Differs · Read the full guide →
How do I compare two quotes correctly?
Compare the same specification (layers, thickness, copper, finish, tests), then add shipping, import costs and delivery time.
From the guide: European or Overseas PCB Supplier: What Differs · Read the full guide →
Why order printed circuit boards from a European manufacturer?
Shorter transport, no customs formalities inside the EU, a contact in your time zone and communication in your language. That makes prototypes and repeat orders easier to plan.
From the guide: Choosing a European PCB Manufacturer · Read the full guide →
Where is PCB-ELECTRA based?
We are ELECTRA S.R.L. in Romania, in the European Union. We produce for professional customers in Germany, France and across Europe.
From the guide: Choosing a European PCB Manufacturer · Read the full guide →
What is the minimum order quantity?
One piece. We make prototypes as well as series.
From the guide: Choosing a European PCB Manufacturer · Read the full guide →
Are your boards RoHS-compliant?
Yes. All our boards are RoHS-compliant, with lead-free HASL as the standard surface finish. On request we also add the RoHS logo to the board and issue a RoHS certificate for your documentation.
From the guide: RoHS Compliance for PCBs Explained · Read the full guide →
Does RoHS mean halogen-free?
No. RoHS restricts certain substances, including some brominated flame retardants, but does not require a halogen-free board. Halogen-free is a separate requirement that has to be specified.
From the guide: RoHS Compliance for PCBs Explained · Read the full guide →
Is lead-free HASL enough for RoHS?
It removes lead from the surface finish, which is the main issue for boards, but compliance covers all materials of the product. Ask for the RoHS certificate if you need a document for your file.
From the guide: RoHS Compliance for PCBs Explained · Read the full guide →
Reference
What is the difference between a via and a plated hole?
A via connects copper layers and carries a signal or current. A plated hole with a component lead soldered into it also connects the layers, but its purpose is mounting the component.
From the guide: PCB Glossary: Terms Explained · Read the full guide →
What does Tg stand for?
Glass transition temperature: the temperature above which the laminate softens. We offer 135, 150 and 170 °C.
From the guide: PCB Glossary: Terms Explained · Read the full guide →
What is a Gerber file?
The standard exchange format for PCB layers: one file for each copper layer, the solder mask, the silkscreen and the board outline, plus a drill file.
From the guide: PCB Glossary: Terms Explained · Read the full guide →