Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1525004
32 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2024 the cost by 5–6 USD/m². Going below plated through-hole 0.2 mm via-hole size is only rec- ommended on PCB thickness less than 1 mm and it will increase the price significantly. e common finished tolerance on plated through- holes is ±0.1 mm; tighter tolerances may require a change to a more sophisticated sur- face finish. Additional expensive processes: • Peelable mask and Kapton tape • Hard gold • Edge plating and plated half holes • Plated through-hole copper requirements beyond IPC Class 3 • Back-drilling • Countersink holes • Via filling IPC type 5, 6, and 7 Surface Finish e surface treatment must comply with the component choice, but it is important to con- sider the price implications of your choices. e main surface treatments based on price are: OSP, LF HASL, immersion Sn, immer- sion Ag, ENIG, and ENEPIG. e surface treatment percentage influence on the price depends on the PCB cost driven by the technology, layer count, and board complexity. On a two-layer PCB, the surface finish using LF HASL would represent 8% of the total cost. On the same PCB using ENIG, the surface fin- ish would represent 30% of the total cost. On a 10-layer PCB, the surface finish using LF HASL would represent 2.5% of the total cost. On the same PCB using ENIG, the surface fin- ish would represent 9% of the total cost. e relation of the PCB costs to the surface finish and assembly technology of components can result in considerable cost savings, which you can easily use to your advantage. Summary e cost structure varies between suppli- ers, and it is difficult fo r PC B developers and designers to predict the most cost-optimized design and PCB specification. Having an expe- rienced partner like ICAPE Group is your easiest pathway to extensive PCB-technology knowledge and related cost impacts. DESIGN007 Sponsored link: www.icape-group.com Erik Pedersen is FAE and quality director at ICAPE Group. Richard Koensgen is a field application engineer at ICAPE Group.