Engineers share the main factors that determine the assembly cost of multilayer PCB!

Engineers share the main factors that determine the assembly cost of multilayer PCB!

In more and more miniaturized products, multilayer PCB has been widely used in several industries using complex PCB. However, there are many factors that determine the cost of multilayer PCB. Quick overview:

Material selection

The materials used to make boards have a significant impact on their cost. When selecting PCB materials, you need to consider several factors, such as:

Do you need a circuit board to withstand higher operating temperatures? For circuit boards that need to work at high temperature, you need circuit boards with copper clad laminate (CCL) and PP materials with high glass transition temperature. Using materials with low Tg, you are at risk of resin delamination, which will damage the electrical connection when the temperature rises.

Another major factor to note is signal performance. Therefore, the choice of materials depends on whether the materials will promote uninterrupted electrical signals.

The mechanical properties of the plate are also critical to ensure that the plate can withstand any foreseeable mechanical stresses and strains.

PCB size

The size of PCB is also the determinant of its cost. The base material is usually charged by size, so large PCB need to pay a certain fee. However, this does not mean that the standard rule that smaller PCBs are cheaper will be adopted. This is because in small PCBs, wiring time and the labor involved may be time-consuming. The size of PCB and the processing time involved will affect the cost.

Number of PCB layers

Another major determinant of cost is, of course, the number of layers. For example, if you are talking about double-sided PCB, you are talking about the fact that copper foil lamination is not required and no layers need to be processed are added. Therefore, according to the rule of thumb, the more layers, the more resources and time required for the manufacturing process, and therefore the higher the cost.

surface treatment

The choice of surface finish will also affect the cost of multi-layer PCB manufacturing. Some finishes are known for their quality and long shelf life, and obviously increase costs. For example, if you choose HASL surface treatment, the cost is very low. In contrast, the cost of ENIG coating is slightly higher. When HDI PCB design is involved, it is usually necessary to use multiple finishes, which in turn may affect costs.

Type and density of holes

The price of multi-layer PCB manufacturing depends on the following factors:

Opening size

Its density

Hole type

For the size of the hole, the standard width to height ratio to be followed is 8:1. If the size of the hole changes, it means that you need to use custom tools to meet your customization requirements, and you will need to pay additional fees soon. Similarly, although it is normal that the pore density is less than 120Kpcs/sqm, any such change will increase the cost again. Similarly, the cost of standard through-hole is the standard cost, but if the circuit board needs any blind holes and embedded holes, the cost will often rise.

Trace width and spacing

In order to avoid overheating, there should be enough wire width on the multilayer board. Therefore, the engineer can consider whether it is necessary to increase the routing width or add additional solder, both of which will increase the cost of materials and related work.

PCB thickness

Thicker materials are usually more expensive to produce, laminate, and turn into PCBs. If the design is complex, the cost will increase. Another aspect that affects prices is the aspect ratio.

Requirements for any special process

If there are any unique design elements and any special processes are required, this will have an impact on costs. Some processes that may affect costs include impedance control, carbon ink, blind holes, edge plating, depth control, halogen-free materials, and so on.

The detailed evaluation of the above parameters can help to effectively determine the cost of multi-layer PCB manufacturing.

The above factors affect the cost of multilayer PCB, so be careful when making any budget decisions for multilayer PCB assembly. If you are looking for progressive multilayer PCBs, you have come to the right place. What you need to do is to contact us and feel at ease, because the people who make your products know that they are experts in their field! For more information, please contact us to get valid multilayer PCBs! The circuit board processing factory explained that the engineers shared the main factors that determine the assembly cost of multi-layer PCB!