PCB-TIPS
Accepted File Formats
Array Design
CAM Tooling Guidelines
Controlled Dielectric or Controlled Impedance?
Countersink vs Counterbore
Default Rigid PCB Specs
Dielectric Stacks
Drilling and Drill File
Fabrication Drawing/Fab Print
Final Finish Comparison
How Thick Is 1oz Copper?
How to Avoid Engineering CAM Hold
Minimizing Bow and Twist
Solder Mask
Via Tenting, Plugging, and Filling
What is Copper Thieving?
Default Rigid PCB Specifications
When we are given no other information, we will assume the following industry standard specifications. Of course, we'd rather not make assumptions, so even if these standard specifications match how you'd like your PCB constructed, it's always a good idea to state this either in a fab layer in the Gerber or in a readme.TXT, PDF, DOC(X), XLS(X), or DWG file. This way there is no question as to how your board should be constructed.
Rigid PCB Default Specifications
| Finished Board Thickness | 0.062" (1.6mm) |
| Material Type | RoHS Compliant 135°Tg FR4 |
| Final Plating Finish | Lead Free Solder (HASL) |
| Copper Weight (Thickness) | 1oz / 0.00137" / 1.37mil /0.035mm - All Layers |
| Solder Mask Color | Green – Both sides of the board |
| Silk Screen Color | White – Applied to sides where silk screen files are provided |
| Build and Inspection | Class II / IPC-600A / IPC-6012 latest revisions |
| ITAR | Not ITAR Compliant |
| UL Markings | No UL or other markings will be applied unless requested |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes |
| REACH Compliant | Yes |
| Conflict-free Materials | Yes |
| Electrical Test | Yes |
Printed Circuit Board Fabrication Drawing/Fab Print
Click here to visit our Fabrication Drawing page for more detailed information on what to include in your fab print.
Even if these specifications are what you expect, it's always a good idea to list your requirements in a fabrication drawing so there's no mistake or confusion. You don't have to make a fancy fabrication drawing. A simple readme.txt file works just as well. We can accept nearly any standard format for your fabrication notes. Other fab print file types we can use are:
| .TXT | .JPG |
| .PNG | |
| .DXF | .XLS |
| .DWG | .XLSX |
| .DOC | .PPT |
| .DOCX |
Viewing Files
A few tips regarding how your files will be interpreted unless we are given other information.
- Industry standard is to view your files as seen from the top side of the board. This is to ensure all features such as holes are aligned correctly when building your design. When viewing this way, any text printed on the bottom side of the board will appear backwards since we are viewing it from the top side looking though the board… just like Superman with X-ray vision!
- Because lines of varying widths can be used to draw outlines, the CENTER of the line used to draw any board outline, cutout or slot will be used as the true edge of that feature.
- It's always a good idea to add some overall dimensions to your Gerber or fab print information. This is a good reality check to ensure your file imported into our software correctly and we are seeing it at the intended scale.