Cost-optimize Your PCB Design and Specifications
August 20, 2024 | Erik Pedersen and Richard Koensgen, ICAPE GroupEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Knowledge is the key to identifying the small details that makes the big cost difference for your printed circuit board. There are many types of printed circuit boards and multiple choices between the development of schematic and BOM to PCB technology selection, electronic PCB design, mechanical and physical properties, and PCB specification.
Component Technology and BGA Size
The component size and technology have the most significant influence on the PCB cost. Most surface-mounted microchips can be designed into standard PCBs with plated through-holes. If the same microchip comes in a BGA package, it might need microvias and buried vias using a higher wiring density to be designed into an HDI PCB. Generally, PCBs containing BGAs become HDI PCBs when the ball center-to-center pitch is below 0.8 mm. If your physical board properties allow it and the component availability is equal, you should strive to find the BGA with the largest pitch to reduce the component and PCB cost.
For example, the same BGA microchip can be found with pitch 0.8 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.5 mm. The 0.8 mm pitch BGA can be routed on an eight-layer standard PCB with a price index of 100. The 0.6 mm pitch can be routed on a (1-6-1) eight-layer, one-step HDI PCB with a price index of 200. The 0.5 mm pitch BGA can be routed on a (2-4B-2) eight-layer, three-step HDI PCB with a price index of 350. The number of lamination steps is the most significant cost driver for HDI and ultra HDI PCBs. Designs with BGAs equal to or less than 0.4 mm and multiple rows challenge the capability of HDI suppliers, which leads to the use of UHDI design parameters and thereby reduces the availability and increases the cost.
Material Selection
Correct material selection that complies with the performance and functionality of your application also plays a crucial role in the PCB cost.
The most common stackups of standard PCBs are specified with 35 µm Cu on all layers. The manufacturer starts on 17.5 µm Cu on outer layers and 35 µm Cu on inner layers, since the final outer layer Cu thickness reaches approximately 35 µm after plating. But 35 µm Cu on the inner layers isn’t always required and can be replaced by 17.5 µm for the current flowing in many electronic devices. This, in turn, lowers costs.
To continue reading this article, which originally published in the August 2024 Design007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
ASC Sunstone Circuits to Exhibit at the Anaheim Electronics & Manufacturing Show (AEMS) 2024
09/16/2024 | ASC SunstoneAmerican Standard Circuits | ASC Sunstone will be exhibiting at the Anaheim Electronics & Manufacturing Show 2024 to be held October 2-3 at the Anaheim Conventions Center in Anaheim, California.
Aspocomp to Showcase Expertise at European Microwave Exhibition
09/16/2024 | AspocompAspocomp, a leading provider of advanced printed circuit board (PCB) solutions, is excited to announce its participation at the European Microwave Exhibition (EuMW) 2024.
The ICAPE Group Announces a Major Acquisition to Become One of the Leading Players in PCB Distribution in Japan
09/16/2024 | BUSINESS WIREThe ICAPE Group, a global technology distributor of printed circuit boards (PCB) and custom-made electromechanical parts, announced the signature of a contract for the acquisition of 100% of the capital of the Japanese group NTW, specialized in the distribution of PCB in Asia, Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary suspensive conditions, and is expected to take place on September 19, 2024.
Fresh PCB Concepts: The Journey of a PCB—A Tale of Sustainability and Circularity
09/12/2024 | Team NCAB -- Column: Fresh PCB ConceptsImagine a bustling factory floor where hundreds of PCBs hum with potential, each one destined to be the brain of a new electronic device. From the sleek smartphone in your pocket to the intricate systems in electric vehicles, PCBs are the unsung heroes of our digital world. But have you ever wondered what happens to these tiny powerhouses when their work is done? The journey of a PCB doesn’t end when a device reaches the end of its life. In fact, that’s where the next chapter begins—a chapter that’s critical for our environment and our future.
American Standard Circuits to Exhibit at Empire Expo & Tech Forum 2024
09/12/2024 | American Standard CircuitsAmerican Standard Circuits will be exhibiting at the Empire Expo & Tech Forum 2024 to be held at the DoubleTree By Hilton Syracuse, East Syracuse, New York on Thursday, September 26, 2024.