Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
PCB Holes, Drill Sizes and Clearances?
Benta:
The PCB CAD programs I know do not care about plating, but just about final size. The rest is up to the PCB manufacturer. If he doesn't supply PCBs with the specified hole size, it's his problem. Think about a single side PCB (I know, rare these days). The hole size is the drill size. For a through-plated PCB it's different, and only the manufacturer knows the size of his plating.
It's NOT your problem.
IconicPCB:
Your design files should specify finished hole sizes.
It is up to the PCB shop to adjust the drill rack so that finished product hole size is correct.
On the other hand do specify finished hole size which is sensible. Keep in mind someone has to assemble the board and later on someone may have to disassemble the faulty garbage. Make the holes a comfortable size for disassembly purposes. Typically this may mean at least 0.2mm diameter oversize.
And just because the CAD program allows you to work with 0.1mm tracks and clearances and 0.2mm diameter via holes... don't do it.
Be sensible... do not push the envelop... do not challenge the PCB shop production window. Save on reject rates .. save your money do that in Your design which will challenge the manufacturing ( and assembly ) process the least. It will be the most economic solution. Your PCB shop will respect You.
You will save Your coin.
langwadt:
--- Quote from: IconicPCB on October 01, 2019, 10:32:38 pm ---Your design files should specify finished hole sizes.
It is up to the PCB shop to adjust the drill rack so that finished product hole size is correct.
On the other hand do specify finished hole size which is sensible. Keep in mind someone has to assemble the board and later on someone may have to disassemble the faulty garbage. Make the holes a comfortable size for disassembly purposes. Typically this may mean at least 0.2mm diameter oversize.
And just because the CAD program allows you to work with 0.1mm tracks and clearances and 0.2mm diameter via holes... don't do it.
Be sensible... do not push the envelop... do not challenge the PCB shop production window. Save on reject rates .. save your money do that in Your design which will challenge the manufacturing ( and assembly ) process the least. It will be the most economic solution. Your PCB shop will respect You.
You will save Your coin.
--- End quote ---
and just to pick a random example, jlpcb specs +/- 0.08mm on finished hole size
and holes that too big might be annoying but it's workable, holes that are too small might mean a scrap pcb
Zero999:
How big are the pads?
If it's just a one off, then you could manually drill the holes bigger, rather than scrapping the entire PCB, but you lose the through hole plating and the pads will need to be big enough. If the pads are large enough and you can solder both sides, then drilling might be a viable option, for a one off.
NivagSwerdna:
--- Quote from: Zero999 on October 02, 2019, 08:16:10 am ---How big are the pads?
If it's just a one off, then you could manually drill the holes bigger, rather than scrapping the entire PCB, but you lose the through hole plating and the pads will need to be big enough. If the pads are large enough and you can solder both sides, then drilling might be a viable option, for a one off.
--- End quote ---
Indeed. That's my plan to drill out the holes using a 1mm bit. It might be touch and go since the pads are not large, the through hole doesn't matter since I will get connectivity through the pin as long as I can get solder on top and bottom pad.
This is only v1 and I am sure I will have other aspects that could justify a v1.001. Unfortunately I have six sockets with 12 pins each so 72 holes to drill for a single board... Almost just worth tweaking the design and reordering... Sorry Planet Earth!
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