Introduction to several factors that can affect the price of double-sided PCB tin plates

　　There are many factors that determine the price of double-sided PCB tin plates, which can be mainly summarized into the following aspects, roughly ranked in order of importance:

　　1、 Board cost

　　This is the basis of the price.

　　Base material type and grade: There is a huge cost difference between ordinary FR-4 and special plates with high Tg, halogen-free, high-frequency and high-speed properties. The higher the Tg value, dielectric constant, loss factor and other parameters of the board, the more expensive the price.

　　Board size and utilization rate: PCB production is cut with "large materials". Your board size and layout directly affect the utilization rate of raw materials. The lower the utilization rate (the more waste), the higher the cost sharing of the single board.

　　Copper foil thickness: The commonly used 1 ounce (35 μ m) and 2 ounce (70 μ m) copper foils have different prices. The increase in copper thickness not only increases material costs, but also increases the difficulty and cost of etching and electroplating processing.

　　2、 Process complexity and manufacturing cost

　　This is the core variable of price.

　　Number of layers on the board: Although it is called "double-sided board", it strictly refers to a circuit layer of 2 layers. Its process is more complex than single panel, but much simpler than multi-layer board, making it a cost-effective choice.

　　Design accuracy and difficulty:

　　Very small line width/spacing: The finer and denser the line, the higher the requirements for production equipment, exposure, and etching processes, which may reduce the yield rate and increase costs.

　　Types and quantities of pore sizes: The smaller and more numerous the pore size, the longer the drilling time, and the higher the cost of micropores (such as<0.3mm). The blind buried hole process will significantly increase costs (double-sided panels usually do not have it).

　　Pad and hole ring size: A small ring width will increase the requirement for alignment accuracy and affect yield.

　　Surface treatment type: Tin plating itself is a medium cost process. Although more expensive than regular tin spraying (with lead), it is usually cheaper than immersion gold, immersion silver, OSP, etc. The specific cost is affected by the consumption of chemicals and the difficulty of process control.

　　Special process requirements:

　　Solder mask color: In addition to regular green, colors such as black, white, blue, etc. may incur additional charges.

　　Screen printing accuracy and color: Fine text and multiple color screen printing will increase the process.

　　Appearance and V-cut: Irregular cutting, multiple edge milling, stamp holes, etc. will be more labor-intensive than standard rectangular and simple V-cut.

　　Thickness tolerance: Strict control standards (such as ± 0.1mm) are required, which is more expensive than ordinary standards (such as ± 0.2mm).

　　Impedance control: To control a specific impedance value, it is necessary to adjust the line width and dielectric thickness and conduct testing, which will increase engineering and testing costs.

　　3、 Order and supply chain factors

　　Order quantity: This is a key factor. The larger the batch size, the lower the allocation of engineering and mold costs (such as steel mesh and testing racks), the higher the efficiency of production line setup, and the significantly lower the unit price. The unit price for small batches or sampling will be very high.

　　Delivery time: Standard delivery time (such as 5-7 days) at a reasonable price. Urgent production (such as 24/48 hours) is required, which requires arranging insertion orders and prioritizing production, usually with additional expedited fees.

　　Quality inspection standards: Implementing stricter inspection standards (such as IPC Class 2/3, especially Class 3 applicable to aerospace and medical) means more comprehensive testing and higher scrap rates, with prices much higher than consumer (Class 1) standards.

　　Testing requirements: Is it necessary to conduct a flying pin test or create a test stand for full on/off testing. The testing rack has a one-time cost, and the testing itself is also time-consuming.

　　4、 Indirect and management costs

　　Supplier operating costs: The location of the factory (labor and land costs), the degree of equipment automation, and management level will all affect its quotation.

　　Certification and compliance costs: The factory incurs costs for maintaining UL, ISO, IATF16949 (automotive) certifications, as well as providing compliance reports such as RoHS and REACH.

　　Profit margin and market strategy: Different suppliers have different brand positioning, target markets, and competitive strategies, resulting in different profit margin settings.

　　summary

　　Simply put, the price of a double-sided PCB is determined by four core dimensions: "what material (board) is used", "how difficult it is to make (design process)", "how much and how fast it is made (order parameters)", and "how high the standard of inspection is (quality level)". When inquiring, providing detailed technical information (Gerber files, process requirements, standards) and clear order information (quantity, delivery time) is necessary to obtain accurate and comparable prices.