Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

In the realm of printed circuit board (PCB) engineering, the design incorporates through holes as a means to establish connections across the board's various layers or secure the card during the assembly process. These through holes come in two distinct categories: plated and non-plated.

From powering everyday gadgets like smartphones and laptops to complex systems in medical devices and aerospace technology, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are fundamental to modern electronics. They are essentially the heart and soul of all the electronic gadgets and devices that we use in our daily lives. For those in the PCB industry or even casual tech enthusiasts, understanding the basic principles of printed circuit boards is invaluable.

Printed circuit board (PCB) laminates play a crucial role in the performance and reliability of electronic devices. Among the popular choices in the industry are Rogers and Taconic laminates.

In the world of printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, the devil is in the details. Even subtle design features like plated edges, castellated holes, and advanced milling techniques have far-reaching implications in terms of cost and production time.

Wrap plating is a technique used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards (PCBs) to create a conductive layer that connects the layers of the PCB together. The process involves plating copper onto the walls of through-holes and vias in the PCB, which are then used to make electrical connections between the layers.

Multi-layer PCBs are printed circuit boards built with three or more conductive layers, allowing greater circuit density and functionality within a smaller footprint. Their construction relies on copper-clad cores, prepreg materials, lamination, drilling, and vias to create reliable electrical interconnections between layers.

You may be asking: what is an HDI printed circuit board and what makes it different than standard PCBs? Let’s break it down for better understanding from a design and from a supplier point of view. As Epec continues to grow our design business, it has become very apparent that many designers are very good at what they do and have no manufacturing knowledge to proof designs against.

More often than not, a quote will be requested without enough information to price, never mind to manufacture. In 1957, IPC was founded as the Institute for Printed Circuits by Richard Zens (Printed Electronics Corp/Epec), Al Hughes (Electralab), Robert Swiggett (Photocircuits), William McGinley (Methode), and Carl Clayton (Tingstol).

Etch compensation adjusts copper trace widths in printed circuit board (PCB) design data to offset material loss during the etching process. Without it, manufactured traces can fall outside tolerance, impacting reliability and performance. Proper use balances dimensional accuracy with spacing constraints, especially in high-density or heavy copper designs.

In printed circuit board (PCB) designs, through holes are used to connect components and conductors on different layers of the board and can be divided into two types: plated and non-plated through holes.