PCB Technical - PCB price estimation factors and algorithms

The price of PCB is something that many buyers have been confused about. Many people will also wonder how these prices are calculated when placing an order online. Let's talk about the components of PCB price together.

1. Various factors affecting the price of a PCB board
1. Different materials used in PCB cause price diversity
For example, the ordinary double-sided board, the sheet material generally has FR4 (Shengyi, Kingboard, Guoji, three prices from top to bottom), the thickness varies from 0.2mm to 3.0mm, and the copper thickness varies from 0.5oz to 3oz. All these have caused a huge price difference in the sheet material; in terms of solder mask ink, there is also a certain price difference between ordinary thermosetting oil and photosensitive green oil.
2. Different PCB surface treatment processes cause price diversity
Common ones are: OSP (anti-oxidation), lead spray tin, lead-free tin spray (environmental protection), gold plating, immersion gold, and some combination processes, etc. The prices of the above processes become more expensive as they go.
3. The price diversity caused by the difficulty of PCB itself
Two kinds of PCB boards have 1000 holes. One board has a hole diameter of more than 0.2mm and the other board has a hole diameter of less than 0.2mm, which will result in different drilling costs. All kinds are larger than 4mil, and one kind is smaller than 4mil, which will also cause different production costs; secondly, some designs that do not follow the ordinary board process flow are also extra money, such as half-holes, buried blind holes, holes in the disk, and buttons Board printing carbon oil.
4. The different thickness of copper foil causes price diversity
Common copper and platinum thicknesses are: 18um (1/2OZ), 35um (1OZ), 70um (2OZ), 105um (3OZ), 140um (4OZ), etc. The thickness of the above copper foil becomes more expensive as it goes further.
5. Customer's quality acceptance criteria
Commonly used are: IPC2, IPC3, enterprise standard, military standard, etc. The higher the standard, the higher the price.
6. Mold fee and test stand
(1) Mold cost. For samples and small batches, the general plate factory uses the drilling and milling shape, and there is no additional milling fee. When making large quantities, mold punching is required, so there is a set of mold costs. The board factory generally quotes above RMB 1,000.
(2) Test fee: The prototype is generally tested by flying probes, and the board factory generally charges 100-400 yuan for the test fee; the test rack must be opened for testing in batches, and the general board manufacturer's quotation is between 1,000-1,500 yuan.
7. The price difference caused by different payment methods
The shorter the payment time, such as cash payment, the lower the price.
8. Order Quantity/Delivery Time
(1) The smaller the quantity, the more expensive the price is, because even if it is 1PCS, the board factory has to do the engineering data, and the film is out, whichever process is indispensable
(2) Delivery time: The data delivered to the PCB factory must be complete (GERBER information, the number of layers of the board, the thickness of the board, what to do with the surface treatment, the color of the ink, the color of the characters and some special requirements must be clearly written)
From the above discussion, it is not difficult to see that the diversity of PCB processing prices has its inherent inevitable factors. This article can only provide a rough price range for reference. Of course, the specific price is still in direct contact with the manufacturer.
2. Quotation of various factors
For PCB, we have a set of valuation formulas (that is, the utilization rate of the board). The specifics are as follows: based on a 1 square meter board, its size is 1020mm*1020mm, assuming that the length of the PCB to be evaluated is L and the width is H. That 1 square meter of substrate can be To produce this board, the quantity is (1020/L+5)*(1020/H+5)=Z (that is, the typesetting quantity) Unit price=X/Z, and X is the following price.
Material:
1L FR-1 Price per square meter (including processing fee): 130RMB
2L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 430RMB
4L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 720RMB
6L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 1200RMB
8L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 1800RMB
10L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 3500RMB
12L FR-4 price per square meter (including processing fee): 5500RMB