Do you know what factors you should consider when determining PCB cost? The truth is that many things can affect the price of a printed circuit board.
Here are some crucial factors that you should consider when it comes to PCB cost:
• Choose the right materials – different materials have different prices, and that makes sense. If you want a reliable board, go with FR4 lamination. Keep in mind that the grade quality of FR4 can also vary. That is why you need to ensure it meets the needs of your application. Although standard FR4 will suit most products, make sure to talk to a professional before choosing the material.
• Layers – depending on your needs, you will have to pick a suitable number of layers for your board. Most users choose somewhere between two and 12 layers, although there are products that require even more. The crucial thing to know is that the more layers your board has, the more expensive it will be.
• Size – the logic is simple – a small printed circuit board doesn’t use as much material as a big one. As a result, compact-sized PCBs will have a lower price than large units. The good news is that HDI technology and other techniques have managed to reduce PCB size significantly.
• Thickness – apart from being small, a PCB also needs to be thin. The latest user demands have made the manufacturers look how to make boards thinner, too. Once again, a thin printed circuit board will cost less than a thick one because it doesn’t utilize the same materials.
How 3D technology affects PCB cost?
It is amazing how much technology progressed over the last several decades. Among other innovations, 3D printing is a technology that took the world by storm.
Many industries welcomed 3D printers, including printing, entertainment, arts, and even the military industry. Technology also meant a lot for printed circuit boards because it made manufacturers’ jobs a lot easier.
It takes significantly less time and effort to complete PCB design and assembly with 3D Technology than with the classic 2D approach. Thanks to that, the companies can decrease PCB costs, making boards more attractive for those on a tight budget.
Apart from reducing the overall cost, 3D printing also minimized the chances of a mistake. The 2D approach involved humans a lot more, which increased room for error. But with 3D Technology, accuracy has been taken to a whole new level. It is another reason manufacturers are more efficient today, and they can deliver a high number of PCBs quickly.
How to reduce PCB cost?
If you are a fitness enthusiast, then chances are you have an activity tracker or a smartwatch on your hand. Smartwatches are almost like portable computers, considering the number of functions they have.
Wearable products have gone a long way over time, and we can now use their advanced versions. They combine functionality and compact size, and PCBs are in charge of ensuring everything runs smoothly.
If you design a printed circuit board for a smartwatch, you need to make it both thin and small. These wearable products industry demands have inspired PCB manufacturers to decrease board sizes as much as possible. While doing that, they also keep the performance and reliability of the boards at the maximum.
It is how wearable Technology has helped the PCB industry to move to the next level. By using small and thin components, the manufacturers were also able to reduce overall expenses. As a result, PCB cost is lower, thanks to wearable technology.
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