01Main Factors Affecting PCB PricesPCB pricing has always been a source of confusion for many purchasers. Many people wonder how these prices are calculated when placing orders. Below, we will discuss the components that make up PCB pricing.1. Price Differences Caused by Different Materials Used in PCBsTaking a standard double-sided board as an example, the main material currently used is FR4 (with prices from top to bottom: Shengyi, Jiante, Guoji). The board thickness ranges from 0.2mm to 3.0mm, and the copper thickness varies from 0.5oz to 3oz. These material choices alone can lead to significant price differences; there are also price differences in solder mask inks, such as standard thermosetting inks and photosensitive green inks.2. Price Differences Caused by Different Surface Treatments of PCBsCommon treatments include: OSP (Oxidation Protection), leaded solder, lead-free solder, gold plating, immersion gold, and various complex processes; the further along the production process, the higher the price.3. Price Differences Caused by Different PCB Design StandardsIf two PCBs have 800 holes each, a board with a hole diameter greater than 0.2mm will incur different drilling costs compared to another board with a hole diameter less than 0.2mm. If the other parameters are the same but the line width and spacing differ, with one being greater than 4mil and the other less than 4mil, this will also lead to different production costs. Additionally, designs with special process flows, such as keypads, carbon printing, blind/buried holes, and through holes, will incur extra charges.4. Price Differences Caused by Different Copper Foil ThicknessesCommon copper foil thicknesses include: 18um (1/2OZ), 35um (1OZ), 70um (2OZ), 105um (3OZ), and 140um (4OZ). The thicker the copper foil, the higher the price.5. Customer Quality Acceptance StandardsCommon standards include: IPC2, IPC3, enterprise standards, military standards, etc. The higher the required standard, the higher the price.6. Mold Fees and Testing Fixtures1) Mold Fees: For samples and small batches, PCB manufacturers generally use drilling and milling for shaping, which does not incur additional milling fees. However, for large batch production, mold opening is required to improve efficiency, which also reduces production costs. A set of molds costs around 800 RMB.2) Testing Fees: Samples generally use flying probe testing, which is usually free from manufacturers; for batches, testing fixtures must be opened to improve efficiency, which also reduces production costs. The typical quote for testing fixtures is around 1200 RMB.7. Price Differences Caused by Different Payment MethodsPayment methods with shorter account times tend to have lower prices, such as cash payments.8. Order Quantity/Delivery Time1) Order Quantity: The smaller the quantity, the higher the price, because even for 1 piece, the manufacturer must prepare engineering documentation and produce film, which is unavoidable.2) Delivery Time: Shorter production times can also increase production costs.3) Ensure that the production materials provided to the PCB factory are complete (GERBER data, number of layers, material, thickness, surface treatment process, ink color, character color, and any special requirements must be clearly stated).From the above discussion, it is clear that the diversity of PCB processing prices is influenced by many inevitable factors. Here, a rough reference price range can be provided, but specific prices should be discussed directly with the manufacturer.02Pricing Based on Various Factors
Below is a set of PCB estimation formulas (based on material utilization) as follows:
Taking 1 square meter of material as a baseline, with dimensions of 1020mm x 1020mm.Assuming the PCB to be estimated has a length of L and a width of H, the number of units that can be produced from 1 square meter of material is (1020/L + 5) * (1020/H + 5) = Z (the layout quantity), Unit price = X/ZX is the following price:Material Prices:1 Layer FR-1 per square meter (including processing fee): 130 RMB2 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 420 RMB4 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 720 RMB6 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 1200 RMB8 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 1800 RMB10 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 3500 RMB12 Layers FR-4 per square meter (including processing fee): 5500 RMBNumber of Layers:For a two-layer board, the unit price for the first time = (length * width * 0.12 * quantity + length * width * 0.12 * 4 + 80) / quantityFor a two-layer board, the unit price for the second time = (length * width * 0.12 * quantity + 80) / quantityFor a four-layer board, the unit price for the first time = (length * width * 0.6 * quantity + length * width * 0.12 * 6 + 1500 + 300) / quantityFor a four-layer board, the unit price for the second time = (length * width * 0.6 * quantity + 300) / quantityFor a six-layer board, the unit price for the first time = (length * width * 0.8 * quantity + length * width * 0.12 * 8 + 1800 + 300) / quantityFor a six-layer board, the unit price for the second time = (length * width * 0.8 * quantity + 300) / quantityPCB Price Estimation:The PCB price is calculated by multiplying the area of the board by the following unit prices, which can serve as a reference. In most cases, this is the approach; for larger quantities, it is advisable to negotiate with the manufacturer.Processes:Single-sided soldering: 0.035/square meterDouble-sided soldering: thickness above 1.2mm 0.45/square meter, below 1.2mm 0.41/square meterDouble-sided gold plating: thickness above 1.6mm 0.48/square meter, below 1.6mm 0.45/square meterPCB Quotes for Samples and Bulk BoardsThe delivery time for standard samples depends on the number of layers; single-sided boards can generally be completed in 1 day, double-sided boards in 2 days, and multi-layer boards may take several days to ten days.The unit price for small quantities is significantly higher than for large batches; for example, a double-sided 1.6MM board can be produced in bulk for 450 RMB/square meter. For small quantities, online marketplaces are convenient and quick, while larger quantities can be negotiated directly with manufacturers.
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