Thick-Copper PCB

 
 

HEAVY COPPER AND EXTREME COPPER IN PCB DESIGN

 
Thick Copper PCB.jpg

Standard PCBs are manufactured with copper traces/planes made up of copper weights ranging from 0.5oz to 3oz copper. A heavy copper circuit ranges from 4oz to 20oz. An extreme copper circuit can be 20oz up to 200 oz.

Some benefits of thick copper PCBs:

  • Increased thermal endurance (also, heavy copper plated vias carry higher current through the board and help to transfer heat to an external heatsink)

  • Increased current carrying capacity

  • Increased mechanical strength for plated through holes

  • On-board heatsinks directly plated onto the board surface using up to 120-oz copper planes

  • On-board high-power-density for planar transformers


Design features: 

  • 1-30 layers is possible

  • Extreme copper is possible on outer layers. Up to 12oz on inner layers

  • Standard Tg 140°C up to Tg 170°C

  • Min. Track/Spacing

    • External layers

      • 4oz - 10mil/13mil

      • 5oz - 12mil/15mil

      • 6oz Cu 15mil/15mi

    • Internal layers

      • 4oz - 8mil/8mil

      • 5oz - 10mil/10mil

      • 6oz - 12mil/12mil

  • Min. Hole size - 0.15 ~ 0.3mm

  • Board thickness - 0.6mm - 6mm

  • Standard surface finishes

  • Standard soldermask and silkscreen options

  • Build time 5-15 days