Note

  • STANDARD pool has the most options, so it is explained in detail below.  The other services may have fewer options.
  • when you open the Price calculator menus you see the default specification for the service.  This is the lowest-priced complete specification.
  • the arrowed menu boxes contain all the options available for that feature.
  • click on the feature name for additional information.

Basic PCB Parameters

PCB Calculator - Header

  • Delivery format.  Open box to select panel options.  These are:
    • eC-panel by Eurocircuits.  You set the Repeat (number of circuits) needed in X and Y.  You can now choose: the PCB separation method, the Panel border around the panel, and the PCB spacing between the circuits.  Tick the Panel without cross-outs box if it is important that your panels only have good circuits in them.  This is a free option.  More on Eurocircuits panels.
    • Customer panel by Eurocircuits.  You provide a drawing showing how you want the panel made.  The panel must meet our minimum specifications
    • Customer panel by customer.  You provide a single set of Gerber files for the panel you want.  The panel must meet our minimum specifications.
    • If you want to put 2 or more different designs on a single panel, use Customer panel by Eurocircuits or Customer panel by customer.  The panel should have an even copper balance. There is no surcharge for multiple designs on one panel.
  • eC-registration compatible. This relates to stencil orders, see below.

Material definition

PCB Calculator - Material definition

Note: foil and end (finished) copper.  When we plate through the holes we plate an average 25 microns of copper onto the outer layer tracks and pads.  For 35μm/1oz. nominal finished copper thickness we start with 18μm foil.  Inner layers of multilayers are not plated up, so the end copper thickness is that of the foil.

  • Select buildup. The Board Buildup wizard shows the different Eurocircuits predefined buildups including board and copper thicknesses for each number of layers.  The coin symbol shows which options add to the cost  or are non-poolable .
  • Extra PTH runs & Extra press cycles. These are used to price blind and buried vias.  If you need blind/buried vias, send us your data using Ask quotation so that our engineers can evaluate your requirements.

Board technology

PCB Calculator - Board Technology

The default values shown represent the lowest cost option for standard copper (18μm foil = 35μm nominal finished thickness).

Design tip: for standard copper there is no price advantage to be gained from using larger values.  Using the default values where possible will give you extra design space on the PCB.

  • Select classification. Enter your design values (see our PCB Design Guidelines – Classification page for more information) for your board.  Wizard checks the design values against the copper foil thickness.  Click the column to the right of the red values to select the classes and Apply.
  • Or use the arrows to select the values in each box.
  • Hole density. This is rarely an issue.  If you are concerned, use PCB Configurator to get the exact value.
  • Holes <= may be reduced. Under IPC rules via holes have no negative tolerance.  To reduce the number of drill changes and so cut the cost of the PCB, we drill vias at the optimum size for each production panel.  This may be less than specified in the design.  Sometimes small holes 0.45 mm or less are not via holes but component holes which do have a negative tolerance.  This option allows you to specify the largest via hole.

Board definition

PCB Configurator - Board definition

  • Bottom legend. There is no charge for a second legend.
    • Surface finish. Any leadfree is our choice of lead-free hot-air levelling (HAL leadfree) or electroless gold over nickel (Che Ni/Au selective).  This is the lowest-cost option as it suits our production convenience.  Che Ni/Au selective means that all copper exposed by the soldermask is finished with gold over nickel.  Che Ni/Au sel. – large area means the same but indicated that the total surface of gold is more than 40% of the board area. Che Ni/Au before soldermask means that we treat the whole board with electroless gold over nickel before we print the soldermask. The latter finish is a non-poolable options where as Che Ag is seen as semi-pooling meaning it is harder to combine with other orders as there are not many of it.
  • Milling.If your board has slots or cut-outs, choose the right milling cutter here.  The default cutter is 2.00 mm.  This is the same as we use to profile the boards and is free of charge.  For information on how to present slots and cut-outs clearly, see our PCB Design Guidelines.
  • Bareboard testing.  Automatic on all boards except single-sided (option).
  • UL marking. Tick the box if you want us to put our UL mark on the boards to show their flammability rating (UL94V0).  There is no charge for this.

Stencils

PCB Calculator- Stencils

All stencils are made from 100µm or 130μm stainless steel, unframed. There are four options to order stencils, two when you order the stencil with the PCB and two without PCB:

With PCB
  • eC-registration compatible (more).  PCB and stencil are supplied pre-registered with tooling holes to fit the pins on the eC-stencil-mate solder-paste printer or the eC-stencil-fix (watch the video).  Pre-registration cuts out time spent on alignment.
    • to order tick the eC-registration compatible box in the top section of the menu.
    • if you have ordered a panel, we will put the tooling holes in the border.  If you have ordered single circuits, we will add a border at the production stage for the tooling holes (you need do nothing and there’s no charge).
    • In the Stencil section you will find the dimensions calculated automatically.  Just tick the Top Stencil and/or Bottom Stencil boxes.
  • Plain customer stencil. Tick the Top Stencil and/or Bottom Stencil boxes and add your preferred border around the circuit area (minimum 20 mm on all sides).
  • Stencil only order.  Select Top and/or Bottom stencil.  Input the overall size of the stencil including border.  The data can include custom tooling holes.  Save to basket and attach the stencil data.
  • Stencil order for an existing/ordered PCB. Select the PCB from your Order repeats/view history menu and proceed as for an order with PCB.
Without PCB

You can order a stencil separately which could be useful if you forgot to order it with your boards or if you need a special design of stencil.

All about ordering stencils: click here

Advanced options

PCB Calculator - Advanced options

  • Peelable mask.  See also PCB Design Guidelines – Peel-off Mask page.
  • Carbon contacts.  See also PCB Design Guidelines – Carbon Contacts page.
  • Specific tolerances.  Eurocircuits’ standard tolerances are listed in PCB Design Guidelines .  As customer-specific tolerances increase the price, don’t use them unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
  • Specific marking.  Note that we screen our internal order number on every circuit.  From that you can connect any board to its date of manufacture and its Quality Control passport.  If you need a specific data code, please specify your preferred format.
  • Plated holes on board edge.  See also PCB Design Guidelines – Drilled Holes page.
  • Round-edge plating.  Click name for more information.
  • Copper up to board edge.  This applies to copper planes only.  Tracks and pads are likely to be damaged if they are nearer than 0.25 to the edge of the PCB if break-routed (0.40 mm for V-cut).
  • Press-fit holes.  Click name for more information.
  • Chamfered mechanical holes.  Also called counter-sunk holes.
  • Depth routing.  Specify clearly in a mechanical drawing.  If in doubt use Ask Quotation to send us your data for evaluation.
  • Edge connector gold surface.  Use Ask Quotation to avoid having to calculate the edge-connector area yourself.  More information on hard-gold plated edge connectors.
  • Edge connector bevelling.  This is standard for gold edge-connectors for ease of insertion and to remove plating tabs.
  • Top/Bottom heatsink paste.  See also PCB Design Guidelines – Heatsink Paste page.
  • Viafill.  See also PCB Design Guidelines  – Via Filling page.