This guide will take you through the basic and advanced concepts about thick copper PCBs.
So, before you fabricate, or import thick copper printed circuit boards from China, read this guide.
It will help you become an expert in the thick copper PCB industry.
Let’s dive right in:
PCB stands for a printed circuit board.
A printed circuit board accommodates electric components on a single platform while providing structural support and electrical connection to said components.
The PCB decreased the complexity of wire connections and increased the reliability of the established circuits.
Thick copper PCB This allowed for the creation of large circuits with the ability to connect multiple electronic components with different functions.
The PCB eliminates wire complexity by connecting components internally through etched conductive lines/paths.
You will find PCBs in electrical equipment used in various:
The thick copper PCB is a PCB that contains more than three ounces per square foot of copper material and used in carrying high current loads.
You find that the thickness of the copper material used in this PCB type is between 105 to 400 µm.
The thick copper PCB also can sustain high-temperature dissipation while providing firmer connections.
Also, the thermal management property enables the thick copper PCB to alleviate thermal stress.
Thick copper PCB
You find thick copper PCB with the following desirable characteristics.
This allows the thick copper PCB use in certain unique applications.
This feature enables the thick copper PCB to be used in equipment or machinery with large current capabilities such as heavy industrial machinery.
With this feature, the thick copper PCB is highly efficient in its management of thermal energy enabling reliability of performance.
You find the thick copper PCB can be used in elevated temperature conditions without slack in performance levels.
Additionally, this feature enables the use of the thick copper PCB in high power machinery and equipment.
Such machines are characterized by their large heat production which can be well managed by the thick copper PCB.
You also find the admirable heat distribution allows the thick copper PCB to double up as some form of a heat sink.
This allows a cheaper and efficient way of dissipating heat.
Cost is reduced by eliminating the need to attach an actual heat sink construction to the PCB.
You find the printed circuit board offers foundational support for the components contained within it.
The PCB, therefore, has to offer a good support structure.
The thick copper PCB provides good mechanical support for the components making them firm and functionally dependable.
When making a printed circuit board, other materials may be used in the fabrication process.
Using different materials may result in compatibility issues which bring about failure in select components.
Using a thick copper PCB minimizes instances of such failures due to their high material compatibility.
Thick copper PCB does away with the use of wires as connection paths for the printed circuit board.
This simplifies the circuit board infrastructure allowing easy identification of parts and board navigation.
The thick copper PCB allows the use of several ounces of copper in a single layer.
This lessens the distribution of circuitry across multiple layers.
Thick copper PCB design A thick copper PCB is used as the most efficient alternative of printed circuit boards when it comes to managing heat generated in the process.
This is because the thick copper PCB can accommodate the transfer of large currents while also safely dissipating excess heat.
Consequently, you find that the design of the thick copper PCB has to deliberate on the needs of the applied system.
As a result, the following design elements are to be emphasized.
Thick copper printed circuit board A printed circuit board of thick copper is fabricated by applying copper layers into a substrate.
Since copper is electrically conductive, it provides a conductive path for electric transfer between components.
Depending on the application, the design elements of size, spacing, and component type are considered before the fabrication process begins.
There are two approaches to fabricating a printed circuit board with thick copper:
Etching is a process where a pattern is cut into a surface before the pattern itself being highlighted.
In this instance, the design for the conductive path is patterned onto the substrate.
Molten copper is then filled up into the cut pattern.
Plating describes the process of depositing a surface of some material with another.
This process is also applied in the fabrication of thick copper PCB.
In this case, the copper is deposited on to a substrate in line with the conductive path design.
Both the mentioned processes above are performed on the substrate by using sidewalls and also holes utilizing printing screens.
When the conductive pattern for the thick copper being engraved via etching is made, it is called undercutting.
This process adjusts downward the width of the circuit path while accentuating its thickness.
Through undercutting, the path’s obverse view takes more of a trapezoidal appearance than being squared.
Undercut in PCB
The following are some important specifications useful in advising your selection of the thick copper PCB.
These specifications are imperative with the design elements and application needs.
They include:
You find that to qualify as a thick copper PCB, the thickness has to be between 105 to 400 µm.
Beyond this thickness requirement, your application needs will determine how thick of a PCB you will require.
Thickness is directly related to the current-carrying ability.
While the thickness is a vertical dimension aspect, the width provides its horizontal aspect.
The amount of current to be conducted will also determine the width of the thick copper.
Large currents will require relatively larger widths.
The current value to be conducted by the thick copper PCB is essential in determining your selection.
Applications requiring larger current needs will require thick copper PCBs of larger thickness.
The tolerance value of the thick copper in the thick copper PCB will depend on the fabrication method used and the copper thickness.
Tolerance values will also be affected by the application conditions.
Thick copper PCBs can come in multiple layers.
Once again you need to consider the area of use of the thick copper PCB.
With more layers, so are the ounces of thick copper used per square feet.
Voltage, power, and current are related through Ohm’s law.
You find that thick copper PCBs are used for large currents transfer.
It follows that voltage and power requirements need to be low for performance efficiency.
The surface finish applied for the thick copper PCB is dependent on the application of the PCB.
Different applications will require different surface finalities.
For internal usage, polished finishes are common.
You find the thick copper PCB has multiple usages across various industries.
Current transfer and thermal management are the biggest strong points of the thick copper PCB.
You, therefore, find the two aspects providing the guiding tenets of usage.
The thick copper PCB finds application in the automotive industry, the computer industry, and the household and services appliances industry.
Some specific applications include:
