Fiberglass PCBs Skillfully Manufactured in China

The Ultimate Fiberglass PCB Maker – PCBMAY

If you wish to make custom Fiberglass PCB, PCBMay can lend you some help. Our company is confident in its ability to follow your Gerber files. Alternatively, you can rely on our skilled engineers to create unique PCB designs for you. Our dedicated staff will ensure the following:

• Use of properly treated phenolic epoxy treated copper cladding paper
• Maintain a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 130°C.
• Soldering best practices followed.
• Conform to a thickness of 1.6mm for standard PCBs
• Soldermask applied assures strong chemical bond

It will only take a few days for us to complete your orders once you have given us your design. This may vary depending on whether you require a large order or just a few critical parts. There is no minimum amount for PCBMay’s Fiberglass PCB.

If you require a large quantity of a product, we can gladly provide you with a free sample. We want to make certain that we are providing you with the best possible service!

In addition, while your purchase is being processed, PCBMay will provide you a Work-in-Progress report. We create Ceramic PCBs, Aluminum PCBs, and ENIG PCBs in addition to Fiberglass PCBs.

So, you’ve got it correct! In China, PCBMay is a well-known and renowned brand. We are not only within your budget, but we are also the best in the industry when it comes to Fiberglass PCB consumer safety.

Give us a call right away! PCBMay is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our friendly sales team will work with your schedule.

Allow PCBMay to be your long-term Fiberglass PCB supplier.

Fiberglass PCB: The Complete FAQ Guide

Are you concerned about the thermal and chemical properties of printed circuit boards?

Fiberglass PCB ensures high-class physical and chemical features of modern electronic components. Its standard Tg value and durability make it compatible with almost all electronic applications.

PCBMay is a dependable manufacturer that can provide you with the necessary support to make custom fiberglass circuit boards. If you have any confusion about its manufacturing, pros and cons, this guide will be the best support for you.

We hope it can improve your PCB experience to a large extent. Let’s make a move.

What Is Fiberglass PCB?

A fiberglass PCB is a worthwhile circuit board that is made of weaving fibers of the glass. It consists of fiberglass sheets. These sheets and epoxy resin form the prepreg and core materials of the fiberglass circuit board.

Fiberglasses have different thicknesses and densities. That’s why the amalgamation of epoxy resin and fiberglasses is found both loosely and tightly weaved.

This PCB is reputable for its effective thermal management and dielectric properties. Besides, its consistent signal transmission makes it a good choice for high-frequency applications.

Fiberglass PCB

What Are The Features Of Fiberglass PCB?

Fiberglass PCB offers outstanding features to versatile electronic appliances. Its most significant features include-

• Low dielectric constant. It varies from around 3.5-6.8.
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• The glass transition temperature is around 130⁰C.
• Compatible with lead-free technology.
• Low dissipation factor.
• The decomposition temperature is almost 500⁰C.
• High dielectric strength.
• The moisture absorption rate is almost 0.02-0.03%.
• The UL94 flammability rating is V-0.

Fiberglass PCB Features

Why Is Fiberglass Used In PCB Manufacturing?

Fiberglass is a crucial element of PCB manufacturing. This material includes numerous advantages to modern PCBs. The manufacturers prefer fiberglass while fabricating a printed circuit board because of its high-class and advantageous features.

These reinforced laminate composites offer outstanding cost performance that makes them applicable in most electronic appliances.

Most noteworthy, fiberglasses with the best epoxy resin materials make the circuit board compatible with the challenges of modern electronics. Besides, these materials can meet the regulatory demands while being manufacturable.

Besides, you can be sure of getting low CTE and high TG from an electronic component consisting of a fiberglass circuit board. That means its thermal stability is worthwhile for lasagne-scale manufacturing. That’s why fiberglass is used in PCB manufacturing.

Effective One-Sided Blank Fiberglass PCB

What Are The Fiberglass PCB Applications?

A fiberglass PCB promotes the functional properties of electronic applications to a large extent. That’s why manufacturers prefer this circuit board to ensure a high-quality electronic product.

As the modern electronic world is upgrading rapidly, this PCB becomes compatible with almost all types of electronic appliances. Such as

• Home appliances
• Medical equipment
• Power equipment
• Heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning instrument
• 5G communication equipment
• Navigation system
• Aerospace industry
• Automotive industry
• RFlink
• RF-based technology
• Gaming devices
• Washing machine
• Dishwasher

Widely Used Fiberglass Circuit Board

Which Kind Of Fiberglass PCB Is Used In Electronic Applications?

Fiberglass PCBs have versatile types concerning their application, layering, design, etc. All kinds of fiberglass circuit boards are effective for optimizing electronic applications. Besides, they can suit your demands completely.

The most notable types include-

Single Layer Fiberglass PCB

The most noteworthy feature of a single-layer fiberglass circuit board is its cost-efficiency. It is effective for simple electronic appliances, like dishwashers, home appliances, etc. Its most uses are in domestic sectors.

Double Layer Fiberglass PCB

Compared to the single-layer fiberglass circuit board, this PCB is costlier. But you can apply this circuit board to medium-level electronic devices that improve its usability to a great extent. Its significant applications are in HVAC, medical equipment, power supply devices, and so on.

Multilayer Fiberglass PCB

A multilayer fiberglass circuit board is a tried-and-true board. It consists of multiple layers to interconnect smoothly. Its impedance control, thermal management are impressive.

Besides, its cost performance is commendable enough for advanced electronic devices.

That’s why consumers prefer multilayer PCB more than a single or double-layer PCB.

Rigid Fiberglass PCB

Usually, rigid PCBs are reputable for their excellent durability in harsh conditions. These circuit boards can deliver service for a significant time. Fiberglass rigid PCBs are exceptions.

They also offer a long shelf life and optimum performance amidst excessive thermal pressure.

HDI Fiberglass PCB

HDI (High-Density Interconnect) allows a circuit board to be compatible with modern technologies. Fiberglass HDI PCB suits 5G applications, along with supporting RF, RFID, RFLink, etc.

Besides, this PCB offers a high wiring density that makes it enduring in high-density PCB projects.

High-Frequency Fiberglass PCB

The frequency range of modern electronic appliances varies from 500MHz to 2GHz. So, how can you keep your device competent with these applications?

A high-frequency fiberglass PCB is the best option to solve this problem. It also ensures rapid signal transmission. That’s why its purchase rate is increasing day by day.

High-Frequency Fiberglass PCB

What Are The Advantages Of Using Fiberglass In PCB Manufacturing?

The notable advantages of using fiberglass materials in PCB manufacturing include-

• It offers reliable dielectric properties.
• Fiberglass materials are effective for multilayer stackup.
• Their excellent current conduction improves the functionality of high current PCB applications.
• Fiberglass offers outstanding durability in harsh weather. Its low moisture absorption rate and thermal expansion keep it durable in electronic applications.
• Its high TG value allows you to keep operating temperatures high.
• It supports green electronics through its lead-free compatibility.

Advantages Of Double-Sided Fiberglass Circuit Board

What Is The Glass Transition Temperature Of Fiberglass PCB?

The glass transition temperature (TG) indicates the threshold temperature where fiberglass PCB materials face a phase shift from solid form. The average TG value of fiberglass circuit boards is around 120-130⁰C. So, you can find it as a high TG PCB  in most cases.

This feature is a vital factor for printed circuit boards. It significantly affects the thermal performance of fiberglass PCB.

That means if the operating temperature crosses the TG value, PCB materials start deforming due to heat. This type of deformation causes a deficiency of fiberglass circuit boards during their operations.

The glass transition temperature is related to the relative permittivity and CTE of a material. Low relative permittivity improves the thermal tolerance so that fiberglass materials withstand excessive temperatures.

You must keep the operating temperatures below the TG value. The ideal difference between them is 20⁰C. It keeps your device safe from sudden malfunction due to thermal stresses.

Glass Transition Temperature And CTE Of Fiberglass PCB

What Are The Soldering Processes Of A Fiberglass PCB?

Soldering is an effective way to place electrical sheets on the fiberglass PCB surface. It swiftly interfaces two or more electronic components of your circuit board.

Fiberglass PCB is compatible with different soldering processes. The most notable of them are-

Wave Soldering

Wave soldering is a very common and reliable soldering process for this circuit board. It is applicable for electronic components that cross the circuit board through pins through holes.

Here, the manufacturer welds the bottom end of the peripheral component interconnects. Technicians pump the air from the bottom of the melted solder vessel. The peripheral interconnects pass the conveyor over the solder wave so that it can fix the place properly.

Its main advantage is low cost. Besides, you can experience the serial fabrication through wave soldering. But it requires a lot of space and is not supportive of other types of assembly technology.

Through-hole Reflow Soldering

The THR soldering is effective for high-density component placement on the fiberglass PCB surface. Here, the solder paste doesn’t dry up until the manufacturer applies it to the weld. It is possible because of the transition temperature of THR solder, which is more than 100⁰C.

In this process, a reflux chamber carries the controlled heat. Then, the solderable module is heated up to around 150⁰C. This heat is sufficient to melt the solder. Then, the solder fills the areas around PCI.

When the temperature decreases, a secure connection is established between the PCI and terminals. This process ensures high mechanical stability and excellent production capacity. But you can not afford THR soldering if you have a budget limit due to its high cost.

SMT Soldering

SMT (Surface Mount Technology) soldering is appropriate for surface mount devices. Here, the manufacturer welds the circuit board from the top or bottom surface through a weldable contact surface.

As you can use both sides of the fiberglass PCB, SMT soldering allows you to deal with compact PCB designs. It offers high productivity in electronic applications.

Soldering Process Of Fiberglass Circuit Board

Besides, it allows the processing of SMD and THT components in one device. This feature makes it popular with the manufacturer. But it is not cost-effective for low-volume PCB applications. Watch this video about SMD and THT solderings:

How Do You Remove Conformal Coating From A Fiberglass PCB?

Among all PCB repair services, conformal coating removal is very common. So, it’s a great challenge to remove the conformal coating from the PCB surface.  You can’t expect a quality service without consulting with an experienced manufacturer while dealing with this issue.

Removal Of Hard Coatings

Parylene and epoxy resin coatings are very hard. Micro-abrasive blasting is the most effective way of removing Parylene and Epoxy resin coatings.

Using micro-abrasive blasting, you need to follow some vital instructions to achieve the best outcome. Such as

• Cover the repair zone to avoid unwanted removal of necessary components.
• Select the abrasive medium concerning your PCB components.

Removal Of Soft Coatings

Urethane, Acrylic, Silicon coatings are comparatively softer than Epoxy resin or Parylene coatings.  You need to

• Ensure sufficient ventilation while removing the conformal coatings.
• Don’t forget to clean these edges before applying the subsequent coating.
• You should choose a coating remover that offers less toxicity.
• Wait for some moments after rubbing and wiping the pen on the resin.
• Don’t forget to wear your protective equipment.

Conformal Coating In Fiberglass Circuit Board

What Is The Ideal Copper Thickness Of Fiberglass PCB?

The ideal copper thicknesses of fiberglass PCBs are 0.5 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 4 oz, etc. As copper thickness influences the current conduction and durability of PCB, you need to apply a copper substrate of suitable thickness.

For standard fiberglass circuit boards, the board thickness should be around 1.6 mm. You have to consider this dimension while choosing the copper thickness for your fiberglass PCB.

Different PCB Copper Thicknesses

What Are The Drawbacks Of Fiberglass PCB?

The major drawbacks of fiberglass PCBs are-

• Multilayer designing is more complicated compared to other PCBs.
• Its temperature control is a little bit complicated due to its high thermal sensitivity.
• Proper reinforcement of epoxy resin to fiberglass materials requires high attention because of its complexity.

Fiberglass PCB With Faultless Design

We offer high-class fiberglass PCB assembly services with a premium reputation. We have skilled and experienced technicians to deliver IPC class 2 or class 3 fiberglass circuit boards.

Besides, we can assure you of the dimensional stability of PCB products.

Inquire us immediately to experience the excellence of fiberglass circuit boards at convenient prices.

What Is A Fiberglass Pen PCB?

Fiberglass pen reduces the rust dust of fiberglass materials produced during manufacturing or repair.  It is an essential component in PCB manufacturing.

Usually, a fiberglass scratch pen brush helps you clean tight places where cleaning is complicated.

Besides, you can use it to remove the solder mask without causing damage. That’s why manufacturers prefer this pen while repairing a fiberglass circuit board.

Fiberglass Pen PCB

What Are The Testings Of Fiberglass PCB?

Manufacturers test the fiberglass PCBs before starting their applications. Numerous manual and automated tests are effective in quickly checking the performance of this circuit board. Such as-

Flying Probe Test

Here, electrical probes get touched to the selected positions of a fiberglass PCB. Then, the inspector of this test supplies a signal and checks electrical properties like current, power, voltage, etc.

Its main benefit is no need of using additional features. Besides, it is less expensive compared to other tests. But it takes considerable time to check the whole circuit board and deliver results.

Automated Optical Inspection

In this case, a well-structured AOI machine captures 2D and 3D images from different sides. Then, the designer compares these photographs automatically with ideal PCB images.

You can check functional deficiency, missing components, and dimensional faults through this test. It delivers results quickly. But it is expensive.

Flying Probe Test In Fiberglass Circuit Board

Is Fiberglass PCB Cost-Effective?

Yes. Fiberglass materials provide outstanding functional properties and durability to the circuit boards. Besides, its component placement and soldering processes are worthwhile for modern applications.

You can use this PCB of different layer counts as per your budget. It is available in single-layer, double-layer, and multilayer versions. So, there is no doubt about its cost-efficiency.

Cost-Effective Fiberglass Multilayer Circuit Board

How Does Dielectric Constant Affect The Performance Of Fiberglass PCB?

Dielectric constant (DK) or relative permittivity refers to the ratio of electrical permittivity between two charges in a free medium and a specific medium. Its low value indicates the efficiency of PCB materials. Fiberglass PCB material’s DK value is around 3.5-6.8.

DK value affects thermal expansion coefficient, decomposition temperature, loss tangent, dielectric strength, etc. All of these properties determine the entire performance of a fiberglass PCB. So, you need to consider the DK value with close attention.

Dielectric Constant Of PCB

What Is The Fiberglass Weave In High-Frequency PCB?

The fiberglass weave is an essential factor in high-frequency PCB that causes a periodic inhomogeneity in a fiberglass PCB. It is a new aspect of PCB designing. This effect produces disintegrate signal transmission and very fast edge rates in high-frequency applications.

Besides, it creates different DK values in fiberglass substrates. That’s why PCB suffers from dispersion, propagation skew, resonances, etc.

You need to design the PCB routing and layer orientation properly so that you can avoid excessive signal skew. It is essential to use substrates having a lower refractive index to minimize the effect of PCB fiberglass weave.

How To Manufacture A Fiberglass PCB?

Fiberglass PC is the backbone of various electronic applications that include simple to complex designs. A well-manufactured fiberglass circuit board can ensure the proper electronic and mechanical properties of electronic goods.

That’s why you need to have a deep understanding of the manufacturing of this PCB. Its major steps are described below for your convenience.

Designing

The first and foremost step is designing the circuit board layout by using high-quality design software. The most recognized design software are Altium Designer, KiCad, Eagle, etc.

After completing the design, the designer converts it to a Gerber file. This file contains all necessary information about the PCB manufacturing process, like drilling, layer count, component mounting, etc.

When the designer checks the design, it is forwarded to the fabrication service provider. It is essential to run a DFM (Design For Manufacture) check before starting the fabrication.

Conversion Of File To Film

In this stage, the manufacturer takes some photographs to print the circuit board by using a plotter. This laser printer is effective for printing precisely and ensuring detailed images of the circuit board designs.

It is important to punch the registration film through all images. It ensures the proper alignment of films. Thus, a figure of the copper path is mapped.

Inner Layer Preparation

This step involves printing the figure onto a copper foil. The circuit board manufacturer creates a laminate by using substrate materials, which are fiberglass, epoxy resin, etc.

The preparation of the inner layer should be free from moisture and dust. That’s why the manufacturer keeps the copper-sided laminate in a decontaminated atmosphere. Usually, two layers of the PCB get prepared in this process. You need to handle many factors in the case of multilayer fiberglass PCBs.

Etching

In fiberglass circuit board fabrication, etching refers to the removal of unnecessary copper from the PCB surface. Here, the manufacturer covers the essential portions of the circuit board and places the PCB inside of the etching solvent.

This solution reduces all exposed copper. Then, you get a PCB having only the necessary copper substrates. You can check this video about etching: https://youtu.be/tWnfnt2rNO0

Alignment Of Layers  

Layer alignment is a vital part of fiberglass circuit board manufacturing. An optical punch machine involves the registration holes to align the internal layers concerning the outer layers.

Drilling

The next step is drilling the holes on the PCB. An X-ray locator determines the suitable locations for drilling. The manufacturer places some buffer materials into the lower part of drilled holes to avoid unwanted tearing of the circuit board.

To maintain the drilled-hole dimensions properly, the manufacturer applies laser technology in most cases. It is expensive, but effective for high-quality drilling.

Copper Plating

Now, it is time to place the circuit board on a chemical solution multiple times. Thus, a thin layer of copper will be deposited on the circuit board. Then, these coppers go through the drilled holes.

This copper plating entirely covers the holes and creates a new layer on the PCB surface. The manufacturer incorporates an automatic system to handle this step.

Imaging The Outer Layer

After completing the copper plating, the next part is taking images of the outer layers. Here, photo resist is used to cover the board and UV rays are dropped upon it for imaging the external PCB layers.

Final Etching

Now, the manufacturing service provider removes the unwanted copper from the PCB surface in a similar way used before.

Use Of Solder Mask

In this part, the PCB receives the UV ray. This ray passes through a photo film of a solder mask. Here, the exposed portions get hard. The circuit board panel needs to be covered with epoxy solder mask ink before the application of the solder mask.  During the cure of the solder mask, the manufacturer passes the circuit board into an oven.

Surface Finish

The surface finish is a vital part of PCB manufacturing. It helps improve the solderability of the fiberglass circuit board. Usually, metallic and organic surface finishes are worthwhile for this PCB. The most used metallic surface finishes are

• ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold)
• HASL (Hot Air Solder Leveling)
• ENEPIG (Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold)
• Hard Gold
• Soft Gold

Each process offers particular benefits to the fiberglass circuit board. You need to choose a suitable metallic coating concerning your circuit board design and materials.

Testing

A reliable PCB manufacturer tests the circuit board for precautions. The flying probe test and the AOI tests are effective to check the functionality and designs of fiberglass PCBs.

V-Scoring

The last but not the least step is V-scoring. It involves cutting the circuit board from the panel. The manufacturers usually apply routers and v-groove to conduct this task properly.

Conclusion

Do you still have any confusion about the performance of fiberglass PCB?

We don’t think so.

This circuit board handles mechanical and thermal pressures, along with improving the signal transmission system. That’s why you can experience high-quality features at affordable costs.

PCBMay has been providing reliable assembly service for around 15 years. We can assure you of delivering products according to your requirement.

We hope this guide is worthwhile for letting you know the ins and outs of this PCB. Contact us for more updates and the best manufacturing services.