Understanding the Dynamics of PCB Board Pricing

1. Material Selection:
   • Different materials, such as FR-4 and CEM-3, impact prices.
   • Varied sheet thickness (0.6mm to 3.0mm) and copper thickness (½Oz to 3 Oz) contribute to cost differences.
   • Diverse solder mask inks, from thermosetting to photosensitive green oil, result in price variations.
2. Production Process Variation:
   • Different processes, like gold-plated vs. tin-sprayed boards, milling vs. punching boards, and silk-printed vs. dry film lines, lead to distinct costs.
3. Complexity and Difficulty:
   • The difficulty of PCBs, determined by factors like hole diameter, line width, and spacing, influences costs.
   • Higher complexity and difficulty lead to increased scrap rates and production costs.
4. Customer Requirements:
   • Varied customer demands, such as IPC-A-600E class requirements, impact production rates and costs.
   • Stringent requirements may increase costs, affecting final product prices.
5. Manufacturer Differences:
   • Different PCB manufacturers with varying equipment and technical levels result in different costs.
   • Process preferences, like gold-plated vs. tin-sprayed panels, contribute to price disparities.
6. Payment Method Impact:
   • PCB prices are adjusted based on payment methods, causing variations of 5% to 10%.
7. Regional Price Differences:
   • Geographical location influences prices, with variations from south to north.
   • Regional differences contribute to the overall diversity in PCB prices.

Basic Components of PCB Board Pricing:

1. Plate cost (varying with different plate types)
2. Drilling costs (affected by hole number and aperture size)
3. Process cost (linked to the difficulty of different processes)
4. Labor, water, and electricity, plus management costs (factory-specific cost control factors)

In conclusion, understanding these factors provides insights into the multifaceted nature of PCB board pricing. Raw material prices have stabilized, minimizing the likelihood of increases.