The Importance Of Copper Thickness In PCB Manufacturing

PCBs in electronics are an integral part of modern electronic devices. Copper Thickness is an important factor in PCB manufacturing. Correct copper thickness is important for the quality of the board and its performance. It also affects the reliability and stability of electronic products.
Generally, we commonly see copper thicknesses of 17.5um (0.5oz), 35um (1oz), and 70um (2oz).

Copper thickness is a factor in determining the conductivity of PCBs.

• Copper is an excellent conductive material, and its thickness has a direct impact on the conductivity of a circuit board. The conductive properties may be reduced if the copper layer is too thin, resulting in signal transmission attenuation or current instability.
• If the copper layer is too thick, although the conductive properties are excellent, it will increase the cost and weight of the circuit board and copper is too thick, easily leading to a severe flow of glue.  It is not recommended to use 2 ounces of copper because the dielectric layer will be too thin, which will make line processing more difficult.
• To achieve the best conductivity, it is important to choose the right thickness of copper for PCB production. This depends on the requirements of the circuit and its application.

Heat dissipation in PCBs is affected by the thickness of the copper.

• The heat generated by modern electronic equipment increases as it becomes more powerful. A good thermal performance will ensure that electronic components are kept within a safe temperature range.
• Heat dissipation is determined by the thickness of the copper layer as the thermal conductor layer on the circuit board. The copper layer may be too thin, and heat may not be distributed effectively, increasing the chance of components overheating. In the PCB design process, we can also place copper on the PCB blanks to help with heat dissipation.
• PCB manufacturers can choose the right thickness of copper to achieve good heat dissipation, ensuring the safety of electronic components.

Copper thickness has an impact on the reliability and stability of PCBs.

• The copper layer is used as an electrically and thermally conductive layer, as well as a support layer and a connection layer on the circuit board. The copper layer should be thick enough to provide sufficient mechanical strength for the circuit board. This will prevent it from breaking or cracking.
• The proper thickness of copper can also ensure quality soldering of the circuit board to other components. This will reduce the chances of failures and soldering faults.
• In PCB manufacture, the choice of copper thickness is important to improve the reliability and stability of the circuit board and prolong the life span of the electronic device.

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Copper thickness is a critical factor in PCB production. Correct copper thickness is important for circuit boards’ conductivity, heat dissipation, reliability and stability. To ensure quality and performance, the copper thickness must be carefully selected in the manufacturing process based on the circuit board design, the functional requirements, the cost, and many other factors. This is the only way to produce PCBs of high quality that meet the requirements of modern electronic equipment in terms of performance and reliability.

Reference

Design to Your PCB Board Thickness Requirements, by Zachariah Peterson

https://resources.altium.com/p/pcb-board-thickness

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