Board Type
Only rigid boards. Turnkey PRO service provides both fabrication and full assembly of your boards (including component procurement).
Board Shape
We expect boards to be generally rectangular in shape. Notches, cutouts and slots are allowed (some restrictions shown below).
Board Spec
Boards will be built to IPC-6012 Class 2 Spec. However, in this online offer, we do not provide any microsection certificates or IPC coupons to customers.
Fabrication of ITAR / EAR Controlled designated jobs?
No.
RoHS Available?
Yes, your board can be RoHS if you choose RoHS-compliant surface finish (ENIG). You have an option to not have any RoHS markings on your board if you so choose.
Layers Allowed
2 layers, 4 layers, 6 layers, 8 layers.
Laminations
Single lamination double-sided or multi-layer boards only. In this online offer, we do not provide boards that need multiple laminations or have HDI features.
Blind Vias
No.
Buried Vias
No.
High-Density Interconnect (HDI)
No. In this online offer we only provide single lamination PCBs with through-hole vias.
Non-plated Holes
Yes.
Via-in-Pads
We can manufacture your PCBs that have via-in-pad features. An extra process of non-conductive filling will be done on all vias, to ensure good soldering at assembly. Such vias must be 6 mils or more in size. In Turnkey PRO service, we only offer 7 days, 10 days and 15 days turnkey when your board has via-in-pad features.
Data for PCBs
For PCBs: We prefer RS-274X extended Gerber format. If your file is not in RS-274X, send an aperture file. Please see FAQs below for what files to include.
Data for Assembly
For assembly: You will need to upload your BOM (excel format) online for quoting. In the final package, we will need the assembly drawing and XY data also. See sample BOM format.
Turnkey Turntimes
5 days, 7 days, 10 days and 15 days.
Cut-off Time
5:00 PM. Day 0 begins when validation is done or the final consigned components are received, whichever is later.
Order Quantities
For most designs, any quantity from 2 through 100 assembled PCBs available. Some limitations apply based on the number of panels to be produced and the turntime expected. To enable this service for larger quantities, please contact WendyG@protoexpress.com
Maximum Board Size
Must fit a 10" x 16" box. The area must be less than 150 square inches.
Minimum PCB Dimensions
.5"
Maximum PCB Dimensions
15.9"
Material
FR-4 lead-free (370HR material)
Thickness & Thickness Tolerance
0.062", 0.031" or 0.093" with thickness tolerance of +/- 10%.
Arrays
Arrayed designs are not allowed. Your PCB design must have just a single image of a single board. (Our engineers will array it as needed for Sierra assembly and finally ship you fully-assembled individual boards.)
Minimum Trace / Space
4 mils
Standard Copper Overplate
Surface pattern: Nominal 1 oz/sq foot. (0.0013" to 0.002") (33 microns to 51 microns)
Outer Layers Copper (Finished)
1 oz or 2 oz (number of ounces of copper per square foot on outer layers.) Specify this as "finished" copper weight. 1 oz. is the most commonly-used finished copper weight. We start with 1/2 oz foil and plate up to 1 oz. If you specify 2 oz. as your finished copper weight, the minimum trace / space on your board must be at least 6 mils.
Inner Layers Copper
1 oz
Maximum Number of Holes Per Board
80 holes / square inch
Minimum Annular Ring Width
0.006"
Minimum Air Gap
0.004" (space between any two copper features)
Controlled Dielectric
In this online service, you cannot specify controlled dielectric, but we offer +/-10% controlled impedance (see below).
Controlled Impedance
This means in your design, you are specifying the width of certain traces and spacing to achieve a specific resistance. In your impedance modeling, use the Dk for material 370HR. We expect that, in your fab drawing, you will have an impedance table that CLEARLY identifies the target impedance(s), the layer(s) on which they exist and the specific trace widths/spaces to be controlled. See a sample format for impedance table. Do note that in this online service, our controlled impedance offering has certain limitations: Only offered for boards up to 6 layers only available with +/- 10% tolerance. You can have controlled impedances on up to four different layers on your board. On any layer, you can have up to two different controlled impedances. Our engineers will meet your controlled impedance requirements using our own stack-up. (All we need is your controlled impedance info. We do not need and may not use any specific controlled dielectric information you provide.) If your controlled impedance requirements exceed this spec, please ask for a custom quote.
Multiple Parts in one design
To keep our online service low-priced and hassle-free, we keep it simple. We do not allow different PCB designs and multiple BOMs to be combined in one order. Our system can only accept design files for a single circuit board with a single BOM. We cannot merge BOMs, de-duplicate multiple BOMs, etc.
Soldermask
Green, blue or black.
Legend / Silkscreen
White.
Notches, Cutouts and Slots
Up to 10 plated slots allowed per board. Up to 10 non-plated slots allowed per board. Up to 10 cutouts allowed per board. Up to 10 notches allowed per board. (If any of the above allowances are exceeded in your design, we can still process it for a minimum $100 extra lot charge on your order. We will get your approval before doing so.) Minimum inside radius (for any notch, cutout or slot) = 20 mil (0.02"). Minimum width (of any notch, cutout or slot) = 40 mil (0.04").
Logo
Vendor markings include Company Logo, UL marking, Flammability, etc. Such vendor markings will be put in Silkscreen.
IPC coupons & Microsection reports
Not provided in this online offering. Only available in custom ordered products.
Electrical Testing
100% net-list testing on every board.
Shipping Options
FedEx / UPS, Will Call. You can use your own FedEx / UPS account number. International shipments allowed. All duties / customs are the responsibility of the customer.
Payment Terms
Credit card (PO allowed for select customers who have set up credit terms). Payment link convenience: If your purchasing department typically puts in credit card number, you can still place an order and our system will email a payment link to that person. Order will start when payment information is received.
Restrictions
If your board has via-in-pad features, only 7 days, 10 days and 15 days turnkey quotes allowed (you cannot quote for 5 days turnkey). If you want faster turn times, you may use our custom quote service).
Assembly Class Specs
IPC-A-610-Class2
Assembly of ITAR designated jobs?
No.
Assembly on both sides
Yes.
Minimum Passive Component Size
0201 (inches)
BGA Minimum Pitch
0.5 mm. BGAs cannot have more than one ball size nor more than one pitch.
Minimum Pitch of Other Components
0.4 mm
Maximum number of Through-hole Components
20 per board
Minimum Component Pad Size
Minimum 8 mils x 8 mils or 8-mil diameter
Not allowed in Turnkey PRO Service
Our Turnkey PRO online service provides standard assembly, and has the following limitations:
Wire-bonding, conformal coating, underfills, staking, POP assembly, wire assembly, or cable assembly are not allowed.
Rework like cutting traces, soldering wire jumpers, and cables onto the boards are not allowed.
Assembly of special items like PEM nuts, turrets terminals, rivets, and press-fit connectors are not allowed.
(To get any of these extra assembly features, please ask for a custom quote.)
Check Turnkey PRO FAQ
Example of a BOM file in preferred format