The cost of a 4-layer PCB is affected by several factors
The cost of a PCB board is calculated in the following way: At the time of initial fabrication, there is a one-time photographic fee, which includes printing on the front and back, and one photo for each side. For a four-layer board, one photo is required for each layer. If the same board is made the next time, there will be no further charge for this part. If the charge is $600, then each photo is about $100. If the board is larger than 200mm², the photo fee increases further.
In addition to the cost of the photo, there is also the cost of the board itself, which is usually calculated per square centimeter. The more layers there are, the higher the cost naturally is, and the price increases almost geometrically. Usually, if the cost of the board produced reaches about $200, part of the photo fee will be refunded.
It is worth noting that different suppliers may have different quotes and charges. In practice, it is advisable to consult the supplier in detail to find out the exact cost components and possible discount terms. In addition, for the first-time design of the board, it is best to communicate all the details clearly with the supplier to avoid unnecessary additional costs in the follow-up.
The base cost range
4-layer PCB prototyping cost is usually between $500 and $3000, depending on the following key factors:
Routine requirements: simple design, common materials (such as FR-4 substrate) cost about 500- 1500 RMB, PCB with higher precision requirements, such as line width and line spacing requirements are very fine, or special surface treatment is required (e.g. gold plating, silver plating, etc.), then the cost will increase accordingly, and may reach 1500RMB to 2500RMB or even higher.
High-precision / special process: A 4-layer board manufacturing process and technical difficulties will also affect the cost. 4-layer PCB manufacturing requires a more complex process, including the production of the inner layer of the line, the alignment and connection between the layers, etc., which requires a higher level of technical level and investment in equipment, which leads to higher costs.
Second, the main factors affecting
- the cost of materials
Substrate type, PCB's main materials include substrate, copper foil, insulation, etc.. The price of different materials varies greatly, directly affecting the cost of PCB. (Ordinary FR-4 vs. high-performance sheet) and copper foil thickness (1oz-4oz) directly affects the price, the thicker the copper foil or the higher the performance of the substrate, the higher the cost of special materials (such as polyimide flexible substrate) costs up to several times the cost of ordinary materials - process complexity Four-layer PCB manufacturing involves several complex process steps, such as drilling accuracy (such as aperture <0.2mm), multi-layer compression process (such as buried blind holes), copper sinking, plating, etching, etc., the surface treatment process (OSP, tin spraying, gold immersion, etc.) prices increase in turn, each step requires the corresponding equipment and manpower investment. Therefore, the process cost is also an important factor affecting the price.
- batch and delivery
Mass production: the unit price of a batch of about 10 pieces may be reduced to 400-1200 yuan, the scale effect is significant, in general, the larger the batch, the lower the unit cost. Because in mass production, the utilization rate of equipment is, apportioned to each PCB on the fixed cost reduction.
Expedited costs: the cost of expedited proofing will also be higher than the cost of normal cycle proofing because expediting requires additional production arrangements and time costs, which may increase the cost by about 20% to 50%. - other factors
design standards (such as military-grade acceptance standards more expensive than IPC2)
5, the market supply and demand on the price
market supply and demand is one of the important factors in determining prices. When the four-layer PCB-proofing market demand is strong, prices tend to rise; on the contrary, when the market is oversupplied, prices may fall. Different regions of the market competition situation will also have an impact on the price. Different periods, and different exchange rates will also have an impact on the price.
Cost Reduction Suggestions
Optimized Design: Reduce unnecessary process steps and complexity through reasonable design layout and wiring, reducing high-density wiring or special process requirements, thus reducing manufacturing difficulty and cost.
Batch purchasing: share fixed costs through scale
Select cost-effective materials: under the premise of meeting performance requirements, try to select cost-effective materials (under the premise of meeting the performance of ordinary FR-4 or 1oz copper foil) to reduce material costs.
Improve production efficiency: Improve production efficiency and reduce unit cost by introducing advanced production equipment and processes.
Establish long-term cooperation with suppliers: Establish long-term cooperation with reliable suppliers to get more favorable prices and more stable quality assurance.
For an accurate quote, you need to provide specific parameters (such as board, line width, surface process, etc.) and contact PCB manufacturers (such as Dingji Electronics) to get a customized quote
The price of four-layer PCB prototyping is affected by a variety of factors, including the cost of materials, process costs, quantity factors, and technical difficulties. Prices fluctuate due to market competition and supply and demand. To reduce costs, companies and individuals can achieve this through strategies such as choosing materials wisely, optimizing design solutions, improving production efficiency, and establishing long-term relationships with suppliers. In the future, with the continuous development of the electronics manufacturing industry and technological advances, the price of four-layer PCB proofing is expected to be further reduced, creating more possibilities for the popularization and application of electronic products.