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What Functions Does the Copper Layer in

PCB Offer?
Copper layers can be referred to as a printed circuit board (PCB) having copper
present on it once etching is completed. This is usually pads and tracks or ground
and power layers.

In this article we will be considering the functions of the copper layer in PCB. We’ll
also discuss how you can generate the output files for your copper layers and more.

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Why is Copper Used in Printed Circuit Boards?

Two terms are very important for use in the PCB design.These include copper
thieving and copper balancing. Though, they are usually used interchangeably, we
will explain the important distinctions between them:

Copper balancing

Copper balancing involves the addition of non-conductive patterns and areas of

copper into a printed circuit board. This alleviates the board’s possible bending when
manufacturing is on. Furthermore, the PCB layer stackups, which aren’t configured
symmetrically, can lead the warping of the board during fabrication.

Also, the uneven copper present in the structure of the board could also twist when the
process of assembly as a result of too much heat utilized for soldering.In order to
counter this, your design system of the PCB CAD will help in adding the area fills,
and pours, to the board’s sparse areas to help copper balance your design.

Copper thieving

Copper thieving is adding non-conductive copper patterns to the printed circuit board.
However, in cases like this, it is either to thieve or even out some electrical current
utilized in the plating of the board. Also, on the board areas where there are lonely or
isolated traces, the applied current onto the board to aid plating could be more
concentrated or focused on the features.

The scenario could cause the trace to under-etch thereby delivering a kind of
“mushroom” profile rather than the clean squared edges expected. The trace’s

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cross-section can depict serious undercutting, the trace present on the right side is
squared off the way you want.

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Choosing the Right Material for the PCB Copper?

Copper Foil

This is known as the cathode part of the electrolytic material. This material is
deposited onto a continuous, thin, metal foil layer on the circuit board’s base.
Furthermore, you can bond it easily onto an insulating layer, thereby accepting a
protective layer, as well as corroded in order to form your circuit pattern.

Prepreg

Prepreg is culled from the word pre-impregnated. This is known as fiberglass that is
impregnated with resin. This resin is pre-dried;however, it isn’t hardened. Therefore,
when heated, it sticks, flows, and is fully immersed. Therefore, the prepregs are
strengthened with fiberglass through an adhesive layer, which is just like the FR4
material. All the names of the prepregs are obtained from the fiberglass used.

What is the standard Thickness of the Copper Layer in

PCB?

One of the mostly used units when measuring thickness of the copper layer in printed
circuit boards (PCBs).However, majority of people don’t have an idea about the
nature of its thickness. Sure it is not everyone that thinks it in mils and then converts
into their preferred measuring unit using a unit conversion tool.

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Furthermore, majority of PCBs are usually constructed using a copper thickness of 1

oz.During PCB manufacturing, when the customer doesn’t offer their specific specs,
then the manufacturer usually assumes 1 oz whenever they are quoting as well as
building the design. Furthermore, if the customer decides that their design needs
additional current than the usual 1 oz could carry, then it is advisable to increase the
thickness of the copper, as well as your traces’ widths.

Sure, the thicker your copper is, then the more the cost. However, there are some
certain time when this becomes necessary. Also, the increase in cost doesn’t have to
do with the costs of raw materials only but that the processing of thicker weights of
copper consumes more time. Also, it is a bit trickier to perform or handle.

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Processing the Thickness of the Copper Layer in PCB

Etching helps in manufacturing the board’s copper traces. This is the same whether it
is for the internal layers or for the surface. Etching is one important step in PCB
manufacturing. The layer fabrication starts with the laminate sheet, which is fully
covered with copper. Etching has to do with getting rid of the excess copper that is
present in traces, as well as other areas, like annular rings for the vias, component
pads, making use of ammonia-based solution.

The sheets typically start with the copper thickness. The thickness could be etched
down, increased, plated up, or decreased to the right specification. As a result of these
sheets’ manufacturing process, the surface features a kind of roughness, which assists
with the bonding to a specific dielectric material. Moreover, this could result in an
adverse and negative effect on the signal integrity at a higher frequency.

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Furthermore, at a frequency of more than 100MHz, this skin effect whereby current
flows is usually close to the trace’s internal surface in contrast to the through the
center of the conductor. This leads the trace’s effective resistance to rise and then
oppose the flow of current.

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How to Generate the Output Files for Your Copper

Layers

Anytime you generate output data files, make use of “flashes” for the pads. This
avoids pads that are “painted/drawn”.

Furthermore, for the larger copper planes or copper areas don’t fill them with using
small draws or “painting”. Anywhere possible, make use of polygons or contours in
constructing planes or areas. They are the standard features present in the Gerber X2
output and other data formats.

In addition, make sure that you add your board outline whenever you output the
copper layer in PCB. This aids in the identification of any rotation, data alignment, as
well as mirroring issues.

Achieving this is best making use of a specific small line, whereby the line’s center is
the board outline.

Conclusion

We hope we have explained what the copper layer in PCB is all about. We are always
here to assist you, if you have any questions.

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