Gold Finger PCB

PCB gold fingers are inspected to ensure that they fit correctly into their respective slots. These inspections are typically conducted using a magnifying lens. The edges should have a clean and smooth surface without any excess plating or nickel appearance.

Then, between two and five microns of hard gold is plated on the edges. It is usually enriched with cobalt to boost the rigidity of its surface.

1. Easy to install

Gold finger PCB helps to connect secondary circuit boards to the motherboard. They help in the transfer of commands from one board to another, which is essential for the operation of electronic devices. Moreover, they make it possible for a computer to upgrade its graphics and sound cards without disrupting the functioning of the entire system.

These PCB edges also link domain adapters, which are special modules that boot out some processing roles from the central board during computation. They can also serve as a Gold finger PCB connection point for USB and other external devices that need to be attached to the motherboard.

The fabrication of these PCBs begins with the plating of nickel on the copper fingers, which is followed by the application of gold surface finish. The metal used in this process is flash gold, which is highly corrosion resistant and provides rigidity to the edges of the connectors. Additionally, it is enhanced with 5 to 10 % cobalt to increase its strength. The edge connectors are then beveled accurately for quick insertion into the corresponding slots of the circuit board.

The process of manufacturing PCBs requires rigorous inspection and adhesion tests to meet the high quality standards that JHD imposes. If any defect is detected in the surface of a gold finger, it is not acceptable for commercial use. A lack of smoothness in the gold layer can affect the performance of the device, leading to signal loss.

2. Versatile

Unlike the comparatively weaker edge connectors, gold finger PCBs can be inserted and ejected many times without causing any damage. This is because of their superior strength and conductivity, which come from the use of an alloy containing nickel and cobalt. They also have a smooth surface finish that prevents them from getting worn away easily.

As a result, Gold finger PCBs can transmit signals effectively and help to connect different devices together. This has been instrumental in the global digital trend that we see today.

In order to ensure that gold fingers are of the best quality, they must undergo a series of inspections and tests. These include a visual test with a magnifying glass, as well as a tape test. These tests Gold Finger PCB Supplier are designed to check that the gold plating is of high quality and has a smooth surface.

Before the actual plating process starts, it is important to note that the inner layers of a PCB must be copper-free. This is because copper creates too much contact during beveling and may lead to the formation of cracks in the PCB. It is also crucial that the plated through holes (PTH) are placed within a 1 mm region of the gold fingers. This ensures that the gold finger contacts are not exposed to extra connection during beveling.

3. Strong

Gold fingers are responsible for allowing modern-day computers, mobile devices and other technology to be as smart as they are. They work by connecting circuit boards to the motherboards of various devices, thereby facilitating smooth communication between different parts of the device. This is a crucial feature that allows smartphones, computers and other electronic gadgets to function as they do, and it also makes it possible for them to be upgraded at an affordable cost over five or ten years.

PCB gold plated pads, commonly known as Gold fingers or Gold-finger contacts, are a set of conductive copper rows on the edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) that serve to connect other electronics. Often used to link network modules and special adapters, these pads are instrumental in linking peripheral electronics to the primary PCB.

To make the PCB gold-finger contacts durable, they undergo a rigorous production process and stringent quality assurance standards. These standards are outlined in a series of IPC guidelines that should be reviewed regularly for updates. These guidelines include visual inspection, plating thickness and surface finish, beveling, spacing, and alignment.

The edges of the connectors should be flat and have a consistent texture, and they must be free of extra plating or “Nickel’s foot.” Nickel is then plated between two and six microns on top of which hard gold is plated at a minimum of 1 micron. Cobalt is generally added to the gold plating to boost its surface resistance. The inner PCB layers should be copper-free to prevent exposure during the beveling process. It is also advisable to maintain a distance of at least 1 mm between the gold-finger contacts and Plated Holes, SMDs and Pads.

4. Durable

Using hard gold of specified thicknesses on PCB edge connectors helps to make them durable. This is because of the fact that hard gold is a tougher material that can withstand numerous connections and disconnections without causing any damage. Moreover, the use of nickel in combination with gold plating ensures that PCB gold fingers are able to resist wear and tear.

In addition to nickel, PCB gold fingers also require a high percentage of copper for the plating process to work properly. These factors make PCB gold fingers more stable and durable than those of other materials, such as Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG).

While ENIG is cheaper to purchase and easier to solder, it cannot withstand repeated plugging and unplugging for long periods. This is because of the fact that ENIG is softer than hard gold, and therefore, does not have the durability required for commercial applications.

A variety of tests are performed to judge the quality of PCB gold finger connectors. Among the most important is the visual test, which involves looking at the edges of the connectors under a magnifying glass. This enables the manufacturer to see whether the edges are smooth and clean and that there is no excess nickel-plating. Another test is the tape test, which requires a strip of tape to be placed along the contact edges and then checked for traces of plating after the strip has been removed. If any traces of gold are evident on the tape, it indicates that the plating is not durable enough.