Know All About Heavy Copper PCB

Heavy Copper Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is 3 or more ounces of finished copper in the inner and/or outer layers. It is made using the process of Laminated Deposition. It is a combination of processes that allows extreme copper thickness requirements to become efficient and cost effective. This process uses heavy base copper that delivers consistent and reliable high power circuits.

The circuits used in the process of Laminated Deposition are layered with thin sheets of copper foil. Next, these circuits are etched to remove the unwanted copper. To add to the thickness of the copper to planes, traces, pads and plated-through-holes, these circuits are plated. Circuit layers are then laminated using an epoxy-based substrate such as FR4 or polyimide while in the making of Heavy copper PCB.

Interesting Facts About Heavy Copper PCB:

• It is accepted if it the copper is 3 ounces ft2 to 10 oz per ft2 in the outer and inner layers.
• It is used on the internal and external layers of a printed circuit board.
• The improved coppers weight along with a thicker plating.
• Improved copper balances substrate into the holes by changing a weak board into the long-lasting and dependable wiring platform.
• You should always check the copper’s thickness during the circuit design stage.
• The current-carrying capacity is determined from the width and thickness of heavy copper.
• The heave copper conductor increases the entire PCB thickness.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Heavy Copper In PCB?

• The capability of heavy copper to survive frequent exposure if there is excessive current, elevated temperatures and recurring thermal cycling that can destroy a regular circuit board in seconds.
• The high tolerance capacity of heavy copper makes it compatible with applications in rough situations such as, defense and aerospace industry products.
• Compact in product size as the several copper weights are used in the same layer of circuitry.

Heavy copper PCBs are used for various purposes like in planar transformers, high power distribution, heat dissipation, power converters, etc. The increasing demand for heavy copper-clad boards is extraordinary especially in computer, military, automotive, and industrial controls. These are mainly used in power supplies, power converters, power distribution, welding equipment, automotive industry and solar panel manufacturers, etc.

Heavy copper PCB is much more costly to produce than the PCBs due to the unique design. Thus, the more complicated the design, the more it will cost to produce a heavy copper PCB. This article will help you to get the awareness that ready heavy copper PCB is available. Since there are variations of the heavy copper technology which includes buried heavy copper, multiple levels of copper, and multilayer heavy copper. The simplest form of heavy copper is the single or double-sided PCB that contains of 3 to 10 ounce thickness of copper.

Miki Barzig is an author/writer, a Marine Corps veteran and a perpetual student of art, journaling and life. She has written for several national and trade publications and continues to build her library with her own publications.