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Every PCB is a unique design so the manufacturing configuration might will be different depending on your design. Please be very careful on selecting parameters on the JLCPCB ordering page. You do not want to make a trivial mistake and waste money when ordering your PCB.

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titleHelpful Some helpful JLCPCB tips before you start the layout design
  • Smallest free via size is 0.2mm/0.45mm

Table of Contents
stylenone

Step 1:

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Generate gerber files

https://jlcpcb.com/help/article/how-to-export-pcb-to-gerber-files-in-altium24

Please review the gerber files in an online gerber viewer (e.g. PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer)

Steps below are for the JLCPCB order coordinator, that said feel free to consult the step below when you order PCB for yourself.

Step 2:

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Configure PCB manufacturing parameters

Once you upload the gerber files, you should reach this page shown below.

image-20240909-004333.pngimage-20240909-004452.pngimage-20240909-004543.pngimage-20240909-004642.pngMake sure via is at least tented.

If your board doesn’t need extra features, please make sure you are not paying extras

  •  Via is tented. Upgrade to Epoxy Filled & Capped is available for free if board layer >= 6

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  •  Min via hole size/diameter is selected as 0.3mm/(0.4/0.45mm)
  •  Select HASL(with lead) for Surface Finish

For other parameters, you can leave the same as shown in the screenshot screenshots above. However, there are some parameters we suggest you to consider:

  1. Board Color (Black might be free under unknown conditions)

  2. To If you need to change layer stackup, choose Yes for Impedance Control

  3. Higher Inner/Outer Copper Weight increase PCB current carrying abilities

  4. Remove Mark on PCB might be free under unknown conditions

For 6 layer (and above) boards, it forces you to select ENIG for surface finish which leads to around $60 extra.

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Step 2B: Decide if we need Stencil

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titleWhat is a PCB stencil

A PCB stencil is a thin, typically stainless steel or polyimide sheet, that has laser-cut openings to match the layout of surface mount technology (SMT) components on a printed circuit board (PCB). It is used in the assembly process to apply solder paste accurately onto the pads of a PCB before placing components.

image-20240918-214418.pngImage Added

Stencils speeds up the bringup process of SMT PCBs, but they also adds manufacturing and shipping costs. WARG orders them for most of our PCBs unless the PCB mainly consists of through-hole components like the image shown below.

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Always check the PCB design in the JLCPCB gerber viewer when deciding whether to order stencils or not

Step 3: Select boards you want to order and click Secure Checkout

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Step 4: Make sure to use WARG Shipping Address

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Step 5: Payment

Note that the Grand Total price is in USD, not in CAD. Though it’s recommended to pay using a CAD card to simplify reimbursement process.

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