How are through holes plated?

In through-hole technology, the components are mounted on the PCB board by inserting their leads through the respective hole. When using Plated Through Holes, as the name suggests, the inner wall of the holes is covered with a thin layer of Copper, which makes the entire inner hole area conductive.

What is meant by a plated through hole?

The most common embedded component in a printed circuit board (PCB) is a plated through hole (PTH), which serves as a conductive conduit from one layer of the board to another. They are created by drilling a hole in the board and plating the inside with a conductive material, usually copper.

Should PCB mounting holes be plated?

Mounting holes should generally be plated as this allows mounting with metal screws. Because floating bits of metal can be sources of EMI, the tooling holes should be connected to some ground net (earth (PE), signal ground (SGND), a grounded enclosure, etc.).

What does a plated through hole in a PCB do?

Plated through holes are the holes in a printed circuit board (PCB) with copper coated walls. These holes allow electricity to be carried from one side of the circuit board through the copper in the hole to the other side of the board.

Why are there holes in my printed circuit board?

Common PCB Fabrication Problems: Plating Voids. Plated through holes are the holes in a printed circuit board (PCB) with copper coated walls. These holes allow electricity to be carried from one side of the circuit board through the copper in the hole to the other side of the board.

Why are there voids in plated through holes?

Plating voids in plated through holes happen when, during the deposition process, copper is not coated evenly, preventing proper plating. This could be because of contamination, air bubbles in the sides of the hole, and/or rough drilling.

How to prevent PCB plating voids caused by rough drilling?

The best way to prevent PCB plating voids caused by rough drilling is simply to make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions during use. Manufacturers usually have a suggestion for the recommended number of drill hits and the correct in-feeds and speeds for the drill.