On a Printed circuit board, at the edges of the circuit, we find semi- copper plated incisions called castellations. They help us stack one Printed circuit board on top of another when we try to assemble them. These castellations can be small holes, or they can be as huge as a complete circle. You can create Castellation PCB as different modules and then use these modules independently or together with other modules.
Where do we use Castellation PCB?
- You can use Castellations or copper-plated holes in duplicating certain parts of a PCB. For example, a feedback loop can be soldered onto the main Printed circuit board whenever required.
- They help in changing the pin layout when the user has different requirements.
- It helps in stacking one PCB over the other at the time of final production.
- Most of the small wifi modules use this castellation PCBs.
- The holes help the manufacturers in providing wireless links between one PCB to the other.
- It helps in easy soldering and desoldering of leadless components such as LGAs, BGAs, or QFNs.
- It allows IC’s to be reusable without having to worry about damaging them directly.
Different Properties
- They help us to add complex functionalities to a particular design, for example like RF.
- You can make them into modules, and hence they are certified.
- Unlike a primary board, a castellated module can have components on one side.
- One of the leading properties of Castellation PCB is that they allow us to make an electrical connection between two boards without having to use any additional external components.
Specifications
- A castellation PCB should have the largest possible size.
- According to the recent recommendations, use ENIG surface finish.
- You can customize the number of castellations based on the design. The more, the better. It’s necessary to get the optimal number of holes.
Applications
We use castellation PCB in many industries. Few of them are
- Telecommunication
- Automobile
- Mechanical
- Circuit branches
- Industrial control and power
- Computer applications
- Electronics
We usually create these holes or castellations using the drilling process and copper plating. But it’s not the only alternative; there are a lot of ways to make these holes.
We use THT, also called the through-hole technology used during Printed Circuit board assembling. Not just that, but at times Surface mount technology is used as well.
Board to board soldering is one more such process where the stacked up castellation PCB boards are linked together.
Different designs available
- Half holes: We cut Every hole in half.
- Holes with smaller half holes: In the mounting hole, we cut a tiny half hole.
- Holes tangent to the board’s edge: A hole is cut tangentially with a small incision to the board’s edge.
Conclusion: The best Printed Circuit board design tools will enable you to place castellated holes quickly and easily. They also generate the fabrication files or centroid files your manufacturer requires to place your castellated holes correctly.
