Why are PCB boards expensive and have a significant price difference?

The price of PCB boards (printed circuit boards) is usually higher, mainly due to the combined effect of multiple factors. The following are some of the main reasons for the high price of PCB boards:

Material cost:

The materials used in PCB boards, such as FR-4, CEM-10, CEM-3, etc., have different costs and characteristics. FR-4 is the most commonly used material with relatively low cost, while CEM-10 and CEM-3 are used for special applications with higher cost.

Special materials, such as metal substrates or high-frequency circuit boards, also have higher costs.

Production process:

Different production processes can affect the quality and price of PCB boards. For example, copper foil etching process, aluminum foil etching process, drilling, SMT, welding and other processes will all increase production costs.

The complexity and material types of solder mask and spray coating processes, as well as surface treatment methods such as HASL, ENIG, OSP, etc., can also affect prices.

Design complexity:

The complexity of PCB board design directly affects its price. Designing more complex circuit boards requires more processes and higher manufacturing requirements, resulting in higher prices.

Circuit boards with high circuit density, a large number of components, or subtle layouts require higher manufacturing accuracy, thereby increasing costs.

Thickness and number of layers of PCB board:

Generally speaking, thicker PCB boards and more layers have higher prices. This is because they require more materials and time to manufacture.

For every additional layer, the cost usually increases. For example, for every two layers of lines added, the cost may increase by 0.05 yuan/cm ².

Quantity and production cycle:

Usually, the more PCB boards there are, the lower the cost of each board, as mass production can bring economies of scale.

Urgent demand requires urgent production, which usually increases costs.

Market demand and competition:

Market demand is also an important factor affecting the price of PCB boards. When there is a high demand for a certain type of PCB board in the market, prices may rise.

Market competition may also affect prices, and fierce competition among multiple suppliers may lead to a decrease in prices.

Brand effect:

Famous brand PCB boards usually have higher quality assurance, but the price will also be correspondingly higher.

Special processes and requirements:

Certain special processes, such as buried copper and HDI (high-density interconnect), can significantly increase costs.

Special design requirements, such as circuit boards with line width/line spacing less than or equal to 3mil/3mil, will also result in higher costs than circuit boards larger than 3mil/3mil.

The price of PCB boards is influenced by multiple factors. In order to control costs, manufacturers and consumers often need to weigh these factors to find the most suitable solution for their needs.