Can HASL finish be used for castellated pads?

I am designing a PCB that uses castellated edges to connect to the parent board. I would like to use hot air solder leveling finish to save on costs for prototyping, but I am concerned that the non-planar surfaces of the module may pose assembly issues. Is it common at all to use HASL for castellated boards, or do I need Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold to ensure successful assembly?

Yes. Hot air solder leveling works fine for plating through holes, even large holes, I see no reason for it not to work with castelation. It does somewhat bind you to a solder chemistry, (lead or lead-free) and also has a shorter shelf-life than ENIG.

Read More: PCB Assembly

#PCB Assembly #PCB Design

Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.
Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

What Others Are Asking

How do you handle a PCB that didn’t print correctly?

I did have one board come back with a manufacturer error – an extra bit of copper just a hair’s width across hidden underneath a component. It looked almost like someone’s eyelash had fallen onto the board just before photo etch. How should I deal with it?

How can I fix the PCB to the mechanical structure?

I designed a PCB with an imaging sensor that is mechanically coupled to a lens assembly using four 2-56 screws. I’m noticing that even though the screws are holding the board tightly against the mechanical structure if I flick or lightly knock the the assembly the image “moves”.  I’m hoping to get a few suggestions for ways to fix the PCB to the mechanical structure. Any suggestions for adhesives or the like? Something else?

Read Detailed Advice From Blog Articles

Scroll to Top