What is Side Plating in PCB Manufacturing?

Side plating, also called edge plating or border plating, is a specialized PCB manufacturing process that extends metal plating from the board surface to the edges. This technique creates continuous conductive paths along the PCB perimeter, essential for reliable edge connector functionality. FanyPCB utilize advanced side plating techniques to ensure robust electrical connections in high-wear applications.

The Importance of Side Plating for PCB Reliability

Side plating plays a critical role in ensuring long-term reliability for PCBs with edge connections. By extending conductive plating from the board surface to its edges, this process creates durable contact surfaces that withstand repeated insertions and removals in connector applications. The continuous metal layer provides superior protection against environmental factors like moisture and oxidation that could otherwise degrade edge connections over time. In high-vibration environments common in automotive and industrial applications, side plating helps prevent edge delamination that could lead to connection failures. The process also maintains more consistent electrical characteristics along board edges, reducing impedance variations that can affect signal integrity in high-speed designs. For applications requiring hundreds or thousands of mating cycles, properly executed side plating can mean the difference between a reliable product and one prone to connection failures in the field.

Understanding the Side Plating Process

The side plating process begins with precision edge preparation, where specialized routing creates smooth, clean edges essential for uniform plating. After thorough cleaning, the board undergoes chemical activation to prepare the surface for metal deposition. The first critical step is electroless copper plating, which forms a thin conductive base layer across all surfaces, including the edges. This is followed by electroplating, where electric current builds up the copper thickness to the required specification. For enhanced durability, the copper typically receives a final finish - either ENIG for moderate-use applications or hard gold for high-wear situations. Throughout the process, temperature, chemical concentrations, and immersion times are carefully controlled to ensure consistent results. Quality verification includes both automated optical inspection for visual defects and electrical testing to confirm conductivity across all plated surfaces.

Design Guidelines for Side Plated PCBs

Designing for side plating requires careful consideration of several key factors. First, designers must account for proper material overlap, typically specifying at least 0.5mm of plating extending from the edge onto the board surface to ensure reliable connections. Internal layer copper should maintain a minimum 1.0mm clearance from the board edge to prevent potential shorting. Edge geometry significantly affects plating quality - rounded edges with at least 0.3mm radius promote more uniform metal deposition than sharp corners. Material selection depends on application requirements: ENIG works well for moderate-use connectors, while hard gold plating provides superior durability for high-cycle applications. Designers should incorporate plating bars in panel layouts to ensure even current distribution during electroplating. Avoiding right-angle corners in favor of 45-degree chamfers helps achieve more consistent plating thickness across all edges. These design considerations collectively ensure reliable performance while maintaining manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.

FanyPCB's Side Plating Capabilities

Our specialized edge plating services include:

1. Laser-Cut Edges for superior plating uniformity

2. Custom Plating Thickness from 0.5μm to 50μm

3. 100% Electrical Testing of all plated edges

4. Cross-Section Analysis for quality verification

We specialize in high-precision side plating with advanced finishes like ENIG and hard gold, tailored to meet the demands of industries ranging from consumer electronics to aerospace. Our stringent quality control—including automated optical inspection (AOI) and electrical testing—guarantees flawless edge plating for mission-critical applications.

Whether you're designing high-speed edge connectors, rugged industrial PCBs, or compact wearables, proper side plating ensures long-term performance. Need expert guidance on optimizing your PCB edge plating? Contact FanyPCB team for a consultation and DFM review today.