The Manufacturing Reports Test Coupon v1 was designed specifically for the evaluation of printed circuit boards. There are many features designed into the board exclusively to allow measurements that normally wouldn’t be possible on a conventional PCB. At the most basic level, the MRTCv1 is 75mm x 50mm two layer design, with solder mask and silk screen on both sides, and board orders submitted with the MRTC are specified with a stackup of 1oz copper with a HASL surface finish.

Manufacturing Reports is maintaining a glossary of important manufacturing terms. Hopefully the terms listed below will be useful in helping you make informed decisions when choosing a manufacturing partner for your prototype or production run. If there is a definition that you think could be refined, or a term that you think should be added, please reach out and let us know!

It is important to me that I clearly describe for both readers and the manufacturers being reviewed, which criteria are used when evaluating the qualities of both the vendor and the product they provide. These Rigid PCB Review Criteria, in concert with the standardized PCB I designed called a “test coupon” allow me to do a direct technical comparison against a constant design, using the criteria below.

Manufacturing Reports does not accept compensation of any kind from the manufacturers reviewed, including any discounts or rebates for services provided. For purposes of disclosure, I have dealt with [...]