Types of PCB Drilled Holes and Drill Tool Sizes

RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY
Types of PCB Drilled Holes and Drill

Tool Sizes
Overview of PCB Holes
PCB holes can be categorized based on their purpose:
 Mounting holes - Allow the PCB to be secured to an enclosure or chassis using screws.
They are generally larger than other holes.
 Through-holes - Allow component leads to pass through from one side of the board to
the other for soldering. Most commonly sized at 0.4 mm.
 Vias - Allow connections between copper layers in multilayer PCBs. Sizes range from 0.2
to 0.8 mm.
 Cutouts - Allow clearance for tall components on the board by creating a cavity. Larger
than typical holes.
 Testpoint holes - Allow test probes access to internal nodes for measurement and
debugging. Around 0.5 to 1 mm.
 Fiducials - Reference points for PCBA assembly machines. Normally 0.8 to 1.5 mm.
 Slots - Oblong holes that allow adjustment of component position. Width around 1 mm.
Other factors like hole plating, tolerance, and layout also impact hole
specifications. We will now examine each hole type in more detail.
Mounting Holes
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Mounting holes are an important mechanical interface for the PCB assembly.
They allow securing the board in an enclosure or chassis using screws. Some
key specifications for mounting holes:
 Size - Typically range from 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter depending on screw size. Can be

larger for high load applications.
 Tolerance - +/- 0.1 mm. Tighter tolerances allow precise alignment.
 Plating - Often unplated since no electrical connection needed. Plated possible for
grounding.
 Layout - Placed near board edges and symmetrical about center. Minimum 2 holes, often
4 holes.
 Hole style - Simple holes without pads for clearance around screw heads.
Common mounting hole sizes:
PCB assembly machines use mounting holes to accurately position boards.
Precise hole location is critical. Mounting holes are created by drills sized for
the desired hole diameter. Recommended drill sizes are shown below for
common mounting hole dimensions.

Through-Holes
Through-holes allow component leads to pass through the PCB for soldering.
They connect tracks/pads on opposite sides. Key specifications:

 Size - Typically 0.4 to 1 mm in diameter matching component leads.
 Tolerance - +/- 0.05 mm for standard precision. +/- 0.02 mm for high precision boards.
 Plating - Electroplated copper barrel allows soldering.
 Layout - Placed according to component footprint. Must match component lead spacing.
 Hole style - Pads/annular rings around holes connect tracks.
0.4 mm is the most common through-hole size on PCBs. Other sizes are used
for connectors or thick component leads. through-hole diameter largely
depend on the electrical specification of the circuit. Here are some typical sizes:
Through-holes for common 0.4 mm pitch leaded components are drilled with
0.35 to 0.39 mm drills. Some recommended drill bit sizes are:

Vias
Vias provide connections between copper layers in multilayer PCBs with 2 or
more conductive layers. Key specifications:
 Size - Typically 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm to match trace widths.

 Tolerance - +/- 0.05 mm standard. +/- 0.02 mm for high density boards.
 Plating - Fully plated barrel allows interlayer connections.
 Layout - Placed efficiently to route between layers. High density in complex boards.
 Hole style - Pads on layers connected by via. No annular rings.
Via diameters depend on the trace widths they connect:
Here are recommended drill sizes for common via holes:

Cutouts
Cutouts are cavities drilled in a PCB to provide clearance for tall components.
This prevents components from shorting with the board surface. Key
specifications:
 Size - Varies based on component height, typically 3 to 10 mm.

 Tolerance - +/- 0.1 mm for most components.
 Plating - Partial plating may be used around cutout edges.
 Layout - Centered on component body location. Oval or circular shape.
 Hole style - No holes, drilled cavity through board. Edge plating optional.
Common components requiring cutouts:
 Capacitors
 Power transformers
 Coils
 Large ICs and regulators
 Connectors/sockets
Cutouts are created by carved mills rather than standard drills. Typical mill sizes
match the desired cutout diameter. Larger cutouts may require several passes
with increasing mill size.
Testpoint Holes

Testpoint holes provide access to nets and nodes on a PCB using test probes.
They are used for debugging and measurement during development. Key
specifications:
 Size - Typically between 0.5 to 1 mm. Match test probe diameter.

 Tolerance - +/- 0.1 mm, less critical.
 Plating - Fully plated barrel to provide electrical contact.
 Layout - Dispersed around board to access internal signals. Labelled for identification.
 Hole style - Annular ring pad around hole connects desired signal.
Testpoint holes allow testing otherwise inaccessible signals like on internal
layers. Recommended drill sizes for common testpoint holes are:

Larger holes up to 2 mm diameter are also possible for high voltage
measurement.
Fiducials
Fiducials are reference markers on a PCB used by assembly machines for
alignment and precision placement. Key specifications:
 Size - Typically 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm diameter.

 Tolerance - +/- 0.1 mm. Precise location critical.
 Plating - No plating required as non-conducting.
 Layout - At least two fiducials, often in diagonally opposite corners.
 Hole style - Simple holes without annular rings/pads.
Accurate fiducial holes allow automated optical assembly systems to precisely
position boards and place components. Recommended drill sizes:
Slots
Slots are oblong holes that allow adjustment of component position during
manual assembly. Key specifications:
 Size - Around 1 x 4 mm typically. Match component lead width.

 Tolerance - Not critical. Allows position adjustment.
 Plating - Fully plated.

 Layout - Adjacent to adjustable component footprint.
 Hole style - Connecting pad on one side only.
Slots provide flexibility in component placement. Common drill sizes:
Summary
 PCB holes serve purposes like mounting, interconnection, clearance, alignment and
adjustability.
 Hole sizes, tolerance, plating, and layout depend on the function.
 Small holes are drilled, while larger cavities are milled.

 Drill bits are sized around 0.1 to 0.2 mm smaller than the hole diameter.
 Precise hole sizing and location is critical for assembly fit and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common hole size in PCBs?
The most common hole size used in PCBs is 0.4mm for through-holes. This
accommodates the leads of many standard electronic components.
What precision should be used for PCB holes?
For standard boards, hole precision is +/- 0.05mm. For high density boards
requiring tighter tolerance, hole precision up to +/- 0.02mm can be specified.
How deep should the holes be drilled in a PCB?
PCB holes should be drilled through the entire thickness of the board material.
This ensures connections form properly between layers. Standard PCB
thickness is 1.6mm.
What size mounting holes should be used for M3 screws?
For M3 sized screws, the mounting holes should be 3 to 3.5mm in diameter.
The recommended drill size is around 2.9 to 3.4mm respectively.
How are cutouts for tall components created?

Cutouts are created by carved mills in the required size rather than standard
drill bits. Multiple passes with increasing mill size may be used for larger
cutouts.

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RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Types of PCB Drilled Holes and Drill

PCB holes can be categorized based on their purpose:

specifications. We will now examine each hole type in more detail.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

key specifications for mounting holes:

 Size - Typically range from 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter depending on screw size. Can be

Common mounting hole sizes:

PCB assembly machines use mounting holes to accurately position boards.

common mounting hole dimensions.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

They connect tracks/pads on opposite sides. Key specifications:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

for connectors or thick component leads. through-hole diameter largely

0.35 to 0.39 mm drills. Some recommended drill bit sizes are:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

Vias provide connections between copper layers in multilayer PCBs with 2 or

more conductive layers. Key specifications:

 Size - Typically 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm to match trace widths.

Via diameters depend on the trace widths they connect:

Here are recommended drill sizes for common via holes:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

 Size - Varies based on component height, typically 3 to 10 mm.

Common components requiring cutouts:

with increasing mill size.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

 Size - Typically between 0.5 to 1 mm. Match test probe diameter.

Testpoint holes allow testing otherwise inaccessible signals like on internal

layers. Recommended drill sizes for common testpoint holes are:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

Larger holes up to 2 mm diameter are also possible for high voltage

Fiducials are reference markers on a PCB used by assembly machines for

alignment and precision placement. Key specifications:

 Size - Typically 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm diameter.

Accurate fiducial holes allow automated optical assembly systems to precisely

position boards and place components. Recommended drill sizes:

manual assembly. Key specifications:

 Size - Around 1 x 4 mm typically. Match component lead width.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

Slots provide flexibility in component placement. Common drill sizes:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common hole size in PCBs?

accommodates the leads of many standard electronic components.

What precision should be used for PCB holes?

requiring tighter tolerance, hole precision up to +/- 0.02mm can be specified.

How deep should the holes be drilled in a PCB?

This ensures connections form properly between layers. Standard PCB

What size mounting holes should be used for M3 screws?

For M3 sized screws, the mounting holes should be 3 to 3.5mm in diameter.

The recommended drill size is around 2.9 to 3.4mm respectively.

How are cutouts for tall components created?

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services www.raypcb.com

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