Set the right aspect ratio and capture pad

Design and Layout Design for Manufacturing
,
1

Let’s talk about aspect ratio and why it matters more than you might think.

Once you’ve specified drill sizes in your design, your fabricator takes over to plate those holes. Simple enough, right? Not quite. If your aspect ratio is off, you’re setting yourself up for issues like nodules in the via, poor copper distribution, or even reliability failures.

In this quick breakdown, we cover:

  • What aspect ratio actually means for plated vias
  • Why following your fabricator’s guidelines is critical
  • How microvia shape and capture pad size impact plating success
  • The magic number: 0.75:1 for plateable microvias

Bottom line: Respecting aspect ratio rules helps your fab house build the board you intended with clean, reliable vias that meet class requirements.

You can watch the full webinar on best PCB DFM practices to avoid manufacturing defects here.

1 Like