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Electronics news

Printed circuit board with gold fingers

The term "gold fingers" refers to the presence of gold-plated, narrow connectors on the edge of the PCB.

They provide a low impedance electrical connection and a stable interface between the PCB and other components. The gold plating increases durability, corrosion resistance and conductivity and extends the life of the connector.

The gold finger manufacturing process typically involves the following steps:
- Preparation of the base material. Copper-coated laminate (e.g., FR4, polyimide) is used as the base material for the PCB.
- Copper patterning. The copper layer is etched or patterned to create the desired traces and component pads.
- Gold plating. Edge connectors or "fingers" are selectively plated with a thin layer of gold, usually using an electroplating process.
- Surface Treatment. Additional surface treatments may be applied to improve solderability and corrosion resistance, such as gold-nickel alloying or immersion in an electrolyte containing tin ions.

The thickness of the gold coating on gold fingers typically ranges from 0.5 microns to 2.5 microns, depending on the application and desired durability. Gold finger printed circuit boards are widely used in a variety of industries including telecommunications, aerospace, military, medical devices and high-end consumer electronics.