Gold finger PCBs
Card-edge contacts for removable boards. Define the mating geometry, wear requirements and inspection criteria together.
Explore requirements ↗Gold finger PCB · Designed for the interfaceGold finger PCB.
Gold finger PCB.
Critical connections.
Build a better gold finger PCB specification. Explore hard gold plating, edge beveling and connector geometry—then bring your requirements into one focused inquiry.
Hard gold & selective finishesDesign-led resourcesOptional file uploads
01 / DEFINE THE INTERFACE02 / SPECIFY THE FINISH03 / REVIEW THE GEOMETRY04 / REQUEST A QUOTE
Built around your connectionA gold finger PCB is more
A gold finger PCB is more
than a gold-plated edge.
The connector, substrate, finish and manufacturing drawing must work together. Start with the board architecture your application actually needs.
Selective hard gold
Separate the contact finish from the solderable surface. Understand hard gold, nickel underplate and selective processing.
Explore requirements ↗Multilayer & high-speed
Plan the stackup, connector breakout and reference planes around a controlled mechanical interface.
Explore requirements ↗HDI interconnects
Coordinate fine-pitch routing and microvia choices with contact keepouts and plating access.
Explore requirements ↗Rigid-flex integration
Keep connector wear, stiffener geometry and dynamic bending requirements distinct in the design review.
Explore requirements ↗Prototype to production
Resolve contact fit and finish details on the prototype, then carry approved requirements into the production package.
Explore requirements ↗The engineering benchUnderstand the trade-offs.
Understand the trade-offs.
Before you release the files.
Practical tools for gold thickness, material cost and design readiness. Every result shows its limits.
01 / Plating specification
Gold thickness converter
Convert micrometres and microinches without rounding away the specification.
1 µin = 0.0254 µm exactly. A unit conversion is not a plating recommendation. Specify the minimum, measurement locations and required finish independently.
02 / Cost drivers
Gold content cost model
See how contact area and thickness change the theoretical gold content. Enter your own material-price assumption.
Model: area × thickness × 0.00001932 g. Uses bulk pure-gold density of 19.32 g/cm³, uniform nominal thickness, and no process loss. Include both sides in total area. Excludes alloy composition, overplating, nickel, bath efficiency, tooling, PCB fabrication, beveling, testing, margin and freight. This is not a PCB price or a quote.
03 / Before fabrication
Gold finger design readiness
Use this checklist to identify missing inputs before requesting a review.
A completed checklist is not an automated Gerber check or a manufacturability approval.
Detail makes the differenceSpecify the contact.
Specify the contact.
Not just the color.
Gold fingers are conductive pads at a PCB edge that mate with spring contacts in a connector. Their reliability depends on fit, contact force, surface condition, wear and the environment—not gold thickness alone.
Electrolytic hard gold is commonly chosen for repeated mating. ENIG is a different finish system; a board can use selective hard gold on the fingers and a solderable finish elsewhere.
Compare finish systems ↗Your fabrication drawing should define
Five details worth getting right
- Mechanical fit: finished board thickness, tolerance, key location and connector drawing.
- Contact geometry: pitch, width, length and any sequencing requirements.
- Plating: deposit type, minimum gold and nickel thickness, and measurement locations.
- Bevel: angle convention, residual tip thickness and copper clearance.
- Acceptance: inspection, test methods and agreed sampling.
See the interface
Contact geometry in context.
The plated contacts, key position and board edge work as one mechanical interface. Match their dimensions to the exact mating connector rather than estimating them from a photograph.
Use a dimensioned drawing to define usable contact length, board thickness, bevel geometry and the inspection requirements.
Explore the design guideA clear path to a better specificationFrom the first sketch
01 02 03 04
From the first sketch
to a reviewable inquiry.
Share the application
Identify the connector, intended environment, board size and expected mating use.
Define the critical details
Include your stackup, gold finish, bevel drawing and dimensional tolerances.
Resolve open questions
Flag uncertain specifications before treating a design assumption as a requirement.
Request a quotation
Submit quantities and drawings through the inquiry form. Files remain optional.
The resource libraryMake the next design
Explore all resources ↗Make the next design
decision with confidence.
Gold thickness, explained
Convert units and distinguish nominal values from a guaranteed minimum.
Read the guide →Beveling without ambiguity
Why the connector drawing, angle datum and remaining tip thickness matter together.
Explore bevel geometry →How gold fingers are made
Understand preparation, nickel, gold deposition, profiling and final inspection.
Follow the process →Further reading: explore this gold finger PCB overview and a guide to PCB edge contacts alongside your connector manufacturer's drawing.
Common questionsGet the details
Get the details
straight.
Design guidance is a starting point. The approved drawing and agreed acceptance requirements control the manufactured board.
See more questions →What is a gold finger PCB?
A PCB with gold-finished edge contacts designed to mate with a card-edge connector. The contact pattern and board edge form an electrical and mechanical interface.
How thick should the gold be?
Choose thickness using the connector requirements, duty cycle, environment and qualification evidence. There is no single value that guarantees a particular number of mating cycles. State the minimum thickness and measurement method in the drawing.
Is ENIG the same as hard gold?
No. ENIG uses electroless nickel and immersion gold; hard gold is normally an electrolytic alloyed deposit selected for contact wear. They are not interchangeable just because both appear gold.
Does every board need a 30-degree bevel?
No. The connector drawing controls the bevel requirement. Define the angle reference and residual edge thickness rather than relying on a generic angle.
Can I ask for a quote without Gerber files?
Yes. Files are optional. Describe the application, quantities and known dimensions, and identify the details that remain open.
From specification to next stepTell us about your
Tell us about your
gold finger PCB.
Share your connector, board requirements and project stage. Add drawings when available, or start with a question.
- Design files are optional.
- Specify gold thickness, bevel geometry and mating connector when known.
- Use the same form for a quotation or a design question.
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