The short answer
What this setting controls
Gold fingers are not ordinary decorative gold pads. They form a mechanical and electrical connector interface and normally require a hard, wear-resistant contact finish plus a controlled board-edge shape.
Control contact pitch, insertion depth, bevel, finished board thickness, nickel/gold system, copper-to-edge clearance and any selective-plating boundary from the connector specification.
Options in the order form
How the available choices differ
| Choice | Use it for | Engineering note |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended / default | Builds without a documented exception | Keeps the current compatible process path. |
| Alternative selection | A released drawing, stack-up or assembly plan requires it | Recheck every dependent option after changing gold fingers. |
Compatibility
What can change with this selection
- Surface finish and gold-finger plating are related but not interchangeable.
- Panel rails and breakaway features must not damage the contacts.
- If the page disables a choice, treat it as a compatibility result and adjust the controlling design decision rather than forcing the value.
Practical recommendation
How to make the decision
- Use this option only when the design has edge contacts.
- Match the board thickness and bevel to the connector datasheet.
- Dimension the plated length and keep-out in the fabrication drawing.
Before release
Check these points before adding the quote to cart
- Confirm the selected value matches the released Gerber, drawing, stack-up, BOM or assembly plan.
- Review any fields that changed automatically after this selection.
- Check the board preview and server-calculated estimate before adding the quote to cart.
- Use this option only when the design has edge contacts.
- Match the board thickness and bevel to the connector datasheet.
- Dimension the plated length and keep-out in the fabrication drawing.
Frequently asked questions
Answers for ordering and design review
What should I do if I am unsure about Gold fingers?
Keep the safe compatible default and add a concise question in Special instructions, or ask the TekRabbits concierge for guidance.
When should I change Gold fingers?
Change it when the released electrical, mechanical, thermal, assembly or quality plan gives a measurable reason. Otherwise keep the compatible default and review the resulting board preview and estimate.
Why is an option disabled?
The current material, geometry, layer count, quantity or another selected process makes that combination unavailable. Change the controlling selection or revise the design package rather than trying to bypass the disabled state.
Can I rely on the online choice as final manufacturing approval?
No. The interface screens known combinations and requests pricing, while final manufacturability remains subject to the released files and technical review.
What should I record outside the order form?
Put controlled requirements in the fabrication drawing, assembly drawing, stack-up, BOM or acceptance plan. Use Special instructions only for a concise pointer to that controlled requirement.
Will changing this update other selections?
It can. The order form re-evaluates compatibility and may replace a now-invalid dependent choice before requesting a fresh server-side estimate. Review every highlighted or automatically changed field.
What if the design requires an option that is not offered?
Do not approximate it with a different label. Recheck the controlling material and geometry, document the actual requirement, and request technical review before placing the order.
Further reading
Standards and technical references
Use the latest applicable revision and your organisation’s controlled requirements when a standard forms part of product acceptance.
- IPC design standards overviewIPC — Rigid, flex, HDI, RF and current-carrying design-standard families.
- TI high-speed layout guidelinesTexas Instruments — Return paths, layer transitions, vias and transmission-line effects.
- PCB surface-finish corrosion studyIPC technical paper — How finish choice relates to environmental protection and corrosion.