The short answer
What this setting controls
Ordinary routing leaves the laminate edge unplated. Edge plating deliberately wraps conductive metal around selected edges.
Specify plated segments, connected net, copper pull-back elsewhere, corner treatment, finish and inspection criteria. Confirm that breakaway tabs and panel routing do not interrupt the required plating.
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 edge plating. |
Compatibility
What can change with this selection
- Board thickness and finish can constrain availability.
- Do not assume every routed slot or board edge is plated.
- 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 for chassis grounding, shielding seams or defined edge contacts.
- Show the exact plated edge in the fabrication drawing.
- Keep unrelated copper away from the routed edge.
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 latest estimate before adding the quote to cart.
- Use for chassis grounding, shielding seams or defined edge contacts.
- Show the exact plated edge in the fabrication drawing.
- Keep unrelated copper away from the routed edge.
Frequently asked questions
Answers for ordering and design review
What should I do if I am unsure about Edge plating?
Keep the safe compatible default and add a concise question in Special instructions, or ask the TekRabbits concierge for guidance.
When should I change Edge plating?
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 updating the quote. 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.
