PCB FAQs
Fast5Protos
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NOTE: If you require PC boards outside of the Fast5Protos service capabilities, please visit our full service company for details at RB Design, Inc.
- General Company FAQs
- Product and Pricing Matrix FAQs
- Manufacturing FAQs
- Technical File Setup FAQs
- Ordering FAQs
- Shipping FAQs
- Who is Fast5Protos?
- What are Fast5Protos?
- What are the hours of operation?
- How do I contact Fast5Protos?
Fast5Protos is a quick-turn PC board prototype solution made available through our main company, RB Design, Inc. RB Design offers PCB services including PCB layout, PCB manufacturing, turn-key PCB assembly, and quick turn prototype PCBs. All Fast5Protos PC boards are manufactured at our facility in the U.S.A.
What are Fast5Protos?Fast5Protos stands for a quantity of five printed circuit boards manufactured for quick-turn delivery. We offer a prototype PCB build with the option of add-ons, including solder mask resist, tin lead solder finish, OSP (RoHS) finish, silkscreen legend, and expedited delivery.
What are the hours of operation?Office hours are 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PST. We are closed on weekends and on all major U.S. holidays. However, through Fast5Protos.com, our customers can get quotes and place orders 24-hours a day.
How do I contact Fast5Protos?We accept orders 24/7 through our online website. Email is available during regular business hours through our sales department at sales@fast5protos.com. You may also reach us by telephone at 888-722-2621, M-F 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PST. See our contact page.
Fast5Protos Product and Pricing Matrix FAQs- What are the standard PC board features?
- What additional add-ons can I get with my board?
- What are the Fast5Protos prices?
- Can I order more than 5 prototype PCBs?
Available PCB layer counts are 2, 4, 6, and 8 layers
Maximum board size is 11" x 16" (176 sq. in.)
FR-4 Material
Final thickness is 0.062"
1.0 oz. copper finish with 1 mil copper in the plated holes
0.010" minimum finished hole size
Electrical test included with all multi-layer (4 through 8 layers) boards
Standard lead times: 2 layer boards ship in 2 days; 4, 6, and 8 layer boards ship in 3 days
What additional add-ons can I get with my board?(Add-on features below will incur additional costs)
OSP finish (RoHS) |
+ $40.00 |
Solder finish (non-RoHS) |
+ $40.00 |
Green solder mask resist both sides |
+ $80.00 |
White silkscreen top side (legend) |
+ $40.00 |
White silkscreen bottom side (legend) |
+ $40.00 |
Expedite add-on for quicker turn-around: |
+ 50% of board price and any selected add-on charges |
2-layer boards ship in 1 day |
4, 6, and 8 layer boards ship in 2 days |
Order example:
2-layer board = $125.00
Green solder mask resist both sides = $80.00
Sub-Total = $205.00
Expedite Add-on (50%) = $102.50
Total PC Board = $307.50
What are the Fast5Protos prices?Standard prices are based on square inch size of your PC board and board layer count (2, 4, 6, or 8 layers). All Fast5Protos orders come with a set of 5 PC boards. The standard board comes bare copper, no solder mask resist, no silkscreen, and no final finish. Add-on features are available at additional costs. Standard lead times are 2 days for 2 layer boards; 3 days for 4, 6, and 8 layer boards.
| # Layers | 0-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-70 | 71-116 | 117-176 |
| 2-LayerPCB | $125 | $175 | $205 | $235 | $265 | $305 | $355 |
| 4-LayerPCB | $295 | $355 | $395 | $435 | $485 | $555 | $815 |
| 6-LayerPCB | $445 | $515 | $545 | $575 | $625 | $675 | $1,025 |
| 8-LayerPCB | $505 | $585 | $635 | $685 | $735 | $795 | $1,175 |
If you require more than 5 boards you can either place two orders (get 10) with Fast5Protos website or contact our full service company, RB Design, for other specific PC board needs.
Fast5Protos Manufacturing FAQs.- What is the Fast5Protos manufacturing policy?
- What is the minimum trace width allowed?
- What is the minimum spacing between traces to copper lands?
- What is the minimum annular ring on vias?
- What is the closest copper to edge of board?
- Are the boards electrically tested?
- Can you handle controlled impedance requirements?
- To what acceptability standards do you build?
- What is OSP finish?
1. We will not edit, correct, or revise your CAD files in any way to assist in the manufacturing of your board due to errors in the supplied gerbers or drill data.
2. No UL logo, date code, or other PC board manufacturing markings will be added by Fast5Protos during manufacturing.
3. Boards will be routed to the board outline. We will not rout internal cut-outs or slots.
4. Maximum number of unique drill sizes allowed is 12 tools.
5. Maximum number of drill hits per square inch is 60 holes. Example: 4.00"x5.00" PC board allows a maximum of 1200 holes.
6. Annular ring (from edge of hole to pad edge) must be minimum 6 mils for vias each side and 8 mils for component through holes each side.
7. Fast5Protos standard manufacturing parameters will override any notes or call-outs. (Example: Drill drawing notes)
8. No board edges will be beveled.
9. Boards come with standard layer stack-up constructions as follows: (before copper plating)
2-LAYER PCB
L1 1oz Cu ---------
0.059" DIELECTRIC
L2 1oz Cu ---------
4-LAYER PCB
L1 1oz Cu ---------
0.009" DIELECTRIC
L2 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.039" DIELECTRIC
L3 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.009" DIELECTRIC
L4 1oz Cu ----------
6-LAYER PCB
L1 1oz Cu ---------
0.005" DIELECTRIC
L2 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.020" DIELECTRIC
L3 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.005" DIELECTRIC
L4 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.020" DIELECTRIC
L5 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.005" DIELECTRIC
L6 1oz Cu ---------
8-LAYER PCB
L1 1oz Cu ---------
0.006" DIELECTRIC
L2 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.010" DIELECTRIC
L3 0.5oz Cu ---------
0.006" DIELECTRIC
L4 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.010" DIELECTRIC
L5 0.5oz Cu ---------
0.006" DIELECTRIC
L6 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.010" DIELECTRIC
L7 0.5oz Cu ----------
0.006" DIELECTRIC
L8 1oz Cu ----------
What is the minimum trace width allowed?The minimum traces width is 0.006" (6 mils).
What is the minimum spacing between traces to copper lands?The minimum gap between traces and copper lands is 0.006" (6 mils).
What is the minimum annular ring on vias?The minimum annular ring on vias is 0.006" (6 mils) each side of the hole. The pad must be large enough to tent over the hole otherwise you may lose the metal in the hole during outer layer etching resulting in plating voids.
What is the closest copper to edge of board?The closest copper trace and land fills to edge of PC board is 0.010" (10 mils). If the copper runs closer to the edge it may be exposed during board rout.
Are the boards electrically tested?All multi-layer (4, 6, and 8 layer) boards come electrically tested as part of the service. Two-layer boards are not tested.
Can you handle controlled impedance requirements?This feature is not available through the Fast5Protos service. However, you may visit our full service company, RB Design, for complete PC board design and manufacturing needs.
To what acceptability standards do you build?Fast 5 Prototypes are built to IPC-A-6011/6012 latest revision Class 2 with inspection based on IPC-A-600 latest revision.
What is OSP finish?OSP (Organic Solderability Preservative) is a thin organic coating deposited on the exposed copper. The coating preserves the solderability of the copper surface, while allowing it to be easily soldered without the need for removal. Excellent solderability is maintained through 3 to 5 I.R. soldering cycles.
Fast5Protos Technical File Setup FAQs- What files do you need to manufacture my Fast5Protos PCB?
- How do I send my files?
- Do you recommend any file-generating software?
- Do you recommend gerber/drill file reader?
- What if I don't have gerber files?
The following files need to be compressed into one ZIP file and uploaded through the Fast5Protos web site at order placement. Our web application will only accept one ZIP file per order. Your file set needs to be complete with the following data:
- Gerber files in 274X or 274D formats (274D format will require an aperture list or environment file).
- Excellon2 NC drill file.
- Drill tool list specifying finished hole sizes, hole quantities, and plated/non-plated holes.
You will be prompted to upload your files through the web site during order placement. Your files are encrypted and maintained in our secure database which is then transferred to manufacturing through Fast5Protos web application.
Do you recommend any file generating software?Common layout packages include Altium/Protel®, PADS®, OrCAD®, and EagleSoft®.
Do you recommend gerber/drill file reader?We recommend downloading PentaLogix®, ViewMate® gerber viewer. It is a free viewer that can import and view most gerber and drill files.
What if I don't have gerber files?Gerber and drill data is needed to manufacture your PC boards through Fast5Protos website. If you are having difficulties obtaining your gerber and drill data you can contact us at our full service company, RB Design, to see available options.
Fast5Protos Ordering FAQs- What is the Fast5Protos ordering policy?
- What types of payments do you accept?
- How do the online transactions take place?
- What is the cut-off time for orders?
- When can I order boards through Fast5Protos?
- Can I place orders over the phone?
- All orders must conform to our technical file setup. See technical file setup FAQs.
- Orders are not guaranteed to be accepted by Fast5Protos until files pass our engineering review.
- Boards will be manufactured per supplied customer files.
- All files will be retained for three months.
- We reserve the right to change prices and delivery at any time.
- Orders can be shipped within the U.S. only.
Payment terms are by credit card transactions through Fast5Protos website only. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
How do the online transactions take place?Bank card transactions are processed electronically through Fast5Protos secure SSL web site by means of an internet gateway with our provider, Authorize.Net.
What is the cut-off time for orders?Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PST to count as the first day of manufacturing. Orders received after 12:00 noon will start on the following business day.
When can I order boards through Fast5Protos?Orders can be placed 24/7 though the Fast5Protos web site. However, orders are only received during regular business hours, 8am-5pm PST, Monday-Friday.
Can I place orders over the phone?In order to offer the most competitive prices to our customers, we only accept orders through the Fast5Protos website.
Fast5Protos Shipping FAQs- How are orders shipped?
- Do you deliver orders?
- What is the shipping schedule for 2 layer PCBs?
- What is the shipping schedule for multi-layer (4, 6 and 8 layer) PCBs?
- Are you closed for any holidays?
Orders are shipped UPS Ground free. UPS Red pre-paid available for $50.00 charge.
Do you deliver orders?Yes. Orders can be delivered in San Diego County for an additional $50.00 charge.
What is the standard shipping schedule for 2-layer PCBs?(Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PST to count as the first day.)
Standard shipping (with NO expedite add-on): (2 business days)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Wednesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Thursday.
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Monday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Tuesday.
Expedited add-on shipping: (1 business day)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Tuesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Wednesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Thursday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Monday.
What is the shipping schedule for multi-layer (4, 6, and 8-layers) PCBs?(Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PT to count as the first day.)
Standard shipping (with NO expedite add-on): (3 business days)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Thursday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Monday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Tuesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Wednesday.
Expedited add-on shipping: (2 business days)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Wednesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Thursday
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Monday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Tuesday.
Are you closed for any holidays?Fast5protos services are closed for most major US holidays. Refer to shipping schedule below.
Holiday Shipping Schedule
Calendar 2011
New Years:
Holiday shipments resume on January 3rd 2011.
Memorial Day:
We will be closed May 30th. Jobs scheduled to ship May 30th will ship on May 31st.
Independence Day:
We will be closed July 4th. Jobs scheduled to ship July 4th will ship on July 5th.
Labor Day:
We will be closed September 5th. Jobs scheduled to ship September 5th will ship on September 6th.
Thanksgiving Holiday:
We will be closed November 24th. Jobs scheduled to ship November 24th will ship on November 28th.
We will be closed November 25th. Jobs scheduled to ship November 25th will ship on November 28th.
Christmas Holiday:
We will be closed December 26th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 26th will ship on January 2nd.
We will be closed December 27th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 27th will ship on January 2nd.
Calendar 2012
New Years:
We will be closed December 30th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 30th will ship on January 2nd.