<<Excepting the need for leasehold improvements such as clean rooms, 
     it is reasonable to argue that it costs no more to produce a one or 
     two mil line than it does to create a ten or twenty mil line.>>
     
     ???
     That depends on whether or not you know how to make a 1 or 2 mil line 
     and what the defect rate is.  I think all will agree that those who 
     make 2 mil lines can easily make 10 & 20 mil lines.  Not vice-versa.  
     There is where the costs are.


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Small Via Formation
Author:  [log in to unmask] at SMTPLINK-HADCO
Date:    1/23/96 9:19 AM


Very good questions asked by Michael regarding the future of small vias in 
PCBs. This is a very important subject. One key driver is the entrance and 
rapid evolution of Chip Scale Packaging (CSP)  These new minimalist packages 
will require such small vias (and also finer lines). The interesting thing 
about these new package formats is that they will probably be, at once, both 
the highest performance and the least expensive packages for ICs. Projecting 
the impact of the packaging to the PCB, it is clear that they will probably be 
more expensive per unit area but less area will be required for 
interconnection. Key to enjoying those higher profits is good process control. 
Excepting the need for leasehold improvemnts such as clean rooms, it is 
reasonable to argue that it costs no more to produce a one or two mil line 
than it does to create a ten or twenty mil line. The materials avialible today 
are clearly process capable as evidenced by those among us who produce such 
products daily. The net effect of the finer lines and smaller holes should be 
that the boards will be less costly, per function, to the OEM and thus to the 
end user. What will have to be tossed out are the tired and dated concepts of 
fixed costs per unit area and the deeply entrenched "buyers mentality" which 
we, as an industry, seem to collectively nurture. There will be need for a 
concerted effort at re-education to transform buyers into "technology 
procurement specialists" who truly understand the dynamics of these changes.
A continuing dialog on this subject, "to argue it out",  is invited and 
encouraged...
     
Cheers,
J. Fjelstad