As you will have read from last weeks Email survey results The SMART Group are
currently conducting a survey for its 500 member companies on the use of
different solderable finishes. The SMART Group is the largest none profit making
Trade Association in Europe involved with the manufacture and assembly of
surface mount printed boards. You will have seen the basic results of last weeks
Email, now I hope you will take a couple of minuets to respond to this survey. 

Please complete the short questionnaire by placing a single cross against the
answer or answer the brief questions posed and Email the results back to Bob
Willis.

1. What solderable finish is most often specified by your existing customers?
Electroplated and fused tin/lead
Solder Levelled
Solder levelled (Horizontal)
Copper OSP (Organic Solder Preservative)
Electroless Gold over nickel
Copper Lacquer
Silver
Palladium
Other please specify:

2. In terms of sq/inches of boards processed by your company which solderable
finish is the most popular finish?

Electroplated and fused tin/lead
Solder Levelled
Solder levelled (Horizontal)
Copper OSP Organic Solder Preservative
Copper Lacquer
Silver
Electroless Gold over nickel
Palladium
Other please specify:

3. Which solderable coating do you currently have in house?
Electroplated and fused tin/lead
Solder Levelled
Solder levelled (Horizontal)
Copper OSP Organic Solder Preservative
Copper Lacquer
Silver
Electroless Gold over nickel
Palladium
Other please specify:

4. Which solderable coating do you feel provides the best compromise between
customer requirements and your future company in house capability.
Electroplated and fused tin/lead
Solder Levelled
Solder levelled (Horizontal)
Copper OSP Organic Solder Preservative
Copper Lacquer
Silver
Electroless Gold over nickel
Palladium
Other please specify:

5. Based on the following PCB model please provide the cost per board for the
different solder finishes you currently offer.

The model printed board for cost calculation is a double sided board produced
from FR4 laminate incorporating surface mount pads down to 0.025" pitch on both
sides. The board size is 6.28" x 8.95" with photoimagable solder resist on both
sides and silk screen legend on one side.

There are 2368 holes, four different sizes the smallest being 0.018". Track size
is 0.006" with 0.008" spaces. An estimate of 20% should be used for open copper
areas requiring the solderable finish. The price should be shown for a single
batch of 500 and a 1000 boards with the tooling costs.

Copper protective finish
500 items L
1000 items L
Hot air levelled
500 items L
1000 items L
Nickel/gold
500 items L
1000 items L
Other finish
500 items L
1000 items L
Specify the tooling cost which would be a once only cost for:
Tooling cost L
Electrical test fixturing L

The results of the previous survey were posted on the Internet last week.
On behalf of the SMART Group thank you for your time and I hope you find the
results interesting.

Bob Willis
SMART Group
2 Fourth Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4HA. England.
Tel: (44) 01245 351502
Fax: (44) 01245 496123
Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bwillis
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