Stephen, To help answer the second half of your question "..... is it worth it", I offer this summary of responses to a note I posted here several weeks ago concerning Au/Ni vs. HASL thickness on boards with fine pitch (<= 20 mil) pad patterns. We have been seeing a consistantly inconsistant variation in the thickness of the solder coatings on these pad patterns. The main concern was random excess solder. Of the responses I rec'd, NONE were negative about replacing HASL with Au/Ni plated finishes and no one tried to recommend the use of HASL on fine pitch boards. In fact several responses were clear that the HASL process should not be recommended for fine pitch patterns. One additional observation from the responding people that have been directly involved with conversion to Au/Ni, they were able to drop it directly into their present processes without changing fluxes, cleaners, etc. Changing from HASL to any other copper coating represents a major change (potential disruption) in the board assembly process. I was impressed with the over all positive attitudes and the simplicity of the change. If your board has fine pitch pad patterns on it, you may want to consider using gold. Norm Dill ---------- From: TechNet-request To: TechNet Subject: Re: Gold Flash on PWB's Date: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 8:01AM STEPHEN, IPC-D-275 SECT 3.8.4.3 (SOUNDS LIKE A STAR DATE DOESN'T?), CONTAINS INFORMATION ON GOLD PLATING. ALSO REFERENCE SECTION 3.8.4.4 ON NICKEL UNDERPLATING. TABLES 3-8 AND 3-9 WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOU'RE END PRODUCT. AS TO WETHER IT'S WORTH IT, YOU MUST CONSIDER YOUR END USAGE AND THEN TALK WITH YOU'RE FAB HOUSE. REGARDS, ROB BUTTERWORTH SR PWB DESIGNER ADC VIDEO SYSTEMS 999 RESEARCH PARKWAY MERIDEN, CT 06450 [log in to unmask] ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Gold Flash on PWB's Author: [log in to unmask] at internet-mail Date: 4/24/96 2:52 AM Can anyone supply a specification to call up when requesting a Gold Flash finish on a PWB and is it worth it today, with the advances with the HASL finishes. Regards Stephen Cooper Manufacturing Projects Manager SCITEC LIMITED Apollo Place Lane Cove NSW 2066 Australia PH : +612 428 9500 Fax : +612 428 9589 Email : [log in to unmask]