Hi Ken You're right on both accounts : 1 The flow on gold is that much slower and less (down right sleepish) "volatile" than HASL , that, yes , it is a fact . Gold is very unkeen on shorts , it's the other end you have to watch - vetability ( vacuum seal in store helps ). (The planarity advantages have been aired here for ever , check TechNet files .) Bit more demanding on process set , obviously ; but rewarding . 2 Yes again, our guys on bare boards in HK do not want to hear about HASL ; considering the hot process no wonder ; when I asked for HASL on the same conditions as NiAu ; it was DEARER ; set well for both ; to sum it up , generally , regardless of pitch the NiAu should cost you less . To give the sales guys a break it does depend on how they're set . On the same note , how they are set that's how they will manipulate you to their preferences . Just watch their jewelery tendencies , some shops do plate (and charge) touch more than is healthy for the joint ( all meanings) . I found asian shops with their leaner approach to process indirectly better as well from the intermetalics view (on volumes) . Mind you , the comfort level transition is very similar from clean to no clean ; if and when you'll control the process you'll love it ; prior to that you'll hate it . No clean gold will make you think ; if you have no contacts or switch pads you can make it easier on yourself by using AlphaLevel silver (organic on top) ; it's as easy to handle as HASL and as precise as gold . Costs as HASL (Asia) . Gains are high , it may stretch you a bit (gold), not much . Definitely worth it from my point of view . See you Paul Klasek http://www.resmed.com >---------- >From: Ken Patel[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Friday, 12 June 1998 9:25 >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: [TN] PCB Manufacturer: Yield & cost for Nickel-Gold v/s HASL > >Is it true that Nickel/Gold plating has higher yield than HASL boards for >fine-pitch boards during pcb manufacturing while same yield for non-fine >pitch? > >If I want to convert my fine-pitch boards, it will cost little higher >compared to HASL while non-fine pitch boards will cost more for Nickel/Gold >finish. Is it true or a bunch of baloney from typical sales? He may want to >scare me not to convert non-fine pitch boards to Nickel/gold which I want to >know from you guys. > > >re, >ken patel > >______________________________________________________ >Ken Patel Phone: (408) 490-6804 >1708 McCarthy Blvd. Fax: (408) 490-6859 >Milpitas, CA 95035 Beeper: (888) 769-1808 > >################################################################ >TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c >################################################################ >To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following >text in the body: >To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> >To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet >################################################################ >Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional >information. >For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or >847-509-9700 ext.312 >################################################################ > > ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################