What is Hold-Down Tabs

What is Hold-Down Tabs

Hold-down tabs, or hold-down copper pads, are components to ensure the stability and adhesion of copper pads during the soldering process. These tabs are specifically designed to address the issue of stress caused by bending or flexing, which can lead to problems with the copper pads maintaining their adhesion to the base material.

Hold-down tabs are particularly crucial in single-layer circuits, where the absence of plated through-holes reduces the overall strength and stability of the copper pads. By extending the copper underneath the coverlay, hold-down tabs enhance the adhesion of the pads, providing increased strength and stability during soldering.