What is Half-Holes PCB

What is Half-Holes PCB

A half-holes PCB refers to a type of printed circuit board that incorporates rows of holes drilled alongside the boundaries of the board. These holes are then through plated and trimmed, reducing the holes along the boundary by half. This unique design feature creates a distinct appearance, with surface mount technology (SMT) pads at the base of the board containing vias, giving the impression of a division through the middle of the vias.

Utilizing plated half holes in PCBs provides additional means of connecting boards positioned alongside the boundaries. This technology is commonly employed in board-on-board connections, particularly when combining circuit boards with different technologies. Plated half holes enable the stacking of one board directly on top of another, with zero spacing or gaps between the two boards, ensuring both electrical and physical connections.

Using plated half holes offers cost-effective connection techniques, transforming the PCB into a surface mount sub-assembly. Plated half holes are often used as breakout circuits for fine-pitch surface mount device (SMD) components or in small radio or radio frequency (RF) assemblies. The plated and concave nature of these PCBs provides improved soldering landings, while their positioning along the board’s boundaries allows for flush mounting of surface mount components or daughter boards, minimizing the accumulation of dust or moisture.