The design decision

Finished board thickness combines copper, pressed dielectric, mask and other construction details. A thickness target must leave a feasible microvia geometry.

What to consider

Thin build-up dielectrics can help microvia aspect ratio but change achievable impedance width and resin-flow requirements. A thick core can increase mechanical drilling demands. Ask for the pressed construction rather than adding nominal prepreg sheet values without considering resin flow and copper coverage.

A practical review example

For a 0.10 mm nominal laser diameter and a 0.075 mm dielectric depth, the geometric depth-to-diameter ratio is 0.75. That arithmetic is an input to process review, not evidence that the via is qualified.

Checks before release

  1. Specify overall thickness tolerance and measurement convention.
  2. Use pressed rather than unprocessed dielectric values.
  3. Coordinate mechanical fits with impedance and via geometry.

Connect this decision to fabrication

Use the stackup planner to organize the initial discussion. Keep proposed values separate from the approved drawing and document the effect of any change on the rest of the construction.

  • Give every signal layer a defined return-path strategy.
  • Review material and copper balance about the board center.
  • Specify every via span and the factory-approved lamination sequence.
This guide supports early design review. Device requirements, the applicable project specification and the fabricator-approved construction govern the released board.