SPRAAV1C May 2009 – March 2020 AM3703 , AM3715 , OMAP3503 , OMAP3515 , OMAP3525 , OMAP3530
Most circuit board vendors publish a table that indicates various limits for drills, trace widths, thicknesses and so on. In many cases, there are different limits depending on the most important characteristic for the board. What this means is that there are tradeoffs and options for the designer to consider. Always consult with your circuit board vendor for their limits and capabilities and remember that as you approach the limit of the vendor’s equipment, yields go way down and costs go way up. Let’s look at one vendor's (vendor X) technology and capabilities:
Usually means this is the middle of the vendor’s capability and pricing. The technology does not push the limits of the vendor’s equipment. For example, vendor X shows that a standard minimum trace width and clearance are 3 mils with 4 mil vias and 10 mil pads.
Loosens up the specifications to provide more clearance and wider traces resulting in lower cost per unit board and higher yields. For example, the same vendor X lists a minimum trace width and minimum clearance of 4 mils with 4 mil vias and 10 mil pads for high yield boards. However, a hi-yield board may be larger and have more layers.
Really pushes the vendor’s capabilities. It is at the limits of the vendor’s equipment. For example, vendor X lists a minimum trace width and minimum clearance of 2.5 mils with 3 mil vias and 9 mil pads.