PCB Fabrication & Assembly FAQ

Find answers about PCB fabrication, PCB assembly, lead times, testing standards, Gerber files, shipping, and quality requirements.

How to order the PCBs on ShinE?

We encourage customers to initiate their projects via our online inquiry system. You can complete the process in four simple steps.

Step 1: Submit Your Inquiry Click the “Get a Quote” button on our home page, upload your Gerber file, and input the full details of your specification requirements.

Step 2: Engineering Audit Your inquiry will be sent directly to our internal system for an engineering review. Our team will evaluate the files and contact you to ensure all technical specifications are met.

Step 3: Quote Confirmation & Payment Once the audit is complete, we will send the formal quotation and payment instructions via email. You can complete the payment in the “Awaiting Payment” zone or confirm with us directly by replying to the email. (For payment inquiries, please contact: info@pcbonline.com)

Step 4: Track Your Progress After the order is placed, you can track its production progress online at any time. Our engineers will perform a final review before production and notify you of any discrepancies.

Can I modify the order quantity?

Before payment, you can inform our online customer service on the right of every page to change the quantity and price.

For the placed order, we will arrange the production for the first time, so the quantity cannot be modified, but if you want to add quantity, you can place another order. We will try to arrange delivery to you together.

What do I need to offer you when I place an order on ShinePCB?

To avoid any unnecessary delays, please ensure the following information is provided before submitting your order:

PCB Material
Please specify the material to be used, including but not limited to FR-4, aluminum, FPC, or rigid-flex PCB.

PCB Layer Count
Please confirm the number of layers required, such as single-sided, double-sided, 4-layer, 6-layer, or 8-layer PCB.

Board Thickness
Please specify the board thickness, for example: 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.6mm, or 2.0mm.

Copper Thickness
Please confirm the copper weight/thickness required, such as 1oz, 2oz, or 3oz.

Surface Finish
Please specify the preferred surface finish, including HASL Lead-Free, ENIG (Immersion Gold), Immersion Tin, Immersion Silver, or OSP.

Solder Mask Color
Available colors include green, red, black, white, and others upon request.

Silkscreen Color
Available colors include white, black, green, red, and others upon request.

Manufacturing & Engineering Notes

All holes without electrical connection, including holes equal to or larger than pad size and holes without pads, will be manufactured as NPTH holes by default. Any conflicting hole requirements in other documents will be ignored.

The minimum non-plated slot width is 0.8mm, and the minimum plated slot width is 0.4mm.
If the design is smaller than these specifications:

NPTH slots will be automatically enlarged to 0.8mm.

PTH slots below specification will require engineering confirmation.

For vias used only for electrical conduction, if spacing limitations exceed manufacturing capability and the vias cannot be moved, we may reduce the hole size by less than 0.1mm.

Boards with castellated holes (half-holes) may have slight copper burrs or minor copper pulling at the board edge.
Requirements:

Minimum hole size: 1.0mm

Maximum panel quantity per unit: 5 pcs

If a plated hole has a pad on only one side, we will add an annular ring of +0.127mm on the opposite side when space allows, unless the hole is designed on the GKO/GM1 layer, in which case it will be treated as NPTH.

Incomplete same-net connections or traces connected with widths below 4mil may cause open circuits during production. Please ensure all same-net traces are fully connected.

Solder Mask

If solder mask openings conflict with paste/opening layers:

Larger solder mask openings will be produced according to the solder mask layer directly.

Smaller solder mask openings will require engineering confirmation.

If only one side of a PTH hole has solder mask opening, we will add a solder mask dam on the opposite side to prevent ink entering the hole.

For AD/Protel files, VIA treatment follows the software settings.
For PADS, Gerber, and other formats, VIA treatment follows the Gerber/file design only. Any additional written requirements inside PCB files may be ignored unless specifically noted.

Via plugging without special requirements will follow standard green-light-visible plugging specifications.

Silkscreen & Marking

Production marks and internal tracking numbers may be added to the panel or board area for identification purposes unless otherwise specified.

Silkscreen limitations:

Line width below 6mil or text height below 36mil: HD silkscreen not guaranteed.

Line width below 5mil or text height below 30mil: complete clarity not guaranteed.

Line width below 4mil or text height below 28mil: blurred text acceptable.

Text placed on pads may be clipped or partially removed during production.

Mirrored/reversed text caused by original design files will not be accepted as a manufacturing issue.

Surface Finish Upgrade

Surface finish may be automatically upgraded during production integration:

HASL → Lead-Free HASL → ENIG
Higher-grade finishes may replace lower-grade finishes to improve production efficiency.

Board Outline & Panelization

Milling edges and slots must maintain at least 0.25mm clearance from pads.
V-CUT clearance requirements:

≤0.8mm board thickness: 0.3mm

0.8–1.0mm: 0.35mm

1.0–1.6mm: 0.4mm

1.6–2.0mm: 0.5mm

Copper near the edge may be automatically removed to avoid exposed copper unless otherwise specified.

Boards with V-CUT crossing milled areas may have slight burrs on the board edge.

Small boards should be panelized:

Single V-CUT direction: panel dimension >75mm

Dual V-CUT directions: >75×75mm

Ultra-small boards (≤20mm side): >100×100mm

Sharp internal panel corners with openings below 0.8mm may produce unavoidable burrs.

Orders with process rails may include:

4 × 2.0mm NPTH tooling holes

4 × 1.0mm fiducial marks

Single-board shipments will not include tooling holes or fiducials.

Only GKO and GM1 layers are recognized as outline/mechanical routing layers unless otherwise specified.

Square slots may include corner relief holes:

Standard relief hole: 0.5–0.8mm

Slots narrower than 1.2mm may not include relief holes.

Stackup

For multilayer boards, please provide the stackup sequence clearly.
Priority:
Order notes → Gerber naming → factory standard.

Unless stackup confirmation is specifically requested, production will follow our standard stackup.
Impedance compensation within ±2mil trace adjustment may be processed directly without confirmation.

Design Software

PADS copper filling will default to Hatch mode.

If both PCB source files and Gerber files are provided, Gerber files take priority.
Priority order:
Production files → Gerber files → PCB source files.

Supported PCB software:

Protel series

Altium Designer (AD)

PADS

For AD designs, Gerber export is strongly recommended to avoid compatibility issues.

PADS files may require internal layer redefinition before Gerber generation. Any discrepancies caused by layer remapping will not be considered manufacturing responsibility.

Ordering Requirements

Any requirements written inside ZIP packages, Gerber comments, or internal documents are considered invalid.
All manufacturing requirements must be clearly stated in the order remarks.

Board Thickness

For single/double-sided boards, internal core thickness may be produced as X-0.1mm. Boards without copper balancing may have thinner finished thickness.

Gold Fingers

Gold fingers may contain routing lead marks by default.
If lead marks are not acceptable, please clearly specify:
“No routing lead marks allowed on gold fingers.”

If you encounter any issues with your order, please contact us immediately at Sales@shinexc.com

What file format do I need to provide to PCBONLINE?

We accept Gerber files in RS-274X or RS-274-D format, and we also accept the following layout files:

1: Designed by PADS software, and the PCB file format is *.PCB.

2: Designed by PROTEL software, and the PCB file format is *.PCB or *.DDB.

3: Designed by EAGLE software, and the PCB file format is *.BRD.

4: Designed by Altium Designer software, and the PCB file format is *.PCB or *.DDB.

If there are any other documents, please email Sales@shinexc.com

And you can also upload files directly to the quote page.

About Payment

We support multiple secure international payment methods for your convenience, including bank wire transfer (T/T), PingPong, and XTransfer. Customers may choose the most suitable payment option based on their region and business needs. If you have specific payment preferences or require alternative arrangements, please feel free to contact our customer service team for further assistance and confirmation before payment.

Wrong Address

We want your favorite items to arrive safely and on time! Please take a moment to verify your shipping details at checkout. If you realize there’s a mistake in your address, please stay calm and reach out to our friendly staff immediately at Sales@shinexc.com. Our team will do their absolute best to work with you and update your details before the order is shipped.

For security and logistics reasons, we cannot change the destination once the parcel is on its way. In cases where an incorrect address leads to delivery issues or requires a new shipment, we may need to ask you to cover the additional freight costs. We are always here to help and will provide all the guidance and support we can!

Delivery & Shipping Guarantee

We are committed to providing stable and transparent global logistics services. Please review the following terms before placing your order:

Estimated Delivery & Shipping Guarantee The delivery time provided is an approximation based on statistical analysis. In exceptional cases, this period may be extended. While we cannot guarantee a specific arrival time, ShinE will exert every effort to ensure the on-time shipping date of the order from our facility.

Customs Duties, VAT & Import Taxes Most international shipments will incur additional fees such as duties and taxes. These charges are the customer’s responsibility and are determined by the regulations of the importing country. These fees are separate from shipping costs, and ShinE is unable to estimate or calculate these charges in advance.

Tracking & Support for Air Mail For Air Mail shipments, customs clearance may take 5-7 working days upon arrival at local customs, during which tracking updates may be paused. If you have not received your package within 20 working days, please contact your local post office and notify us at support@Sales@shinexc.com

We will follow up closely to help resolve the issue.

Is my payment information safe?

Rest assured, partnering with ShinE is built on a foundation of absolute security and technical integrity. When you process payments or share proprietary design files, your data is protected by advanced SSL encryption, ensuring your intellectual property and financial information remains strictly confidential. Whether settling via credit card or international wire transfer, every transaction is secured and encrypted to safeguard your assets.

At ShinE, we provide an extra layer of confidence through our specialized Secondary Centralized 100% Inspection Service. This ensures that your investment is protected not just digitally, but through rigorous physical validation before any product leaves our floor.

If you encounter any questions or technical difficulties during your procurement, our Professional Support Team is ready to assist. Your financial security and the flawless delivery of your high-precision boards are our highest priorities. Please do not hesitate to reach out—we are dedicated to powering your vision with transparency and excellence.

International Shipping & Logistics Policy

Trade Terms

Our default international trade term is DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid), unless otherwise agreed in writing. Under DDU terms, we are responsible for arranging transportation of the goods to the designated destination warehouse or logistics hub. Customers are responsible for import customs clearance, duties, taxes, and any destination-country regulatory fees.

For specific projects, alternative trade terms such as EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, or customer-designated forwarding arrangements may also be supported upon request.

Logistics & Freight Arrangement

We cooperate with multiple international freight forwarders, customs brokers, and third-party logistics providers (3PL) to optimize shipping efficiency, customs stability, and regional delivery flexibility.

Shipping methods may include:

International air freight

International sea freight

Express courier services

Consolidated cargo forwarding

Dedicated line logistics

Customer-appointed freight forwarding services

Customers may:

Use our recommended logistics partners

Appoint their own freight forwarder or shipping agent

Arrange independent cargo pickup from our factory or warehouse

Request split shipment or consolidated shipment services

Unless otherwise specified, we reserve the right to select the most suitable logistics provider based on production schedule, destination, customs conditions, cargo type, and transportation efficiency.

Freight Charges & Insurance

Logistics fees are partially prepaid during order placement unless otherwise negotiated.

Transportation insurance may be arranged upon request. Unless otherwise specified, shipment insurance coverage and compensation standards shall follow the policies of the selected logistics carrier or freight forwarder.

Additional insurance requirements, special declaration values, or compliance-related shipping requests must be communicated before shipment arrangement.

Import Duties & Customs Clearance

Customers are responsible for:

Import duties and taxes

Customs clearance procedures

Destination inspection fees

Brokerage fees

Warehousing fees caused by customs delays

Local regulatory compliance

To ensure smooth customs processing, customers may be required to provide:

EIN / Tax ID

Bond information

Power of Attorney (POA)

Articles of Incorporation

Import permits or compliance documentation

Other destination-country clearance documents

Failure to provide required documents or complete customs clearance in time may result in storage charges, customs penalties, shipment return, or cargo destruction, which shall be borne by the customer.

Third-Party Inspection & Verification

Customers may appoint third-party inspection agencies or quality verification companies before shipment.

Supported services may include:

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI)

Quantity verification

Packaging inspection

X-ray or AOI verification

SGS / TÜV / BV or other inspection services

Any third-party inspection costs or delays caused by external inspection scheduling shall be borne by the customer unless otherwise agreed.

Packaging & Cargo Protection

Standard export packaging is provided for all international orders.

Additional packaging services are available upon request:

Vacuum packaging

Moisture barrier packaging

Anti-static packaging

Reinforced carton packaging

Wooden crate protection

Palletized shipment

Shock-resistant packaging

Customers with specific compliance or carrier packaging requirements must notify us before shipment.

Shipping Schedule

Weekly Closing Date: Every Friday

Estimated Vessel Departure: Every Thursday for orders packed before the previous cutoff

Estimated delivery timelines are for reference only and may vary depending on customs inspections, weather conditions, port congestion, carrier scheduling, local delivery arrangements, or force majeure events.

Liability & Transportation Risk

Once cargo has been transferred to the designated carrier, freight forwarder, or customer-appointed logistics provider, transportation timelines are considered estimated and not guaranteed.

We are not liable for delays, losses, additional costs, or delivery exceptions caused by:

Customs inspections

Government actions

Force majeure events

Carrier operational delays

Port congestion

Flight or vessel schedule adjustments

Customer document issues

Third-party logistics service interruptions

For customer-appointed freight forwarders, customers assume responsibility for all transportation coordination and related risks after cargo handover.

Support & Special Logistics Requests

For logistics inquiries, shipping optimization, customs support, freight quotations, or special transportation requirements, please contact our logistics support team directly.

Special services supported upon request may include:

Urgent expedited shipping

Multi-country consolidated shipping

Amazon FBA delivery

Blind shipping / neutral shipping

Drop shipping

Split batch delivery

Warehousing and temporary storage

Designated carrier routing

Dangerous goods consultation (subject to approval)

Logistics Complaint Guidance

We take full responsibility for ensuring your high-precision orders reach you safely. If you encounter any logistics discrepancies, we are committed to resolving them through the following proactive steps:

Self-Service Tracking: For the fastest resolution, we recommend first using the Tracking Information provided in your dispatch email to contact the carrier directly for real-time local updates.

Professional Guidance: You may follow our comprehensive Logistics Complaint Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to handle common shipping delays or documentation requests.

Dedicated Claim Support: If a resolution is not reached, our team will step in to manage the issue. Please prepare your Customer ID and Order Tracking Number, and submit a formal claim to our support email.

PCB Prototype & Sample Service Statement

Our PCB prototype and sample service is intended for engineering verification, functional testing, and small-batch evaluation purposes. All sample orders undergo standard engineering review and basic manufacturability checking before production.

Samples are manufactured according to the customer-provided Gerber or production files and may include standard inspection processes such as AOI inspection, electrical testing, visual inspection, and dimensional verification depending on the product type and process requirements.

Standard export packaging is provided for all sample orders, including moisture protection, anti-static packaging, vacuum sealing, and reinforced carton protection when applicable. Special packaging requirements may be arranged upon request.

Prototype boards prioritize electrical functionality and engineering validation. Minor cosmetic differences, process marks, or acceptable manufacturing tolerances within IPC standards may exist and shall not affect normal functionality.

Customers may request additional inspection, third-party verification, special testing, or custom packaging services before production arrangement.

If you have special quality, testing, packaging, or logistics requirements for prototype samples, please contact our engineering or support team before order confirmation.

Acceptance Inspection

All PCB products are inspected through strict IQC, IPQC, FQC, and 100% electrical testing procedures before shipment. Third-party inspection services such as SGS and Bureau Veritas (BV) are also available upon customer request.

For quality inquiries, inspection requirements, or customized testing standards, please contact our sales team:
Email: Sales@shinexc.com
WhatsApp: +86 1772-254-5366
We will respond within 24 hours.