Aluminum PCB fabrication
Single-sided aluminum PCB for LED lighting factories
Bare-board fabrication for volume and repeat lighting orders. Common thickness, copper, and finish ranges — quoted from the Gerber, not from a catalog SKU.
Bare-board fabrication for LED lighting
Focused on single-sided aluminum PCB manufacturing. SMT and one-PO buying sit on their own pages.
SMT, parts, and a one-PO build sit on other pages. Mixing them into a fabrication quote hides who owns the board spec.
The useful part of this page is the usual production range — and the items that look standard but are not.
What usually goes wrong
- A 2 W/mK stack is assumed when standard material is 0.6–0.8 W/mK
- Sample boards are CNC-routed, then volume is quoted as if a punch die already exists
- HASL is expected at SMT after the board was quoted OSP
- Quantity is treated as pieces when the factory quotes by square meter
Is this fabrication path a fit?
This screen is the buying path, not whether you make LED lighting.
A fit if
- You only need the bare aluminum PCB — no SMT on this order
- The board is single-sided aluminum for LED lighting
- Thickness, copper, and finish sit in the usual production range
- You want a sample first, then a repeat volume run
Usually not a fit if
- You only need SMT — use the LED PCB assembly page
- Board, parts, and SMT should sit on one PO — use turnkey
- The job is a complete lamp, housing, or driver box
- Multilayer FR-4, flex, or a one-off board outside usual LED ranges
What a fabrication quote covers
These are common production ranges, not a promise that every line is stocked as a catalog item.
Included when confirmed
- Single-sided aluminum PCB fabrication
- Common thickness, copper, and OSP / HASL
- CNC routing for samples
- CNC routing or die punching for volume
- Process, manual circuit, and AOI inspection as specified
- Packing to the confirmed packing note
Not included
- SMT / LED mounting
- Component sourcing
- Complete fixtures, lenses, or housings
- Multilayer FR-4 or flex
- Non-standard dielectric or finish without confirmation
| Specification | Typical production range |
|---|---|
| Product type | Single-sided aluminum PCB (MCPCB) |
| Primary use | LED lighting boards — not finished luminaires |
| Board thickness | 0.6 / 0.7 / 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 mm |
| Copper thickness | 12 / 25 / 35 μm; 12 μm is the usual production build |
| Surface finish | OSP / HASL |
| Min trace / spacing | ≥ 0.20 mm (8 mil) for standard LED production |
| Min finished hole | ≥ 0.8 mm CNC; ≥ 1.0 mm die punching |
| Circuit process | Exposure process available |
| Board separation | CNC for samples; CNC or die punching for volume |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.6–0.8 W/m·K standard; 1.0 W/m·K commercial grade (Micro-Tech tested ~0.98 W/m·K) available on request. Check feasibility with our LED Junction Temp Calculator. |
| Dielectric breakdown | 1500–3000 V AC, depending on dielectric thickness |
| Warpage | ≤ 0.5% bow and twist on standard production boards |
| Inspection | Process checks, manual circuit inspection, AOI when the board needs it |
| Compliance | RoHS 2.0 / REACH via supplier laminate reports — not a factory ISO certificate |
| Order quantity | No fixed MOQ; volume is usually quoted by square meter |
Standard build vs confirm first
12 μm copper, OSP / HASL, and 0.6–0.8 W/mK are the usual LED lighting build. Anything else is named before we treat it as standard.
Quoted as standard
- Single-sided aluminum PCB
- 0.6–1.6 mm thickness in the sizes above
- 12 μm copper
- OSP or HASL
- 0.6–0.8 W/m·K standard laminate
- Min trace / spacing ≥ 0.20 mm (8 mil)
Confirm before quote
- 25 μm or 35 μm copper
- Thickness outside the usual set
- A finish other than OSP / HASL
- Higher thermal conductivity than the standard stack
- A punch die, unusual panel, or special packing method
Unsure whether 0.8 or 1.0 W/m·K is enough for your LEDs?
Estimate junction temperature and layer-by-layer rise in seconds.
How a fabrication order runs
Buyer-facing steps that change date and risk. This is not a 12-station process wall.
File review
Gerber, quantity, thickness, copper, and finish are checked before a date is locked.
Cutting and circuit
Panel, exposure, and etch follow the confirmed files — not a catalog drawing.
Solder mask
Mask is applied to the approved color and opening notes.
Forming
Samples are CNC-routed. Volume can use CNC or a punch die when the run justifies it.
Surface finish
OSP or HASL is applied after the finish is named on the quote.
Inspect and pack
Process, manual circuit, and AOI checks run before packing.
Boards for these lighting products
The aluminum PCB goes into products like these. The fixture, housing, and driver box are not part of this quote.
Lead time and what to send
Dates are ranges until the files are reviewed. A short note is enough to start; missing specs create questions, not a fake price.
Sample
3–5 days; 1-day possible on suitable jobs
Small batch
About 5 days / about 10 days in peak periods
Large batch
About 7 days / about 15–20 days in peak periods
Capacity
About 200,000 m² per month
Quote lock
After Gerber and spec review — not from a catalog SKU
Forming
CNC for samples; punch die for volume when justified
What to send
- 01Gerber files (latest revision, including outline and solder mask)
- 02Order quantity — sample and volume if they differ
- 03Board thickness
- 04Copper thickness
- 05Surface finish (OSP or HASL unless another finish is confirmed)
Leave board notes on the contact form, or email Gerber files directly to sales@luminapcb.com. The form does not accept file uploads.
Inspection on this path
- Incoming laminate check
- Manual circuit inspection
- AOI when the board needs it
- Pre-shipment inspection
Material test reports
Laminate reports are available
These are supplier laminate test reports for the aluminum-base materials used in production — not a company ISO certificate. Reports on file include Yuxin outgoing inspection and Starmax SGS RoHS on adhesive and PP laminates. First pages are shown here. Full files can be sent after inquiry.
How to start
Scope is confirmed after we review the Gerber. Pricing and delivery are locked before order.
- 01
Send files
Gerber, quantity, and the board notes you already have.
- 02
Confirm the build
We confirm thickness, copper, finish, forming, and whether the spec is standard.
- 03
Quote and date
Price and lead time are locked after that review — not before.
Need assembly instead?
If the project needs SMT or board + assembly on one PO, use the paths below.
FAQ
Fabrication questions. SMT and one-PO buying live on their own pages.
Is this only the bare aluminum board?
Yes. This page is fabrication only. SMT on LED / aluminum boards is a separate path. Board + SMT + optional parts on one PO is turnkey.
What is the typical lead time for mass production?
Small batches usually take about 5 days, or about 10 days during peak periods. Large batches usually take about 7 days, or about 15–20 days during peak periods. Final lead time depends on materials and the production schedule, and is locked after file review.
Can aluminum PCB samples be provided before bulk production?
Yes. Standard sample lead time is 3–5 days, with 1-day service possible for suitable urgent projects. There is no fixed MOQ; quantity and pricing are confirmed from the project specifications.
What do you need to quote an aluminum PCB order?
Gerber files, board thickness, copper thickness, surface finish, and order quantity. A short note is enough to start; missing specs create questions, not a fake price.
What copper thickness is actually standard?
12 μm, 25 μm, and 35 μm can be produced. 12 μm is the usual LED lighting build. 25 μm and 35 μm should be named before quotation.
Is 2 W/mK or another special stack standard?
No. Standard material is 0.6–0.8 W/m·K. Higher conductivity, unusual thickness, or a finish other than OSP / HASL is confirmed before we quote it as a production build.
When should I switch from FR4 to aluminum PCB for LED lighting?
Switch when component heat dissipation exceeds standard FR4 limits (typically >0.5W per emitter) or when eliminating external heatsinks lowers total fixture assembly costs. See our guide on Aluminum PCB vs FR4 for thermal and cost comparisons.
How are samples formed versus volume boards?
Samples are CNC-routed. Volume can stay on CNC or move to a punch die when the quantity justifies the tooling. The quote should say which method is used.
Do you manufacture complete lamps?
No. Work stops at the aluminum PCB. Housings, lenses, and driver boxes are outside the scope.
Send Gerbers for an aluminum PCB quote
Include quantity, thickness, copper, and finish if you already know them. Email Gerbers to sales@luminapcb.com. We reply within 1 business day.