How to add tooling holes for PCB assembly order

For Economic PCBA type, tooling holes are a must.

When adding tooling holes, please keep the following in mind:

1. Two or three tooling holes should be added on the PCB, they should be placed in opposite corners of the PCB and as far apart from one another as practical.
2. Tooling holes should be 1.152mm(45.4mil) round non-plated holes with 0.148mm solder mask expansion.
3. Tooling holes are only required for PCB assembly orders.
4. Please try to add tooling holes on empty space and keep them away from traces. If there is no enough room, you can add them to the copper area.

Note: If the holes you specify to add at a certain place that doesn't meet the above requirements, will not be applied. JLC will help to add the tooling holes by default.

There is a demo of tooling holes.

Below is a good example, three tooling holes are added on the corners of PCB.

When adding the tooling hole on the copper area:

For multi-layer PCB board, please add isolation rings in the inner negative layer.

How to add tooling holes in Altium Designer

Please use Pad to design tooling holes.

Parameter setting:

1. Hole Size:1.152mm

2. Size and Shape: Simple,  X:1.152,   Y:1.152,   Shape: Round

3. Make sure the "Plated" box is unchecked.

4. Paste Mask Expansion:1.152mm

5. Solder Mask Expansion:0.148mm

How to add tooling holes in Protel 99SE

Please use Pad to design tooling holes.

Parameter setting:

1. Hole Size:1.152mm

2. X-Size:1.152,   Y -Size:1.152,   Shape:Round

3. Make sure the "Plated" box is unchecked.

4. Paste Mask Override:1.152mm

5. Solder Mask Override:0.148mm