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What is PCB Fiducial Mark Used For ?

A fiducial mark (also known as fiducial or registration mark) on a printed circuit

board (PCB) is a visual reference point that assists in accurately aligning layers

or components during PCB manufacturing processes. Fiducials are etched or

marked onto bare PCBs and serve various purposes:

Purposes of PCB Fiducials

 Guide automated optical inspection (AOI) alignment and testing

 Accurately align PCB layers during fabrication
 Position components precisely during pick-and-place assembly
 Assist with X-ray inspection
 Help align boards for repair and rework

Fiducials need to be clear and sharp visual indicators in order for camera

recognition software to detect and orient PCBs correctly. They can come in

different shapes and sizes.

Common Types of PCB Fiducials

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There are 4 main types of fiducial marks used on PCBs:

1. Clear Pad Fiducials

 A copper pad, similar to a thru-hole pad, etched onto the board

 Pad may have solder mask opening to expose the copper
 High visual contrast between copper and board substrate

Advantages:

 Provides good optical reflection

 Simple, cost-effective

Disadvantages:

 Solder could accidentally flow into fiducial during assembly

2. Solder Mask Defined (SMD) Fiducials

 Solder mask layer frames an empty copper pad area

 Central copper pad etched away to leave solder mask outline

Advantages:

 Avoids issues with solder flow into fiducial

 Good optical contrast

Disadvantages:

 Less reflective than exposed copper

3. Silkscreen Fiducials

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 Printed onto board using silkscreen ink

 Etched area without copper underneath ink

Advantages:

 Simple visual indicator

Disadvantages:

 Low contrast ratio

 Ink subject to wear which distorts fiducial

4. Drilled Holes

 Holes mechanically drilled into board substrate

 Often plated/metallized for visibility

Advantages:

 Doesn't require special PCB processing steps

Disadvantages:

 Adds an extra drilling step

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 Difficult to accurately locate holes

Comparison Table of Common PCB Fiducial Types

Recommended PCB Fiducial Design Practices

Properly designed fiducials are critical for reliable automated processes. Here

are important guidelines to follow:

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Size

 Fiducials should be large enough for camera recognition

 Minimum 0.04" (1 mm) pad diameter, 0.063" (1.6mm) recommended
 Generally circular shapes provide best registration

Quantity

 Use at least 3 fiducials, 4+ preferred

 Spread fiducials evenly around perimeter of board
 Avoid placing fiducials all on one edge/line

Location

 Keep fiducials away from board edges and boundaries

 Don't place underneath large components
 Allow 0.2" (5 mm) clearance from neighboring features

Layer Alignment

 Align fiducials directly on top of each other on every layer

 Misalignment between layers impacts registration accuracy

By following these design rules, PCB fiducials will support accurate automated

alignment and improve manufacturing yields.

Role of PCB Fiducials in Manufacturing Processes

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Fiducials play several important roles during PCB fabrication, assembly,

inspection and testing processes:

Fabrication

Accurately align multiple PCB layers on top of each other during lamination

using fiducials as guides. This ensures high positional accuracy between layers.

Assembly

Guide pick-and-place machines to precisely position and orient components

onto PCBs using fiducial marks as reference points.

AOI Testing

Automated optical inspection (AOI) systems scan boards and use fiducials to

align and analyze images to check for defects.

X-Ray Inspection

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X-ray machines align boards and take higher magnification images to check

internals of BGA devices. Fiducials assist alignment.

Board Repair/Rework

Locate exact board positions needing repair and properly align replacement

components using fiducials.

In each scenario, fiducials improve automation, reduce errors, and support

high assembly yields.

Alignment Process Flow Example

Here is a simplified example flow of how a combination of hardware and

software utilizes fiducials during automated SMT assembly:

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1. Load PCB - Feeder mechanism positions PCB

2. Fiducial Recognition - Bottom-side camera detects fiducial locations
3. Board Alignment - Software calculates rotation and placement based on fiducials
4. Pick Components - Feeders load components onto pick heads
5. Place Components - Place heads use fiducial alignment data to position parts

At each step, fiducials provide the reference data needed to achieve accurate

automated alignment and component positioning.

FAQ

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about PCB fiducial marks:

What are the main purposes of PCB fiducials?

The main purposes are to guide automated alignment, accurately position

layers and components, assist with inspection processes, and aid repair/rework.

Fiducials serve as visual reference points for manufacturing processes.

What is the ideal fiducial size and shape?

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A minimum 0.04” (1mm) diameter circular pad fiducial is recommended.

Circular shapes provide the best registration results. 0.063” (1.6mm) size is

typical.

Where should fiducials be located on a PCB?

Evenly space 3+ fiducials around the board perimeter away from edges and

boundaries. Don’t cluster under large components. Allow 0.2” clearance from

other features.

Can fiducials cause problems during reflow soldering?

If using clear pad fiducials, solder paste could accidentally flow into the hole.

This is prevented with a solder mask defined (SMD) fiducial.

How can PCB fiducials become distorted during fabrication?

Misalignment between fiducial layers reduces positional accuracy. Silkscreen

ink wear or smearing also distorts the fiducial shape. Proper alignment and ink

curing prevents issues.

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