Why Are Non-Plated Holes/Slots Produced as Plated and Causing Short Circuits? | PCBfast

In some cases, non-plated holes or slots (NPTH) may be mistakenly manufactured as plated through holes (PTH), which can lead to short circuit issues.

This usually occurs when the non-plated holes or slots are placed on copper planes, as shown in the image below (indicated by the green arrow). When copper surrounds these holes, our engineers may misinterpret them as plated holes, since plated holes are typically connected to copper for electrical purposes.

To avoid this misunderstanding, PCBfast recommends designing non-plated holes and slots in areas without copper. This makes it clear to our engineers that these holes are mechanical (non-electrical) and should be processed as non-plated during PCB manufacturing.

By following this guideline, you can ensure accurate hole processing, prevent short circuits, and improve overall board reliability in your PCBfast production.