Does BatchPCB read NC drill file sizes as the drill diameters or the finished diameters?
Other PCB companies ask what you specified (finished or tool sizes) and they mention “when plated, the finished diameter is 0.003” to 0.005" smaller".
Also, the standard imperial drill sizes, do they round up or down or what. For example, I specify a 0.045" hole yet a #57 bit is 0.0430" and a #56 bit is 0.0465".
BatchPCB can’t have every drill size to the 0.001" increments. I usually round my drill sizes the nearest standard drill bit size.
Please add this info to the FAQ.
Generally, if it is isn’t specified by a supplier you can assume that they are finished sizes.
Olimex is the only place I know that specifies diameters BEFORE plating; all other places specify FINISHED hole diameters.
It’s kinda basic to know what your PCB holes sizes are going to be.
I haven’t heard anything from BatchPCB on these two questions, I tried emailing them too but no response 
BatchPCB use Gold Phoenix, so the holes are FINISHED diameters…
Thanks, I’ll go with finished diameters and hope they don’t round up/down too much.
I had some PC mount pins that had to be tight sized, that’s why I was I worried.
redwire:
I had some PC mount pins that had to be tight sized, that’s why I was I worried.
I'd recommend you DON'T try for a "press fit", or you could find that the boards are unusable. I once got some boards from Gold Phoenix (same company that BatchPCB uses) and I had to use a hydraulic press to insert a connector. It turns out that I specified the hole diameter virtually the same size as the actual pins, and the solder plating on the boards had reduced this slightly.
MichaelN:
redwire:
I had some PC mount pins that had to be tight sized, that’s why I was I worried.
I'd recommend you DON'T try for a "press fit", or you could find that the boards are unusable. I once got some boards from Gold Phoenix (same company that BatchPCB uses) and I had to use a hydraulic press to insert a connector. It turns out that I specified the hole diameter virtually the same size as the actual pins, and the solder plating on the boards had reduced this slightly.
I read somewhere it's common to make your drill sizes 10 mils larger than the pin size. This allows for some slight misalignment, plating and any other differences. It's pretty easy to fill in 5 mils (on each side) with solder. If your pins are square, multiple the dimentions by 1.414 before adding the 10 mils. In that case I suspect you can get away with adding 8 mils. It's worked OK for me in the past.
Jim.
Yes, 10 mil is the usual clearance. It doesn’t matter so much for square pins, as they are easier to force into the hole.