Definition

Edge plating applies copper plating to the routed or scored edges of a PCB, creating a continuous conductive surface for grounding, EMI shielding, or edge card connections. The process requires routing or scoring the board edges before copper plating, then final routing to size. Edge plating connects to ground planes on inner layers, providing a low-inductance path for EMI shielding. It's also used for wraparound grounding on RF modules and for edge-launched RF connectors.