VEXTREME PCB INSERTION TEST - ENIG vs. HASL vs. HARD GOLD!!

This is a PCB insertion test for Vectrex homebrew video game cartridges. In this case we are testing the VEXTREME flash based multicart PCBs, but the results stand for any video game cartridge really.
In this video, you'll see the results of 1000 insertion cycles on 4 different Vectrex PCBs:
1 - VEXTREME - ENIG - PCBWAY (www.pcbway.com)
2 - VEXTREME - ENIG - JLCPCB
3 - VEXTREME - HASL - JLCPCB
4 - BERZERK - HARD GOLD - GCE
ENIG = Electro-less nickel immersion gold
HASL = Hot air solder leveled
HARD GOLD = A thick plating of gold? This was actually hard gold from 1982, so I'm not really sure how thick it was ;-)
If I had to rank these as far as best PCB technology for the valueL
1 - Hard Gold (theoretically) w/45° - But too expensive
2 - ENIG w/45° - JLCPCB ⭐ best value
3 - ENIG w/45° - PCBWay - better silk screen than JLCPCB - little more expensive than JLCPCB
4 - HASL w/45° from anyone
5 - ENIG/HASL - Not chamfering the edge of the PCB to 45°

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Now that's dedication! Glad you were finally able to complete this experiment. Thanks for the hard work & showing the results! 😎 Though Pcbway has better options as far as hard gold plating, it's extremely expensive to do so and is hard to justify, at least for my needs. Jlcpcb is far cheaper, even though they only have ENIG, immersion gold as an option. Overall, they've been my favorite fab Co to deal with, especially since the price is right, but YMMV. ;-) I generally have a multi/flash cart plugged in at all times, so I'm not cycling/wearing out the contacts very much. Anyways, great video! ✌️

[@playvectrex]

You are right, PCBWay does have many more things you can specify technical wise, and I didn't say this or show it much in the video but the silk screen on PCBWay is a bit higher resolution. I personally haven't had any problem with either company (PCBWay or JLCPCB) so it's good to shop around and see what the prices are and try some sample quantities, and see if the price difference are worth the quality difference to you. One thing to note, JLCPCB recently imposed a 50mm wide minimum if you are chamfering the edge of your PCB like seen in these videos. Unfortunately the Vectrex PCBs are 48mm and they won't allow you to apply the option at all once you upload the gerbers. I have found though, that you can widen the PCB to 50mm, but leave the edge connector area 48mm wide and they do allow it, but I haven't purchased them like this yet to know if it will go through. My personal preference is the minimal ENIG finish, with 45° chamfered edges. I've also noticed the chamfering from both companies sometimes needs a light 800 grit sanding to take the sharp edge off. You'll know it when you hear it as you plug it into your Vectrex :( It sounds like strumming the teeth of a comb.

[@ThaManWithTheHat]

Amazing work on this project! Now I understand why I need to use ENIG instead of HASL for my upcomming projects.

[@sarrannd9813]

Good work 👏somehow I watched this video without skipping a second 🙄

[@djmips]

This is like Project Farm for super nerds. ;-)