What Is a PCB Copy?

A PCB copy is exactly what it sounds like: the fabrication data for a bare board, reproduced from a physical sample. No schematic, no component sourcing, no assembly — just verified manufacturing files you can hand to any fabricator, including your own.

It is the fastest and most economical route when you already understand the board and only need more of them: the design is sound, the components are available, and the missing piece is simply the Gerber data for the bare board. Since 2011 we have produced copy data for boards that range from simple two-layer power supplies to multilayer industrial control cards with controlled impedance.

What a PCB Copy Includes

What a copy deliberately does not include is the schematic and the BOM. If you need those — to modify the board, source components or understand the circuit — you want reverse engineering instead.

When a PCB Copy Is the Right Choice

• You already have working boards — the design is proven and you simply need more bare boards made.
• Your fabricator needs Gerber data — you have the physical board but not the files it was made from.
• You want a faster, cheaper route — no schematic capture and no component work means a shorter project and a lower price.
• You are re-building a batch of boards — for repairs, spares or a short production run where you will fit the components yourself.
• You need a second fabrication source — a verified Gerber set lets you quote the bare board anywhere.
• Your CAD files were lost — a server failure or an office move took the original artwork, but the board in the drawer still works and can be measured.

Our PCB Copy Process

1. Assessment and fixed quote — send clear photos of both sides and we confirm layer count, board size and hole density, then quote a fixed price. Usually within one business day, with no obligation.
2. High-resolution documentation — both sides are documented and the board is measured before anything is touched, so there is a complete reference record.
3. Layer reconstruction — each copper layer is imaged and re-drawn. On multilayer boards, inner layers are reconstructed by controlled examination, stated in the quote before work starts.
4. Drill and outline capture — hole positions and diameters, board outline and cut-outs are measured rather than estimated.
5. Dimension and continuity verification — the reconstructed data is checked against the physical sample so the copy matches, not merely resembles.
6. Data delivery in your preferred format — Gerber RS-274X as standard, with ODB++ or IPC-2581 on request.

A straightforward copy is typically finished within two to five working days of quote approval. Multilayer boards take longer, and the schedule is confirmed in writing before starting.

Materials, Finish and Stack-Up

A copy is only useful if the boards it produces actually fit and perform like the originals, which is why the physical characteristics matter as much as the artwork:

• Board thickness — measured and matched, so the copy seats correctly in its connectors and enclosure
• Copper weight — recorded per layer, which matters for current-carrying traces on power boards
• Surface finish — HASL, lead-free HASL, ENIG or immersion silver, matched to the original or upgraded to your specification
• Solder mask and silkscreen — colour and layout reproduced, with optional 1:1 cosmetic matching
• Impedance-controlled traces — where the board has controlled-impedance routing, the stack-up is documented so your fabricator can hold it

If you plan to order the boards from your own fabricator, we can deliver the data with a stack-up note so their quotation matches what the original board actually is. If you are unsure which of those characteristics matter for your application, send us the board and describe how it is used — we will tell you plainly what has to match and what can safely be improved.

Copy vs Clone vs Reverse Engineering

If you need finished, working boards rather than bare boards, see our PCB cloning service. If you need the schematic as well, see our reverse engineering service.

Fabrication Options and Quantities

You can take the data package to any fabricator of your choice, or we can arrange production for you:

• Data only — you receive the verified Gerber set and order from your own supplier
• First articles — a small batch so you can confirm fit and finish before committing to volume
• Production quantities — we can supply the boards directly, on a schedule that suits your maintenance plan

Once the copy data exists, every future order is a simple repeat — no re-measurement, no re-quoting, no lead time for engineering.

How Much Does a PCB Copy Cost?

A copy is priced per board and is the least expensive of the three services, because there is no schematic capture and no component work. The number depends on:

• Layer count — the biggest single factor. A four-layer board is far less work than a sixteen-layer board.
• Board size and hole density — more holes and a larger outline means more measurement and verification.
• Controlled impedance or special materials — if the stack-up has to be documented precisely, say so up front.

Send two clear photographs — top and bottom — and we will return a fixed quote, usually within one business day. If you also want the boards made, ask for the fabrication price in the same request so you have both numbers side by side.

Why Circuit Engineer

• Copying and reverse engineering PCBs full-time since 2011, for customers worldwide
• Data verified against the physical sample — dimension and continuity checks included as standard
• Delivered in the format your fabricator actually wants, including ODB++ where required
• Strict confidentiality: we work under NDA on request and never reuse or resell customer design data
• Fixed quotes, with fabrication available as an option rather than a requirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you copy a multilayer board?

Yes. Inner layers are reconstructed by controlled examination of the board. We state the layer count and method in the quote before any work starts, and destructive steps are only taken with your agreement.

Will the copied boards be identical to the original?

Functionally identical, and dimensionally verified against measurements. Cosmetic details such as silk-screen fonts can be matched 1:1 on request.

Do you also fabricate the boards?

On request, yes — we can supply first articles or production quantities, or you can take the data package to any fabricator of your choice.

What does a PCB copy cost?

It depends on layer count, board size and hole density. Send photos of both sides through our contact page for a fixed quote, typically within one business day.

How long does a copy take?

Most boards are finished within two to five working days of quote approval. Multilayer boards take longer, and the schedule is confirmed in writing before starting.

Can I get the schematic as well?

Not as part of a copy — a copy is fabrication data only. If you need a schematic, that is a reverse engineering project, and we can quote both together.

In what format is the data delivered?

Gerber RS-274X plus an Excellon drill file as standard. ODB++ and IPC-2581 are available on request if your fabricator prefers them.

Request Your PCB Copy Quote

Two clear photos — top and bottom — are enough to start. Send them through our contact page and receive a fixed price and delivery schedule. No obligation, full confidentiality.

Related guides

• What it costs — price ranges by board type and what each deliverable adds.
• How the process works — the seven stages, from intake to deliverable packaging.
• Software and tools — the CAD and CAM toolchain behind a copy job.
• Obsolete components — identifying current equivalents for discontinued parts.
• PCB cloning — when you need working boards rather than bare-board data.

We also copy and reverse engineer boards from specific sectors: automotive, medical, industrial control, aerospace and defence, and consumer electronics.