Blog

Uncover the latest PCB innovations, expert insights, and industry trends with PCBX's comprehensive blog. Stay ahead of the curve in PCB design, manufacturing, and assembly.

Printed circuit board Blog - PCBX

PCB Resources

Your comprehensive PCB knowledge resource. Explore in-depth guides on PCB design, material selection, fabrication techniques, and industry trends. Empower your PCB expertise today! 

PCB Resources - PCB Expert Manufacturing - PCBX

PCBA Resources

PCBX: Master the art of PCB assembly. Delve into expert guides on PCB assembly processes, techniques, and quality control procedures. Elevate your PCB assembly skills now! 

PCBA Resources - PCB Expert Manufacturing - PCBX

PCB Design

The PCB Design Resource Channel is a worthwhile location that provides electronic engineers and designers with top-notch resources and tools to design printed circuit boards. In this section, the latest guides in design, tutorial videos, software tools, example projects, and best practices are organized together for reference on how best to go about optimizing the design process for better work efficiency and product quality.

PCB Design - PCB Expert Manufacturing - PCBX

Comprehensive Guide to PCB Panel Creation

Panel creation, more appropriately called panelization of a Printed Circuit Board, is the process of compiling several individual PCB designs into one larger board commonly known as a panel. It is more than just space-saving - an approach aimed at improving manufacturing efficiency and therefore reducing material waste to reduce production cost. The following tutorial will help a person-whether a learner or an experienced one-understand the creation of a PCB panel, from basic concepts and specific types of panels to the techniques involved, in order to get a perfect sense of the concept.<h2>Need for the Creation of PCB Panel</h2><h3>Why Panelization?</h3>The main problem-or better said-the motive for creating PCB panel creation is to make the process of manufacturing easier. Placing several smaller PCBs together into one big panel facilitates-and saves time for-the manufacturer. Advantages involved include:Improved Manufacturing Yield: A single large panel is much more convenient to handle in a manufacturing process than many small boards.Economic Advantages: Material wastage is minimized due to the fact that unused space between individual PCBs in a panel will be at a minimum.Easy Assembly and Testing: This makes it easier in SMT assembly and testing since multiple boards are processed in one run.<h3>Types of PCB Panels</h3>Common Panel TypesDifferent panelization techniques fit various requirements and PCB designs. Among the major types of panels are:V-scoring/V-cut/V-groove:<img src="https://img.pcbx.com/dev/file/image/article/20240918/1124adee80154a2eb87ac2e8b92d9c2c.png" alt="V-scoring-PCBX" data-href="" style="width: 100%;"/>Description: A 'V' groove between boards, the method gives good results when the board snaps off easily. It could be appropriate for PCBs whose edges are just plain and straight.Application: Suitable for rectangular-shaped PCBs and is done on a V-cut machine. A cut is made through the full board continuously, so this technique can also be used for volume production.Routing Slot/Milling Slot + Tab (Tab-routing):Description: This is a process of milling slot in between PCBs while leaving some tabs to hold the PCB structurally. There are two kinds of tab-routing:Tabs with perforations/mouse bites that can be easily snapped.Solid tabs that need to be cut.Application: This method can be applied to the PCBs, which are of irregular shapes and sizes since the tabs will act like supporting edges, which can be easily snapped off when needed.Combination of V-scoring and Tab-routing:Description: This method shall be applied when a panel needs both methods for its completion owing to several design needs. For instance, V-scoring for the edges, which are straight while for other irregular shapes, tabs may be required.<img src="https://img.pcbx.com/dev/file/image/article/20240918/9fa5fa44ad49450585ccfb828a911f26.png" alt="Tab-routing-PCBX" data-href="" style="width: 100%;"/><h2>Rules and Tips to Carry Out Efficient Panel Design</h2><h3>Considerations During Design</h3>Some of the key design rules to consider when ensuring efficiency and quality in PCB panelization include:Panel Shape: The design should aim for a square or rectangle for convenience in handling and space maximization.Closed-loop Outer Frame: Ensuring that the panel retains its shape during a time-consuming manufacturing process.Components Placement: Large or protruding components should not be put near the connection point between the panel frame and the individual PCBs.Fiducial Marks: The panel should feature at least four fiducial holes, situated in its corners. These are for alignment purposes during the manufacturing process. The location must be accurate, and the sidewalls must be smooth to avoid structural weakness.Fiducial Points: There must be an area devoid of solder with a diameter greater than 1.5mm around each fiducial mark for viewing purposes.<h3>Mechanical Processing Techniques</h3>Scoring and MillingMultiplier Panel Scored:X Spacing: No spacing between PCBs. Where space is needed, a minimum 5.0mm spacing must be used.X Traces and Copper Areas: All traces and copper areas must be at least 500µm from the scoring edge.X Panel Thickness: For rigidity, it is advisable to use scoring on panels with the minimum thickness of 1mm.Multiplier Panel Milled:X Spacing: Leave a 2.0mm gap between PCBs.Bridges: If left undefined, the manufactures will place them optimally-usually 1.0-1.5mm wide.Traces and Copper Areas: Keep 200µm minimum distance from milling edge.Mixed Multiplier Panels:Description: Place various different PCB layouts together into one panel.Contours and Traces: Same spacing (0.0mm for scoring, 2.0mm for milling).Stability: Leave enough room for panel stability.<h3>Combining Techniques: Scoring and Milling</h3>Usage and RecommendationsCombination of scoring and milling techniques can provide solutions for complicated panel designs:Calculation of Spacing: Keep the spacing between scored parts as 0.0mm and that between milled parts as 2.0mm.Spacing on Edges: Keep all traces and copper areas at least 500µm from the scoring edge and 200µm from the milling edge.Tool Issues to Consider: It is best to avoid milling straight down a scoring line due to chip formation issues during manufacturing.<h3>X-out Management and Customer Involvement</h3>X-out Handling:Standard Practice: A defective PCB (determined through E-test) is left on the panel but is X-ed out.Customer Options: Customers, during the ordering process, have an option to NOT allow this process to ensure no marked defective PCBs are delivered.Customer-Driven Design:Panel Data: Customers may supply their panel configuration or use manufacturers' online tools for exacting panel assembly.Configurator Tools: These are the tools that give a preview about the design of a panel to facilitate the panelization process. This is done so in order to ensure customer satisfaction.<h2>Conclusion</h2>PCB panel creation is an essential part of modern electronic manufacturing. It is an amalgamation of art and science put together with an objective of enhancing efficiency that would reduce the cost and best methodology of assembly. Understanding various methods and best practices for panelization would ensure high-quality, cost-effective PCBs both by designers and manufacturers. You will become proficient in the creation of a panel for the PCB, taking into account the types of panels that may be produced, the mechanical processing methods involved, and some of the essential design rules, thus getting the many benefits accruable from using them in manufacturing.

PCB panelization consolidates multiple PCBs into a larger board, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing waste. Techniques include V-scoring and tab-routing. Proper design enhances assembly, testing, and cost-effectiveness.

The quickening pace of upgrading electronic products has given way to high-density, multifunctional, and miniaturized trends, thus the number of components on a PCB will increase squared, while that of the PCBs themselves will be radically decreasing. As a result, it will be necessary to have supporting boards. Round holes may introduce cold soldering when soldering a sub-board to a motherboard due to the volume of the round hole, hence leading to poor electrical connections. Plated half-holes were created as a remedy to this problem.<h2>Definition</h2>The copper plating, usually referred to as castellated half holes, on the edge of the PCB is within them, which is provided by a specialized process. These holes are used for board-on-board connections to enable the integration of different technologies. For instance, it can be combining complex microcontroller modules with more standard and individually designed PCBs.One common application is the plugging of PCB modules like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi into another circuit board using plated half holes as the optimum technique. These holes result in SMD connecting pads. Because the PCBs are directly connected, the system's profile is significantly thinner than when multi-pin connectors are used.<h2>Designs</h2>The following points must be considered when creating plated half-holes.<ul><li>Placement: The centroid of any plated half-hole must be precisely on the PCB's edge or outline. When using elliptical holes, be careful with the start and finish positions.</li><li>Definition: In your EDA software, define the holes/slots as PTH.</li><li style="text-align: left;">File Requirements: When submitting Gerber files, remember to include the holes/slots in the drill file. For example: *.drills_pth.xln or *pth. DRL.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Pad Stability: Each plated half-hole shall be contained within a pad on every copper layer. This shall be to provide stability to the copper sleeve.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Pad Surrounding: Make sure that the pad covers the hole completely. The requirements for the pads and annular rings are the same as those for regular through-holes.</li></ul>Minimum half-hole diameter: 0.6mm, but PCBX can go as small as 0.4mm. The edge-to-edge spacing between holes must be at a minimum of 0.55mm. If the distance falls between 0.47 and 0.55, expect an added cost and lead time. The smallest solder mask bridge is 0.1 millimeters.Following these tips will allow you properly implement plated half-holes in your PCB design. Make sure to use the right parameters and dimensions in design and communicate promptly with your PCB manufacturer for production and assembly.<img src="https://img.pcbx.com/dev/file/image/article/20240806/6575a9483b1f44aebe49701246a1cc62.jpg" alt="Plated Half Hole PCB-PCBX" data-href="" style="width: 100%;"><h2>Manufacturing Process</h2>The conventional process of manufacturing plated half-holes involves the following steps:<ol><li style="text-align: left;">Drilling</li><li style="text-align: left;">Chemical copperization of the panel</li><li style="text-align: left;">Image transfer</li><li style="text-align: left;">Pattern plating</li><li style="text-align: left;">Film stripping</li><li style="text-align: left;">Etching</li><li style="text-align: left;">Solder mask layer printing</li><li style="text-align: left;">Surface treatment</li><li style="text-align: left;">Hole formation</li><li style="text-align: left;">Milling contours</li></ol>These processes increase output and lower the performance of the product. However, such is not the case with modern processes. Plated half-holes require edge drilling of the substrate at their production, requiring specific equipment to avoid defects that will affect the subsequent process. Copper plating the holes after pretreatment enables components put on the circuit board to have strong conductivity.<h2>Advantages</h2>Easy handling and soldering: Because the holes are on the edge of the module, they are easier to solder, not so elusive as pads under the module that happen to make component installation complicated.Easy measurement: Half-hole plating allows measuring distances between the hole and the solder more easily. Calipers can also be used after placing a module.Coaxiality: Side-positioned holes have much fewer alignment errors compared to those under the module.Cleaner Board Surface: Directly mounting a PCB module with plated half-holes to another board ensures less dust and dirt accumulation on the board surface.<h2>Applications</h2><ul><li style="text-align: left;">As branch boards for particular sections of large PCBs.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Modifying the pin layout of components as per requirements by the user.</li><li style="text-align: left;">As an integrated module connected on a single PCB, forming modules used during assembly.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Easy direct assembly of a PCB with half-holes onto another PCB.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Testing the quality of solder joints by interconnecting two boards.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Applied in small modules like WiFi modules.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Enabling wireless connections between PCBs and PCs.</li></ul>

Plated half-holes allow for high-density, miniaturized electronic connections with ease of soldering and efficient board integration—two of the basic needs of modern PCB designs and applications today, such as WiFi modules.