Oval Holes - can these get fabbed without any problems? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: K3mHtH
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2014, 04:10:33 am
content: Hey everyone,I'm noticing a few footprints in kicad have oval holes. If I send these to get manufactured, is there any problem? Do they end up plated?FWIW, I plan to use pcbcart.com to get them fabbed.Thanks in advance,

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2014, 05:55:29 am
content: Slot holes usually cost extra, because they have to do the route cut separately from regular hole drilling. It's a few extra steps. So if they do make it to spec, it should be more expensive. A cheap panelizing fab might not even do it, or quote much more than expected.Tim

author: K3mHtH
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2014, 07:56:32 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on February 25, 2014, 05:55:29 amThanks Tim, checking the manufacturer's instant-quote page.. I can specify slot cutting and put in how many slots need to be routed. I put in the slots required and the price difference wasn't much at all.How is the pcb manufacturer expecting to see slots shown? Right now in kicad, the oval holes are just showing up as ovals in the Drill file. But if the slots are done as a separate process (routing?) then I'm expecting to see the slots shown on the PCB_Edges layer. Maybe I'm over complicating this..

author: Codemonkey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 07:39:13 am
content: The last board I did with Kicad had plated slots for some battery terminals. All I did was specify the holes in kicads pad properties to be the correct size then sent the gerbers etc to seeedstudio. I didn't have to specify anything extra other than what was in the files that Kicad output and the boards came back exactly as expected. No extra costs either.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 08:07:56 am
content: These are defined as slots, not holes, and may or may not be allowed by your manufacturers standard process, or may cost extra.They will be plated if you tell them to plate them, just like regular holes.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 01:04:26 am
content: I know (been there, done that) Eurocircuits plates slots when they are inside copper on all layers.

author: bronson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 01:15:19 am
content: It can take an extra step to plate slots so, unless you ask for it, you probably won't get it.OSHPark sez no:http://support.oshpark.com/support/solutions/articles/134889-internal-cutouts-andIan has some thoughts, emphasis on crude:http://dangerousprototypes.com/2012/06/20/how-to-crude-way-of-making-plated-slots-in-eagle/But, ultimately, it's all up to your fab.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 06:28:15 am
content: just for reference, itead drilled and plated slot holes on a 10x10 board of mine with no issues,

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 07:00:51 am
content: i suppose one issue would be how to define an oval hole.drill files only contain the location, not the shape.the fab shop isn't going to trust your G code.. any errors will break their bits or crash the machine.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 07:03:55 am
content: Quote from: johansen on March 12, 2014, 07:00:51 amAs Dave said a few posts up, they are plated slots not holes.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 07:42:13 am
content: yep, since you cant drill and oval hole, like you can a round hole, they have to be routed out like a slot.Be aware that the tightest arc you can have on a slot is the arc of the router bit used in the machine doing the routing.Sometimes you can specific which size router bit should be used eg 1mm, other times they say "x mm" will be used and your stuck with it

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 09:23:02 am
content: Quote from: Psi on March 12, 2014, 07:42:13 amLOL, I know a couple of apprentices that would argue with that

author: VK4GHZ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2018, 10:10:42 am
content: Quote from: Rerouter on March 12, 2014, 06:28:15 amOld topic, but this is what Google found!Great to hear... I'm working on a board at the moment with oval holes (a 2.1mm DC socket), and iTead is my go-to PCB fabricator.