Unconventional PCB Panel Design (Is This Acceptable?)  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: pcb_newbie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 27, 2014, 09:09:02 pm
content: I have attached a picture of an 8.5 x 10.5 inch panel design with 14 different pcbs in it. A router bit of 0.1" is used for the mechanical milling. I know that the panel layout is very squashed, but the pcb is quite thick (2.4mm), so I doubt that warping will be an issue. Besides, the pcbs will be assembled by hand (instead of via pick-and-place machinery). Please let me know if any of you experienced engineers out there deem the panel acceptable. All thoughts are welcome!

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2014, 09:16:49 pm
content: Ask whoever is going to route the slots whether they have any issues.Seems to me you have a few areas where the routed 'slivers' are pretty tiny or are mostly unsupported and I'd think those could rip out while routing. Anyhow, ask the person/company that would manufacturer the board if they have issues with it.cheers,george.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2014, 09:30:06 pm
content: The odd shapes could be a bit of work to break out on a 2.4mm thick panel.You may want to add some extra rat-bites so the waste can be broken away more easily - see attatched in orange.As mentioned,some of the waste is pretty thin - I'd suggest making sure that there aren't any webs narrower than the router width

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2014, 10:09:22 pm
content: i believe your breakout points method is suitable for thinner material. for thicker, i suspect you have redundant breakpoints. if you are me, with (probably) addition from mike's, i'll remove (cut altogether) the red edited lines below. only one addition (yellow) and i dont like bended breakpoint arrowed, it may snap straight screwing trace nearby. i only check minimum acceptable breakpoints, i dont consider if the whole pcb can hold on, you may check that. and i'm also not the expert it maybe wrong. ymmv.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2014, 10:40:04 pm
content: ...and by the way - WTF is this for?

author: gregariz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2014, 12:02:38 am
content: If it were me I would do the panelisation without placing the mechanical routing and tabs in and ask the vendor to separate the panel. I usually do this with Gold Phoenix and it doesn't appear to cost me anything - not that I know of course. Leave it up to them to do it as they see fit.

author: pcb_newbie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 28, 2014, 02:34:14 am
content: Thanks for the replies, guys. Anyone else want to chime in?Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 27, 2014, 10:40:04 pmHi Mike, these are for a vacuum tube based electronic musical instrument with an unusual body shape—which the pcbs reflect. Some of them have to be thick in order to handle the pressure of inserting/removing tubes (the sockets are soldered directly to the pcbs).

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2014, 03:40:52 am
content: i spotted several errors in my picture but too lazy arse to redo due to lack of sleep, i believe you got my point. btw, the software rendering looks realistic (it attempted pretty well at least) what SW you use?

author: pcb_newbie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 28, 2014, 04:11:06 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on April 28, 2014, 03:40:52 amI do appreciate your post (I got your point).I actually used AutoCAD to design the pcbs, and then converted them to gerber files with EasyGerb 5.