My first board review fault! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 10:59:55 am
content: So PCBWay said I had "drills overlapping slots", which do I want, the slots or the drills?The gerber screenshot they sent me was my edge cut layer + the mounting drill holes.The drill how had a red circle around it which came <1mm from the curved edge cut.Am I right in thinking the 2.2mm holes where just too close to the edge cut and the board may crack and foul the drill?I assumed when they said "slots" they mean the edge cut fillet edge is cut with the slot cutter.I told them to keep the drills and leave the slots. Again I'm kind of assuming this means my board with have the mounting holes, but no rounded corners.Note to future self. The mounting holes do not need to be in the corners! If you place them early they can be far further in and avoid the issue.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 11:03:13 am
content: This screenshot.

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 11:13:34 am
content: What are those red circles? Are they the final drill hole diameter, or are those green dots the final drill holes?If the latter, those red circles probably represent the mounting bolt outline. Those should not be in the gerber files.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 11:49:46 am
content: The only layers in my PCB editor that contain similar red circles are "Forecourt" and "User comments", which came with the same mounting hole footprint I have used before with PCBWay.Its not even an annular pad mounting hole its just a drill.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 11:52:23 am
content: I think this might be more the issue?I'll have to check their tolerances, but 1.6mm is pretty close.It's a 2.2m hole. Isn't there some rules about drill size to clearance?

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 04:33:23 pm
content: You didn't answer my question. What is the function of the red circles in the gerber screenshot in your first post. Layer names don't mean anything to me and many others. But from the Kicad screenshot I can see this is the courtyard layer.The layer with the red circles should not be included in your gerber files for PCB manufacturing because your courtyards have no function in PCB fabrication. It only causes confusion with the PCB manufacturer.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 07:40:15 pm
content: Quote from: temperance on July 05, 2025, 04:33:23 pmYou see I have no idea what they have on the screen, those circles might be their own tolerance guides.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2025, 10:12:34 am
content: Update. It's passed review, back in production queue - "We will follow the drills"I'll update when I get the board to see what I actually get.In future I'll place mechanical first with plenty of margin and not squeeze them in at the end.

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2025, 02:05:39 pm
content: QuoteMore important is to follow your PCB manufacturer design rules or adapt design rules which fit most PCB suppliers. Kicad design rules can be downloaded from this page:https://www.pcbway.com/pcb_prototype/PCB_Design_Rule_Check.html