When designing a PCB layout, various questions inevitably arise. Is this PCB best suited for a single-layer, double-layer, or multi-layer configuration? How should you protect against ESD/EMI? Will the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) use a single-sided or double-sided process? Should the selection of electronic components be through-hole devices, surface mount devices, or a combination of both? This article will primarily focus on the PCB soldering production processes.
A while back, a netizen asked how the Router de-panel machine cuts PCB panels and whether there’s a need to reserve board edges (break-away) for the Router machine in PCB design. Upon careful consideration, I thought my previous answer might have been too brief. So, in this post, I’ve decided to delve deeper into these questions.
If you’re still unsure why PCBs are panelized before SMT and PCB assembly then de-paneling it into individual PCBA after assembly or what need to reserve board edges for Router machines in PCB design, please refer to the article titled “Why is Panelization and Break-away Tab Necessary in PCB Manufacturing, then De-paneling after PCBA is Completed?“
PCB assembly through SMT double-sided reflow soldering has become the mainstream process in contemporary electronic manufacturing. However, occasionally, many individuals inquire, “Is there a method to proactively determine, or is there any calculation formula to predict the risk or rate of components falling off during the second reflow on the first side?”
There are several methods to cut and separate pre-panelized PCBs into individual boards, and one commonly adopted approach for thin and finely dimensioned mobile phone PCBs is using a Router Cutting Machine. It offers numerous advantages over V-Cut scoring machines, with the primary benefit being a higher quality of panel separation, surpassing the benefits of manual operation.
If you’re not yet familiar with why printed circuit boards (PCBs) are panelized before assembly and then separated, please refer to the article titled “Why is Panelization and Break-away Tab Necessary in PCB Manufacturing, then De-paneling after PCBA is Completed?”
The term “V-cut” refers to a pre-cut separation groove made by printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers at specific locations on the PCB. This groove is designed to facilitate the “de-paneling” process after the completion of surface mount technology (SMT) and PCB assembly. Its cut shape resembles the letter “V,” as shown above, hence the name.
Since PCBs primarily use fiberglass as their structural material, they possess considerable strength and hardness. Attempting to manually break them apart is impractical, which is why pre-cut grooves like V-Cut are essential for operators on the production line to easily perform the PCB de-paneling process.
