----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan B. Pearce" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 9:29 AM Subject: Re: [OT]:PCB Cutting ? > > I think if you look at photographs of SMT stuffing machines you will find > that the panels are multiple boards, waiting to be broken apart after > soldering. I believe grooves are routed or sawn in the PCB as part of the > PCB manufacture process allowing the boards to be broken apart after > stuffing, in the manner you describe. I have handled fibreglass PCB's where > there are little rough bits where this has obviously happened. > > For an SMT machine it makes sense to have large panels as these stuff the > boards that fast any stop time due to changing the panel becomes a > significant portion of the operating time. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics > (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics > For small SMT boards it is usually easier to assemble the boards in panels. It takes less time for the pick and place machine to stuff one large panel than a bunch of small indivdual PCBs. The last board I did at my old job had 8 small boards on each panel. We had the PCB house score between the boards so all we had to do was snap them apart after assembly. The little rough bits you saw were probably mouse bites. These are usually sections about 1/4 in. wide left in between boards in a panel. A series of holes is drilled in this piece so that it snaps apart easily. Rick -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics