Small quantity prototype PC boards are often assembled “one up.” This means that a single board is put into the surface mount pick and place machine. Each board in the set for the job is assembled one by one. This works well when the boards aren’t too small and are a rectangular shape. However, if you need a lot of boards built (20 or more), that are small (like less than an inch on a side) or are an odd shape (like a circle or with a lot of uneven cuts), you might want to have the boards fabricated and assembled in a panel (sometimes called a pallet or an array).
PCB PANEL ROUTING TECHNIQUE
Most PCBs we receive are individually routed, i.e., not panelized. That doesn’t mean that, sometimes, sending them in a panel isn’t a good idea, or required. Generally, we don’t require panels, but there are some cases when we do.
If you have opted for Full Proto service and your PCB is smaller than 0.75″ x 0.75″, it needs to be in a panel. If a PC board destined for our Short Run production service is less than 16 square inches, it needs to be in a panel of at least 16 square inches to qualify for Short Run.
So… are there other reasons to panelize my PC boards? Yes. read on.
If you’ve got a lot of small boards, it’s easier to handle and protect then when they’re in a panel. A few panels can be more safely packed coming and going from our shop here.
You may be able to get the through our factory faster. If you have a really large number, and need them super fast, panelizing them may enable that fast turn. With a lot of boards, sometimes, it simply isn’t physically possible to put them all on the machine, run them and take them off, in a short turn time. Panelize them and the machine will be running longer for each board change, which reduces the total run time.
It may also cost you less. If you use leadless parts like BGAs, QFNs or LGAs, you can usually reduce your cost a bit by panelizing the boards. Leadless parts cost a little extra because of the X-Ray test needed, but the extra handling is mostly per board, rather than per part. One panel of ten boards with ten BGA, in total, will cost a little less than ten individual boards with one BGA each.
Duane Benson