PCB Panelization gives great benefits to PCB producers.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows two different approaches for PCB Panelization.
Generally, in good CAD software tools multiple PCBs can be panelized after discussion with manufacturer. Both can be used for cost saving strategies for prototype testing and small scale PCB productions.įigure 2: Panelization of two different PCB-designs However, as a whole, it gives benefit to customer to save a handsome amount at manufacturing PCB phase. Customers generate one gerber file rather than multiple gerber files to save one time manufacturing cost. An additional cost is added to total manufacturing cost of PCB. It becomes slightly complicated task for manufacturer to cut, package and ship different PCBs. In this method multiple different designs are added to same PCB panel. It is very popular in high production setups.Ģ- Different PCB designs are combined to one PCB file In this case the extra charges are not added in manufacturing price. It is usually done in two different ways:ġ- Multiple copies of same PCB are combined in one PCB i.e., an array of PCBs. PCBs are panelized after designing all PCBs and before to generating gerber data. To produce one PCB Gerber file data after adding multiple PCB designs i.e., array of PCB designs is called PCB Panelization. Gerber format is one of the most leading formats understood by the manufacturers. To reduce cost to some extent PCB development customers combine more than one PCB design files into one final file and then generate Gerber files. Every aspect of PCB manufacturing has variety of options and their pitfalls. This motivates and encourages the industry partners in product development. This is why they guide their customers at every step to produce maximum number of PCBs and best usable techniques in a competitive price amount. The PCB manufacturers understand this psyche of product developers very well. For this purpose every developer adopts all methods to save money at every step. The PCB developers demand always to keep manufacturing cost low and low.
All steps of electronic product development including circuit design, PCB design, manufacturing, assembling and fixing into final product has no exception. The Quest of PCB Manufacturing CostĬost saving in every step of any engineering product development is very crucial by the first day. Why should we make PCB panel for production ? 1.