PCB Panelization/depanelization

Community PCB Design
1

Hello,

I have just discovered how to make panelized designs in eagle. I am planning to get these done at goldphoenix. I have a total of 9 designs that I have placed into one eagle->gerber file. The tell me that I will need to do the depanelization myself if its over 6 designs per panel.

Can anyone tell me what depanelization means? Does this mean that I need to provide one big gerber file with all pcb’ls and individual pcb’s or does this mean that I will need to cut out the individual pcb’s myself?

If anyone has done a panelized project please explain the process. Thank you!

2

HakBot:
Can anyone tell me what depanelization means? Does this mean that I need to provide one big gerber file with all pcb’ls and individual pcb’s or does this mean that I will need to cut out the individual pcb’s myself?

GP will run a whole panel with your Gerbers (and

Excellon drills). The entire panel will be sent to you

as a whole. You need to cut the smaller projects

out of the panel by hand.

Why not double up on the number of pieces per

design on a panel, limit yourself to six unique designs

per panel and run two panels? Have GP route the

pieces apart and be ready to assembly and solder.

3

will GP do V-scoring? If so then you could just snap them apart. You’d need to provide a file with the V-score lines in it. Heck, GP might be willing to do it all.

Phil

4

OK let me get this straight.

With 6 unique designs gold phoenix will route them out for me. Anything above 6 I will need to do the individual pcb separation? So depanelization means routing the boards out?

Is there a standard panel size? If I specify a panel size thats 5"x10" i should be able to get 3 panels for the 155sq in pcb deal correct?

5

will GP do V-scoring? If so then you could just snap them apart. You’d need to provide a file with the V-score lines in it. Heck, GP might be willing to do it all.

In my case I don’t think I could do this. GP requires all designs to be the same size.

6

HakBot:
Is there a standard panel size?

Yes. GP (like every other PCB house) uses standard

size tanks. To get the best efficiency from the flow

they use standard size panels. Where necessary

they stitch (merge) different jobs together to fill

a panel. An incomplete panel wastes chemicals!

For 1-2 layer prototypes the panel is:

Maximum X or Y size 14.5", maximum panel size 14.5"X10"

The maximum design for one project is 155 sq in.

You can fill that space anyway you like.

(one hundred small PCBs, or one big one).

HakBot:
If I specify a panel size thats 5"x10" i should be able to get 3 panels for the 155sq in pcb deal correct?

Yes.

Also: Free Step and repeat service. Free V score

Tell GP what you want, let them figure out how to do it

and price it for you.

7

HakBot:

will GP do V-scoring? If so then you could just snap them apart. You’d need to provide a file with the V-score lines in it. Heck, GP might be willing to do it all.

In my case I don’t think I could do this. GP requires all designs to be the same size.

Even if you do the panelizing yourself? Not hard at all. check out gerbmerge.