V-Scored Multiple PCB

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1

Hi

I want to submit an order that consists of a large number of small (about 1sq inch) boards. I assume that they will be delivered as one board and that I will then have to separate them myself.

My question is - is it possible to instruct via the Eagle layout for a v-score, or similar cut to be routed into the board so that the smaller boards can easily be ‘snapped’ out without resorting to using a knife.

Thanks

2

My understanding is that V-scoring has to be done across the entire panel. Having a small section of your boards mixed in with a bunch of others rules this out.

I believe there was another thread that talked about drilling multiple closely spaced holes, but this was frowned upon for manufacturability concerns expressed by the board vendor.

3

Thanks, but who does this V-Scoring, the pcb manufacturer or Spark fun.

My design would have a large number of square or rectangular boards, all of equal size arranged as a grid.

How do I indicate where the v-score goes, or do they just do it by where the board border is?

4

Tha manuf does the scoring. Unless you can fill an entire panel with your design, I don’t think it will be compatible with the other boards that are grouped on the same panel.

When I had my boards scored, I marked the lines on the silk screen, and wrote special instructions in the ‘readme’ file that I included.

5

Did the scoring cost anything extra? When you snapped the boards off, was the edge left relatively straight, or slanting at 45-60 degrees?

6

It was included in the price of the 100 boards I ordered. I don’t think it cost anything extra. Both sides were scored. The boards snapped apart cleanly, and the edges are at right angles to the face of the board. Not sure I can tell the difference between the routed edges and the scored edges. I suppose you could touch it up with some fine sand paper if it was really an issue.

7

And all you did was put a note with the order, and draw some guide lines on the silk screen?

8

Yes, but keep in mind this was for 100 boards, and not with Spark Fun. (but they did do my prototypes :smiley: )

9

Hi - thanks for taking care of that!

As BRB pointed out - vscoring is really perfect for small boards. We can’t really vscore a panel - only production runs. And when I say production runs, I only mean that you must order your own panel of 100sq inches.

We don’t mind when customers contact GP-PCB directly. We are just here for the pooling service.

-Nathan