V-scoring, depanelizing and related issues

[george.r]

We're having a few boards made at work, and need some 10 panels of it for the first run.

Sure thing, gerbers sent to JLCPCB, we asked them to do the panelizing (since the customer had specified KiCad and that doesn't really do panels well). JLC told us they _wouldn't_ do mousebites, and if we wanted panels, they'd have to be V-scored. Now, each board has overhangs on two of the sides when fully assembled, which will complicate depanelizing.

We've always used mousebites without issue when spinning our own panels, but this is a new experience. Does anyone have any input on this, are there any concerns about the parts that overhang the board outline I should be aware of, or am I just overthinking this?

Thanks all!

[IconicPCB]

Be weary of score to break and the forces which might be exerted on solder joints close to the score line while the panels are being broken away.

[ogden]

V-cut SMT PCB's shall be separated using "pizza cutter", like this: https://www.cab.de/en/electronics/pcb-separators/maestro-3e/. It means no overhang components. If you are planning to break v-cut PCB, then better don't, especially in case of ceramic caps or BGA close to the edge. You can possibly think of making special tool to break v-cut that does not allow PCB flexing, but anyway - good luck with final quality.

[Mangozac]

JLC will do mousebites - you just have to do the panelising yourself. We do it all the time.

[SMTech]

V-cut SMT PCB's shall be separated using "pizza cutter", like this: https://www.cab.de/en/electronics/pcb-separators/maestro-3e/. It means no overhang components. If you are planning to break v-cut PCB, then better don't, especially in case of ceramic caps or BGA close to the edge. You can possibly think of making special tool to break v-cut that does not allow PCB flexing, but anyway - good luck with final quality.

This risk is overstated and highly dependent on your design, the PCB size, rigidity and quality/depth of the V-score, a massive proportion of our assemblies are v-scored and broken out manually without issue. A V-score will often give you a more rigid panel for assembly in p&p and wave soldering than mousebites reducing the need for complex support. Of course it has its drawbacks for things like overhanging components or the strength of the panel during reflow if there are multiple scores. You choose your method on a case by case basis.

[Matt-Brown]

You can also request v-score and route. if overhangling on 2 soiides have a routed gap, or gaps. It just limites how many per panel