My rough answer is that there is no 'standard' panel size within this
industry.
Unfortunately it is still a matter of determining and understanding YOUR
supply chain (as opposed to THE supply chain) - If your products are
being manufactured in multiple facilities in different parts of the
world in high volume the challenge will be to find suppliers with the
same idea of optimum, similar technical and cost structures and yields.
Marry that information with the capabilities (optimal capabilities) of
your assembly providers and you have a rough start on what your panel
size can be.
We run 5 panel sizes:
- The smallest 8.0"x10.0" to optimize our ability to push the
limits of technology on pure R&D endeavors (products which will never
see more than 10 units)
- Our largest in the US is 18.0"x24.0" and used when the board
size and technology and volume demand optimization.
- Our assembly operation can assemble through all operations our
maximum board size.
There is a major difference between maximum panel size and optimum panel
size. A supplier in mainland China will likely be manufacturing on
36.0"x48.0" panels, holding terrific registration in the center of the
panel and being on the ragged edge and perhaps losing some yield out on
the edges. However, put a single 34.0"x46.0" board on there and it is
not manufacturable. You can take that same theory down to an
18.0"x24.0" panel with sub 3&3 space/trace. Small boards are easier
yield, small panels allow for better yields.
Are you allowing x-outs? What are the rail and keep-out requirements of
your assemblers?
No matter what is printed in IPC (and I wish this were not true) is
still becomes a matter of YOUR supply chain vs. the industry standard.
We've seen far too many products optimized for the QTA-PCB fabricator
(who typically has the best opportunity to influence the panel size due
being early in the process) and then being horrible for the assembler
and costly in production.
Component orientation is critical in assembly, for optimum machine load
having all the passives oriented the same way is terrific for speed.
We've seen far too many boards laid out very well in this area only to
have the panel 'optimized' squeezing boards in at 90 degree angles,
which is really costly in assembly.
Hope this helps.
My $0.019,
Joe
Joseph F. O'Neil Hunter Technology
President 2941 Corvin Drive
(408) 245-5400 Santa Clara, California 95051
[log in to unmask] www.hunterpcb.com
Interconnect and Electronic Manufacturing Services Since 1968
-----Original Message-----
From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Chris Ball
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 5:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DC] Standard panel size?...
Hi Bill-
Our typical board is not so big. We try to use one of two 'Array' sizes
here in the US (where an Array contains multiple boards, a manufacturing
panel contains multiple arrays).
Our sizes are:
284x208 MM - 4 arrays per panel, x pcbs per array
284x138 MM - 6 arrays per panel, x pcbs per array
Usually, we can pattern the PCB to get a good yield in one or the other
width. In rare cases, we shorten the length and get one more array
(rotated
90 deg.) on the panel. Usually, we'll leave dead board in the array to
get
the standard length, because we save no money by shortening unless we
can
go down to about 210x138.
We got to this by assuming the mfg panel is 18x24 inches. We source very
few boards in the US these days, and it may be true that overseas they
have
the 'super-euro' and other unique sheet sizes available as a starting
point, but we still seem to get optimal pricing with these two sizes.
Best Wishes,
-Chris
"Brooks,Bill"
<[log in to unmask]> To:
[log in to unmask]
Sent by: DesignerCouncil cc:
<[log in to unmask]> Subject:
[DC] Standard panel
size?...
07/28/2005 06:47 PM
Please respond to
"(Designers Council
Forum)"; Please respond to
"Brooks,Bill"
We are re-evaluating our board assembly panel sizes and want to get the
best
yields from our vendor's manufacturing panels when we select the final
size
of our 'standard' assembly panel...
What is your PCB manufacturing 'standard' panel size for glass/epoxy
type
materials??? Some PCB vendors tell me they have a working panel size of
18x24 inches... what do you use? And why?
Thanks in advance for your help...
Bill Brooks - KG6VVP
PCB Design Engineer, C.I.D.+, C.I.I.
Tel: (760)597-1500 Ext 3772 Fax: (760)597-1510
Datron World Communications, Inc.
_______________________________________
San Diego Chapter of the IPC Designers Council
Communications Officer, Web Manager
http://dcchapters.ipc.org/SanDiego/
http://pcbwizards.com
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