Blair,

Assembly:
Some machines will read an 'x-out' mark on the panel and skip the board if the vendor includes this. I build a limited number of panels, so I've always handled them manually - I hold them to the end of the build and then adjust the settings on the machine for that panel. Not the best option for high-volume, but the panels I work with typically don't have the x-out mark.

Planning:
I've always gotten the right number of boards out of stock, so I haven't gone looking for a way to control this. I think our stock-keepers just know to look for this.

Quality:
Usually when I see an x-out, it's because of a visual defect, like physical damage or an inclusion in the solder mask, and not something that would put the other images on the panel into question. Quality of the board construction is still demonstrated by a panel coupon. 


Ben

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Blair Hogg
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 10:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: EXTERNAL: [TN] NTC - (somewhat) regarding X-outs

Happy Spring, Technetters! Having enjoyed a very snowy winter here in PA I am now ready to enjoy some warmer weather.

I have a few question as to how others handle x-out boards in a panel, both from an assembly point of view, from a planning point of view, and from a quality point of view. 

Assembly - we are planning to run these boards on our Phillips / Assembleon equipment, and there should be a way to have the machine automatically detect an x-out panel and not populate it, or am I asking too much? We can't seem to figure out how to get this to work. 

Planning - there are n boards in a panel, but 1 is an x-out, and the planning / ERP system thinks there will be n boards, but you get 1 less, how do you tell the ERP system this? 

Quality - If there is a defect on 1 board in the panel, should there be concerns that the other boards may also have defects that weren't detected? 

Thanks!

Blair

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