In order to make a stencil for a panelized board, the step and repeat
numbers are essential. Of course it is possible to measure that information
from a finished panel. However it is always better to know the intended
distances rather than the actual distances. You are not adding one more
potential error and you are more likely working with the middle of the range
rather than a number that gets close to the three sigma end of the
distribution.

But dont you also have to have that information in order to program your
pick and place machine? If your board vendor has a hard time providing that
information, my first guess is that he has something to hide (where is his
three sigma?), my second guess is that he does not know/understand the
industry he is working in and let's skip my third guess.

No, let's be nice, there is only a communication error and what you
understood (via-via-via) the vendor to say was not what the vendor meant at
all, so give him a call.

Ahne
A-Laser
(503)641-9428.


-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Stephen R. Gregory
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 1999 16:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Panelized Gerber Files...


Hi ya'll!

Gotta' question, I've been getting boards panelized here that have been
single boards previously. My part is to specify what the maximum panel size
should be, and ask that .5" rails be put on two parallel sides of the panel.
The buyer then communicates this to our fab vendors and has them do the
panelization. I ask that buyer tell the fab vendor to email me the panelized
gerbers so I can get a stencil made for the panel. Sounds simple enough huh?

But I found that a few of our vendors have told the buyer that this is not
something they normally do...or the latest thing that I was told was that
they do the panelization manually? I don't understand...

I'm not educated enough about this, but I thought that a single image gerber
is just stepped-and-repeated to give you the panel which is used to
photoplot
the artwork that the fab vendor has to have to build the fab. The file has
to
exist or the fab vendor wouldn't be able to make fab, right? So why am I
getting such resistance when I ask for the panelized gerbers?

What am I missing?

I can still get a stencil made without the panelized gerbers, but I have to
wait until the paneled fab actually gets here so I can send it to my stencil
vendor with the single image gerber...my stencil vendor will take care of
the
step-and-repeat, but it's kind of a hassle. It would be so simple to do
things by email...

-Steve Gregory-

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