At Rockwell Collins, we typically put tabs on the rigid portion of the printed boards only. Tabs on rigid boards are milled off with a router. Tabs, if they occur on a flex portion of a rigid-flex are cut manually with an exacto knife. Regards, Roy Keen, Application Engineering Telephone: 319-295-3305 FAX: 319-295-3177 Email: [log in to unmask] "Russell W. Furumasu" <[log in to unmask]> on 08/12/98 07:48:25 AM Please respond to "TechNet E-Mail Forum." <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] cc: Subject: [TN] Separating Flex Circuits Just a general question for the Forum. When individual rigid flex circuits are fabricated in arrays or panelized, what are some of the techniques (manual vs machine) used for separating them following assembly to prevent tearing of the flex sections? Are any particular "breakaway" tab configuratons, or designs, recommended? Any recommendations on positioning such tabs? Flex core would be either FR-4 or polyimide; hardboard sections would be four-layer, 0,062in thick. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks Russ Furumasu Rockwell Automation ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################ ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################ ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################