tab-route – Advanced Circuits | PCB Manufacturing & PCB Assembly https://www.4pcb.com/blog Printed Circuit Boards and PCB Assembly Manufacturer Blog Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:57:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 PCB Panelization: Tab-Route vs. Score /blog/pcb-panelization-tab-route-vs-score/ /blog/pcb-panelization-tab-route-vs-score/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2014 15:46:54 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=365 Continue reading ]]>  printed circuit board pcb panelization

When you have a lot of printed circuit boards to order for your business you want to be able to find ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Tab-route panelization and scoring are two ways that you can achieve this goal.

Before we get into this, it’s helpful to review what a PCB panel is, and what benefits it provides during the manufacturing and assembly process. The panel is one larger group of individual printed circuit boards that are broken out to the single boards, during assembly. Panelization allows for less defects in the finished PCB boards, and the panels work well in automated assembly machines.

Now, back to our tab routing and scoring discussion. Scoring involves a “V” groove cut into the top and bottom surfaces of your PCB array and is done when your boards are placed together side by side and end to end. Tab routing lets you place more than one board (of either the same or different design) into a given area. PCBs can then be removed by breaking or cutting the tabs that are between the boards in the array. Both of these methods allow engineers to get multiple boards manufactured and assembled at the same time using automated processes. This results in lower costs for the project and faster completion of the PCB order.

Choosing PCB Tab Routing or Scoring

If you have a PCB order that requires tab routing or scoring it is important to communicate those needs to your PCB manufacturer. With Advanced Circuits, you can get help with processing your order as long as the following information has been submitted:

  1. Your single board files (1-up files)
  2. The total number of boards in the array and the number of boards in both the X and Y directions
  3. The width of the top, bottom, left and right rails, if required. (Standard is 0.5”)
  4. Select either scored or tab route array on your order form

For any questions related to your order and to see how you can take advantage of the free design and submission tools available, contact an expert at Advanced Circuits.

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Tab Route PCBs from Advanced Circuits /blog/tab-route-pcbs-from-advanced-circuits/ /blog/tab-route-pcbs-from-advanced-circuits/#respond Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:55:13 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=70 Continue reading ]]> Tab Route PCBs from Advanced Circuits

Getting the exact printed circuit boards you need for your system takes knowing your exact specifications so everything is made right the first time. A tab route is used to create arrays, often referred to as “route and retain.” First, design your tab route configuration with Advanced Circuits. Then, you can place multiple PCBs with the same or different design in an array or panelized configuration. This helps you meet your assembly requirements that utilize pick and place machines to load components. You can then separate the PCBs by breaking or cutting the tabs.

Advanced Circuits for “Scoring” Options

When removing the tabs of a tab route is not a viable option, you can work with the team at Advanced Circuits for a scoring solution. Scoring refers to a “v” groove that is cut into the top and bottom surface of an array of multiple PCBs or between a board and rails that is to be removed after assembly. However, this results in a less smooth finished board edge. Contact Advanced Circuits today to get started on your custom PCB order.

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