During PCB manufacturing and thereafter, strips and tooling holes must be added to the panellings for an accurate assembly process. Moreover, stampholes can be preferred in paneled manufacturing of PCB designs that are suitable for V-Cut and have irregular shapes.
Strip
Strips are emptyfunctionless parts in the panellings and they enable PCBs to be manufactured easily during manufacturing and assembly and then can be broken and separated. PCB manufacturers mostly add tooling holes and fiducials to these strips. Depending on the need, they can be on all four edges or
only two edges of the panel. They can be separated from the panels with V-Cut or stamp holes. The added strips have an important role in making PCB move in the machines and conveyors in the
assembly line. The strips occupy an important position in PCB manufacturing and assembly while they also increase the total cost.
Stamp Holes/ Mouse Bites
Using stamp holes is another method for separating panelled cards easily. If the edges of the cards are flat and not suitable for V-Cut, stamp holes can be used. Moreover, it would be a good preferance to manufacture cards with various dimensions and shapes in a single panel. However, this method has many deficiencies. The manufacturing process is more troublesome compared to the panellings with V-Cut. It also increases PCB cost since it extends the manufacturing period in especially serial
production and amplifies the panel size. Moreover, if these stamp holes are not located properly, they may cause burrs after the cards are separated from the panel.
Tooling Holes
Tooling holes are mechanical stabilizing holes used firstly by PCB manufacturer and then assembly company. Tooling holes are possibly one of the most simple specialities in panellings, yet have critical importance in manufacturing and assembly processes. To keep PCB stabile during manufacturing process and align properly during drilling are compulsory. When the manufactured PCB is sent for
assembly and if there are SMD materials in the design, tooling holes will still be needed. The borehole is preferred to be unpaved between 2mm and 4mm.
