What is PCB Panelization Usage Rate? Is There Any Impact on PCB Unit Price?

Question

Accepted Answer

Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD)
If you’re responsible for PCB purchasing, what’re the key factors when choosing a PCB supplier. I believe it would be Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD). Today we’ll aim on “Cost”.

PCB Panelization Usage Rate Many elements will affect on PCB production cost such as PCB specification, volume of order and so on. Of course, it includes PCB panelization usage rate too. If PCB will be shipped by panel size (sometimes by unit size), the panel design could be either provided from client side or designed by the PCB maker. A relatively high PCB panelization usage rate could cost less for client compared with low PCB panelization usage rate. Every PCB maker has its own standard and guideline when designing PCB panel. Let’s take ExPlus for example.

Click here to know what’s PCB panel size vs. working size.

ExPlus’ Design Guideline of PCB Panelization

The panelization usage rate must be over 85% for 2 layers PCB and 80% for 4 and 6 layers PCB.
The width of breakaway rail must not lower 5mm to avoid potential risk during mounting process.
The added fiducial marks on breakaway rail must ensure 2.5mm between center of fiducial mark and panel outline to avoid any light blocking during assembly process.

Above are only few ExPlus’ guideline when designing PCB panel. The main purpose of PCB panelization is to meet client requirements, fulfill project size characteristics needs, increase activation of mounting process. And the most important of all is to decrease client’s assembly cost.