5.1 Sub-Panel/Production Formats

Sub-Panel Design

Automated production of your electronic assembly becomes much more efficient if the PCBs are processed in sub-panels. This is particularly true in the case of small formats or those with unusual outlines.

Sub-Panels

In the case of a sub-panel, several PCBs are combined into one unit and only get separated into single pieces after the subsequent component placement process. Always clarify the sub-panel design with your circuit board assembler. Place tool holes in the edge of the sub-panel so that it can be held by your circuit board assembler’s machinery.

Production Formats

In the interest of cost-effectiveness, we combine individual PCBs or sub-panels into a single production panel. When doing so, we are careful to ensure optimum utilization of the available production format. Before carrying out electrical testing, we split the production panel into sub-panels according to the size of unit you have ordered by scoring or milling it in line with your specifications.

Single Sub-Panel

Sub-Panel Within Production Format

KSG creates with separating slots and retaining webs the predetermined breaking points so that the sub-panel can be subsequently split into single pieces. After separation, the PCBs have scored or milled edges.

The usable area (Net-area) within the different production formats is standardized and defined. The following table provides an overview of which production formats are available for which PCB technologies, including the usable area of each format.

Sub-panel types	Learn more under
Milled sub-panel	5.2 Sub-Panel Design\| Milled Sub-Panel
Scored sub-panel	5.3 Sub-Panel Design \| Scored Sub-Panel
Panel Combination scored-milled sub-panel	5.4 Sub-Panel Design \| Scored and Milled Sub-Panel
Example of sub-panel and material utilization	5.5 Sub-Panel Design \| Example of Material Utilization

PCB Technology	Usable Production Area / Formats
Double-sided PCBs	578 × 498 mm; 573 × 500 mm; 578 × 428 mm; 573 × 426 mm
Multilayer PCBs	578 × 498 mm; 573 × 500 mm; 578 × 428 mm; 573 × 426 mm
HDI/SBU PCBs	578 × 498 mm; 573 × 500 mm; 578 × 428 mm; 573 × 426 mm
High-frequency PCBs	578 × 498 mm; 578 × 428 mm; 573 × 426 mm
Semi-flex PCBs Rigid-flex PCBs	578 × 428 mm; 573 × 426 mm
Rigid-flex PCBs Four Flex Layers	573 × 426 mm
Heavy Copper PCBs Iceberg PCBs Copper IMS PCBs	573 × 426 mm
HSMtec© PCBs	578 × 498 mm; 578 × 428 mm
Embedded Technology	573 × 426 mm

Note for practical impedance control learn more: Observe maximum space loss of 200 × 23 mm per measurement coupon.

Minimum/maximum PCB size

The minimum PCB size can be a few millimeters, square or round, but is then packaged as so-called bulk goods. To enable normal packaging variants learn more about packaging variants and also automated final cleaning/rinsing, a minimum PCB size of ideally 50 × 50 mm, advanced 50 × 30 mm, is required.

The maximum PCB size is usually the usable area (net-area) according to the production format table, depending on the PCB technology. Due to the width of the shrink wrap for the standard packaging variant, the maximum width is limited to 450 mm. PCBs with greater widths up to the maximum width according to the table of production formats are given special packaging.

Keywords

Sub-panel
Production panel formats
X-outs
Panel border
Breakaway tabs
PCB size
Depaneling
Panelization

5.2 Milled Sub-Panel

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