EQ’s or Engineering Questions are common for many PCB design file packages received.  PCB Global’s Computer Aided manufacturing (CAM) Engineering department will invariably have a few EQ’s to confirm before proceeding with the customer’s PCB order. One common example of a typical EQ regarding Tooling and V-Grooving is shown below:

Tooling Hole Cut by V-Grooving

EQ from CAM:

Tooling hole on the tooling strips too close to the V-groove.

Explanation:

The V-grooving can easily damage the tooling hole and cause poor registration through the SMT process on both solder paste application as well as SAMT component placement.

 Resolution:

Our customer confirmed to move the tooling hole 2mm to the right to ensure the V-grooving will not affect the integrity of the non-plated through tooling hole.

For further tips and information when designing and laying out your printed circuit board design file please do not hesitate to contact our PCB Global team at sales@pcbglobal.com