3 Simple Questions About PCBs

[Supercap2F]

Hey Everyone!!

Heres my questions:

1) Has any one ever used Elecrow to make their PCBs? If so what was there quality like?
2) How much bigger should I make the drill hole than the components pin?
3) Whats the best and cleanest way to cut PCBs?

Thanks for the help

Dan

 

[davenn]

1) nope
2) I usually use a 0.6 - 0.8 mm drill bit for most standard wired components ... some components have thicker legs and require
a 1 or 1.2 mm hole
3) score the board with a packing ( handyman) knife blade on both sides and snap board along the score lines

Dave

 

[Supercap2F]

2) I usually use a 0.6 - 0.8 mm drill bit for most standard wired components ... some components have thicker legs and require a 1 or 1.2 mm hole

I guess I was not that clear I meant on a manufactured board. Like if it was a 0.8 mm diameter pin should I make it 0.9 mm diameter hole? Or what?

Thanks

Dan

 

[(*steve*)]

It depends if they're plated through holes. Do they want you to tell them the final diameter, or the drilled diameter?

The best bet is to ask the people manufacturing the board. They will know.

 

[BobK]

Your layout software will typically have the holes correct for whatever component you select, you do not need to specify the hole size separately. For example, if you select a 1/8 W resistor it will have 1 hole size and for a 1W resistor it will have a large hole size.

Bob

 

[ketan patel]

If they are PTH drills than normaly manufactures add process tolerance around 0.15mm and if NPTH than add around 0.05mm.

 

[Supercap2F]

A picture is worth a thousand words so heres one:




I am trying to find out how big I should make the space labeled: ??. If I make the space 0, then I would have to jam the components pin in the hole, which will not work. The reason I'm not using the pre-made foot prints that are in my program is:

1) I do not know how accurate there pre-made stuff is.
2) They only have circular pads I like square ones.
3) They don't have every component (duh).

This is not a home brew PCB. It will be sent to a PCB board house.

Thanks for the help Everyone!!

Dan

 

[Rick L]

I agree with Steve "The best bet is to ask the people manufacturing the board. They will know."
If you have asked the manufacturer this question and not gotten a satisfactory answer, you may want to try a different company.

 

[Arouse1973]

0.2mm larger than you component leg. So if your leg is 0.8mm then a 1mm will be fine.
Adam

 

[Supercap2F]

Thanks Adam! Thats exactly what I was wondering

Dan

 

[Arouse1973]

No probs Dan
That what I use and I have had over 250,000 PCBs made over the last 20 years a nd they have been fine. Remember this is the finished hole size, so the PCB fab people will over drill to account for plating if needed.
Adam

 

[Supercap2F]

Thats 34 PCBs a day! How have you made that many???

Dan

 

[Arouse1973]

That's the PCB manufactures problem.