When is a design "panelized"

[smbaker]

On my raspberry pi projects, I often include a power supply section on the board, generally isolated connected only by +5V and GND. The power supply section sits on above of the pi's ethernet and USB jacks, so the board needs to be stacked higher than a board that did not include the power supply. If I want to make my board into a power-supply-free variant, I can get the dremel out and cut off the power supply. Recently, I've started adding a line of drill holes to partition the two boards, making it potentially possible to snap rather than to dremel. There's a break in the line of drill holes to let the +5V and GND pass between the boards.

Anyhow, this time my board house reviewed the design wants to assess me a fee for having two designs that are panelized together instead of just one. The fee exceeds the cost of the boards.

My contention is that since my boards are electrically connected, and electrons flow between them, they are not two independent designs, but an integrated whole. I don't really know what the standard is within the industry on this. Am I right, or am I wrong?

Scott

[alexanderbrevig]

The inspectors of these designs are only human so you should contact them and ask. Ship them an email explaining your design and ask what you can do to not violate their design guide/rules.

Another way to go is to use a different service, which is what I would probably do.

[ucanel]

Even if you add a blank space that can be break apart by panelization V-cut line or vias etc.
the rule from manufacturers in general is Ohh! that is an another board yeah!
Unless there is an unexperienced eye inspecting your board to manufacturing line you will get caught.
You may think this like that you are adding feature to your design and manufacturers wants their cuts, V-cuts.

[Berni]

Well panels do sometimes have traces running trough them. This can be used to quickly do a self test of the whole panel.

Just try to explain to them that this is a optional breakaway feature of the board. Also you can try making it look less like a panel. Typically you want the connector to be pretty strong so leave lots of meat connecting it. Like route out only the sides of the power jack but leave the back intact. Sure it will be harder to snap off but with a beefy pair of pliers it should still be easy enugh, tho it might need a bit of a hand filing of that ugly broken line afterwards.

[smbaker]

Thanks for the suggestions, I did send them an email explaining the situation and my reasoning. Time zones differences being what they are, I don't expect a response back until tomorrow.

If I have to delete the drill holes, then I will. It's a nonessential feature of the board.

Scott

[PCB.Wiz]

Recently, I've started adding a line of drill holes to partition the two boards, making it potentially possible to snap rather than to dremel. There's a break in the line of drill holes to let the +5V and GND pass between the boards.

Anyhow, this time my board house reviewed the design wants to assess me a fee for having two designs that are panelized together instead of just one. The fee exceeds the cost of the boards.

My contention is that since my boards are electrically connected, and electrons flow between them, they are not two independent designs, but an integrated whole. I don't really know what the standard is within the industry on this. Am I right, or am I wrong?

Hmm, it's quite unusual to apply a 'two design' fee, if the files are supplied as one.

Could be someone being too literal on an instruction sheet, so certainly send them a polite 'no' ?

I've also seen slots used to (optionally) separate boards, which can give a cleaner edge than a line of drill holes.
Slot width ~ hacksaw blade width.

[josip]

Some of them don't charge extra for multiple designs on the same board. On last itead order i had 3 different designs on the board without any connection (or shared ground planes) between them. However, they charge for anything that can help you snapping them apart (drill holes or similar staff).

[rcourtney]

I would be fair with your board house.  The project below is obviosly 3 boards used as a whole.  The smallest is a castlelated LED holder.

If you panelized the board yourself and had say a single JTAG connector for programming and boarder scan testing for the entire panel, you can fairly get by.