wrote: =20 Hello, I've got a small PCB (38 mm x 21.4 mm, 12 components) that I'm trying to panelize. The idea is to use a a routed outline that is connected to the panel by its two right-hand corners -- see attached PCB file for an example. I simply created breaks in the outline, copied the single PCB, and drew a new outline around the panel (the actual panel will be somewhat larger, of course -- this is my first attempt at panelizing). However, when I upload the exported Gerber files to my usual PCB manufacturer (Eurocircuits) and have it analyzed, I get an error about an unrecognized file format. I think that their analysis tools are confused by non-closed and nested outlines. I also found a reference to DJ Delorie's panelize plug-ins for PCB, but I have no clue how to actually 'plug these in' in PCB -- I have Mehanik's repository active, but the pcb-plugins package is not found.=20 Also, I assume that it should be a simple matter of copying PCB's and perhaps juggle outlines and/or add some layer or other. Or is panelizing something not done within PCB? Of course I can simply tell the manufacturer to panelize these for me, but then the cutting points can end up anywhere, which makes for a lot of fiddly machining afterwards. Is there a simple explanation somewhere, and/or perhaps some example files? Thank you in advance, Best regards, Richard Rasker ------=_Part_1106922_2126294198.1412786931328 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi Richard,

I have panelized boards that I later sep= arate myself. To do this, I draw a line on the top silk layer so I kn= ow where I want to cut the boards.

Here is the approach I have used to do this in pcb:

(1) Make sure settings -&= gt; "Require Unique Element Names" is NOT selected. This makes sure e= ach copy of the board on the panel has the same part number for each part.&= nbsp; Otherwise, for example, R1 on the original board becomes R(some other= number) on the next copy on the panel.

(2) Figure out what size the overall panelized bo= ard is going to be, being sure to allow for kerf for separating the boards = plus any extra you want.

(3) Resize the board according to what you come up with in s= tep (2) (File -> Preferences, sizes on left side).

(4) To align boards for pasting the= layout, I draw lines:

(a) I draw lines on the OUTLINE layer to start (you'll see why...)= I place these lines where I want the edge of the copies of the origi= nal board to end up as I panelize.

(c) Say I want to lay out the panel as a row of boards= . I drop the measurement origin (CTRL + m) on the top right corner of= my original board. The I use the coordinates to go the proper horizo= ntal distance (the kerf plus any extra spacing). This is left edge of= next board on panel.

(d) Now I draw a vertical line on the OUTLINE layer.

(e) Next, de-select the OU= TLINE layer (so it is invisible).

(5) Mouse over the center of the original board.

<= div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1412785754232_4832" dir=3D"ltr">(6) ALT-a selects al= l layers of the original board.

(7) CTRL - C copies all layers to a buffer.

(8) Now, turn back on OUTL= INE layer. The line indicating the left edge of the new board re-appe= ars.

(9) Click= on the copied layers (original board - I think it changes to light blue wh= en it has been copied to buffer IIRC).

(10) Drag the copy to the right until the left edg= e of the copied board is centered on the OUTLINE layer that you drew to ind= icate the placement of the left edge of board.

(11) Repeat steps until you have all copie= s of board placed on panelized board.

(12) Now, convert the OUTLINE board edges to SILK l= ines. The board house I use only wants one outline, for the entire bo= ard. By using SILK lines, they will show up and I know where to cut.<= /div>

(a) Trace the = OUTLINE board edges in SILK lines.

(b) Turn off SILK layer so the original OUTLINE lines = are visible.

(= c) Delete these OUTLINE lines so the board manufacturer is not confused whe= re the outline layer is.

(d) Now make sure the panelized board has its outline draw on th= e OUTLINE layer.

That should be all the steps. Of course= , I usually save a lot of intermediate files during the process in case I m= ake a mistake and need to revert.

Hope this helps!

Jason

On Wednesday, October 8, 2014 12:01 PM, Richard = Rasker <rasker AT linetec DOT nl> wrote:

Hello,

I've got a small PCB (38 mm x 21.4 m= m, 12 components) that I'm trying to
panelize. The idea is to use a a ro= uted outline that is connected to the
panel by its two right-hand corner= s -- see attached PCB file for an
example.

I simply created break= s in the outline, copied the single PCB, and drew
a new outline around t= he panel (the actual panel will be somewhat
larger, of course -- this is= my first attempt at panelizing).

However, when I upload the exporte= d Gerber files to my usual PCB
manufacturer (Eurocircuits) and have it a= nalyzed, I get an error about
an unrecognized file format. I think that = their analysis tools are
confused by non-closed and nested outlines.
=
I also found a reference to DJ Delorie's panelize plug-ins for PCB, but=
I have no clue how to actually 'plug these in' in PCB -- I have
Meha= nik's repository active, but the pcb-plugins package is not found.
Also= , I assume that it should be a simple matter of copying PCB's and
perhap= s juggle outlines and/or add some layer or other.
Or is panelizing somet= hing not done within PCB?

Of course I can simply tell the manufactur= er to panelize these for me,
but then the cutting points can end up anyw= here, which makes for a lot
of fiddly machining afterwards.

Is th= ere a simple explanation somewhere, and/or perhaps some example
files?
Thank you in advance,

Best regards,

Richard Rasker
<= br>

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