Superb V-Scoring PCB Made in China

PCBMAY – V-Scoring PCB Manufacturing at Its Finest

You would not want your PCBs to fail during the last process of manufacture. That is why V-Scoring PCB by PCBMay can be trusted.

• Proper design for correct alignment of grooves
• Use well-maintained milling machine for automated process
• Complete collection of particulates after “V” grooves are created
• Assure easy, flawless separation of boards after V-scoring
• AOI and other tests for 100% accuracy

After more than a decade of manufacturing circuit boards domestically and internationally, PCBMay has learned to be the best. We are very competent in handling V-scoring PCBs because this type of PCB is something we deal with on a day-to-day basis.

You can trust us and rely on our competent employees because we have outlasted our competitors. When you buy a V-scoring PCB from us, you get a PCB that is world-class. After all, we would not have lasted this long if we aren’t any good!

As proof, we have numerous customers all over the world who buy all sorts of V-scoring PCB. From Double-layer V-scoring PCB for simple appliances to 16 Layer PCB, High-Frequency PCB to Laser Cut PCB—PCBMay has it all. We are your one-stop-shop! In fact, we can even assist you with PCB layout and PCB design aspects.

Now, when it comes to product excellence and speed, we shine. You do not need to pay a steep price for our PCBs. Actually, you can get an excellently built V-scoring PCB for a much cheaper price than you think.

If you are now interested, then, contact us immediately!

V-Scoring PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Printed circuit boards or PCBs are the foundation block of electronics. In modern electronics, every electronic device is powered by PCBs. So, getting PCBs with cost-effective ways and efficiency is a needy factor nowadays.

V-Scoring PCBs are the solution for the cost-cutting of PCBs. V-Scoring is a special cut of PCBs that features a V-cut in PCBs.

We see several specific questions about V-Scoring PCBs on the internet. As a leading PCB manufacturer, we decided to provide the answers to the question.

In this FAQ guide, you will find several necessary question answers regarding V-Scoring PCBs. Let’s move forward.

What Is  V-Scoring PCB?

V-Scoring PCBs are referred to as PCBs that have double-sided V-shaped cut marks on the surface of the PCBs. The V-Scoring on the PCBs aids with the removal of certain components from the boards in a practical manner.

V-Scoring PCB

For a more straightforward explanation, you may build numerous PCBs that are identical to one another on a single PCB board. V-Scoring is a technique that allows you to split PCBs after they have been manufactured on a single board.

The V-Scoring process is the last stage in the production of printed circuit boards. V-Scoring PCBs are also known by other names such as tab-routing, V-cut, V-groove, and so on. PCBs are scored in the V-shape on both sides. After the panels have been sliced, a thin residue is left to allow for simple separation of the boards.

You’ll need a cutting blade machine with top and bottom blades that cut the PCBs in V-shaped patterns on both sides. In most cases, the V-Scoring angle is set at 30 degrees.

In most cases, PCBs are created by assembling them side by side and edge to edge next to one another. The PCBs may be separated from one another once they have been assembled to their final state.

This video shows the V-Scoring on a single board for many individual PCBs.

Why Do You Need V-Scoring In PCB?

V-Scoring is a technique used in printed circuit board production to penalize a group of PCBs at the same time. The penalization facilitates and improves the efficiency of PCB production. The V-Scoring PCB concept is intended to provide support for the boards while maintaining the structural integrity of the board.

After the PCBs have been manufactured, V-Scoring enables you to separate the PCBs with the least amount of pressure after the SMT components have been placed. The SMD can be simply installed on PCBs in a much more efficient manner when using a single PCB panel.

V-Scoring Simplifies PCB Manufacturing Process

Furthermore, V-Scoring PCB penalization makes it possible to mount SMDs on many PCBs in a single operation rather than having to load SMDs several times. SMT simplifies the process of picking and placing SMDs.

The fact that V-Scoring is becoming more popular among manufacturers and producers is one of the reasons for its popularity.

When it comes to V-Scoring paneling, there are various words to know. The following are the details.

Rails

Rails serve as the boundaries of your printed circuit boards. They are not the primary components, but they are utilized to construct the panels of your PCBs. Rails are required in order to maintain the mechanical stability of the panels.

Tooling Holes

On all four sides of the rails, you’ll find tooling holes. During drilling, routing, and e-test fixtures, PCB fabricators employ them to ensure that the PCB boards are properly aligned. For SMT and solder paste printing, the assemblers employ tooling holes for stencil alignment.

Fiducials

Fiducials are the marking spots on the PCB surfaces that assist SMT machines in recognizing the location of SMDs on the circuit board. They are mounted on the board’s rails or inside the PCB’s traces.

What Are The Basic Rules Of V-Scoring PCB?

Every exact process must be accompanied by a set of precise rules. V-Scoring PCBs are subject to a number of restrictions as well. The following are the fundamental rules of V-Scoring:

V-Scoring Is Normally 30° Angled

• The distance between each board is zero millimeters.
• The size of the printed circuit boards used for V-Scoring should be at least 75×75 mm, with a maximum size of 450×1250 mm.
• You must guarantee that you have applied straight V-Scoring on the PCB surface before proceeding. However, you may also perform this in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
• A V-score may be performed on a printed circuit board with a minimum thickness of 0.6mm.
• In the case of V-Scoring PCBs, the most basic angle size is 30°. In addition, the angles of 45°, 60°, and 90° may be tallied.

What Is The Distance Rule When Doing V-Scoring In PCB?

When manufacturing V-Scoring PCBs, it is necessary to adhere to a set of distance guidelines. PCB pads, layers, and traces are protected from damage when the PCBs are separated using proper distancing techniques.

The following are possible distances between your V-Scoring PCBs depending on the varying material thicknesses of your PCBs.

Material Thickness: 0.80 to 1.00 mm

• Copper to V-Score distance 0.40mm
• Copper to Routing distance 0.25mm
• SMD pads size 20%

Material Thickness: 1.55mm

• Copper to V-Score distance 0.50mm
• Copper to Routing distance 0.25mm
• SMD pads size 20%

Material Thickness: 2.00mm

• Copper to V-Score distance 0.60mm
• Copper to Routing distance 0.25mm
• SMD pads size 20%

If you have confusion about the distancing of your V-Scoring PCBs, you may rely on PCBMay. We will handle the entire manufacturing on your behalf.

How To Specify V-Scoring In PCBs?

You must set the V-Scoring size on your PCB surface before you can begin V-Scoring on your PCB surface. In order to define the V-score, you must know the depth of the cross-sectional area of interest.

In most cases, the cross-section displays the distances between V. After you have scored the surface, the material that remains is referred to as the web.

V-Scoring Is One-Third Of Material In Both Sides

Using a conventional division method, you can figure out what the V-score is. Generally speaking, the typical specification is top-cutting ⅓ and bottom-cutting ⅓. After the V-cutting process is done, the web will be ⅓ inches wide.

Depending on the total size of the boards, you may make adjustments to the cutting sizes.

However, the conventional angle for scoring with a V-shape is thirty degrees. The v-score retains some additional thickness as a result of this.

You may, however, maintain the boards cut at a 90-degree angle, which makes it easier to separate the boards. The 90° cut, on the other hand, takes up more space than the 30° score.

What Is The V-Scoring PCB Jump Scoring Process?

It is possible to find yourself in a scenario where you do not need a V-score over the whole PCB rails of the arrays. This is due to the possibility that your V-Scoring PCBs contain a thin layer of lamination. In addition to this, you may have heavy components as well as light components.

Scoring Blade Jumps When You Need To Keep Some Area Away From V-Scoring

It is necessary to skip the V-score throughout the whole board in order to prevent the individual components from collapsing. In this circumstance, you must remove the V-Scoring blade from the machine.

This must be completed before the V-Scoring blade and through the conclusion of the PCB board lamination.

Essentially, the blade jumps to this location from a certain section of the array. This is referred to as the V-Scoring PCB jump scoring, and the procedure is referred to as the leaping procedure.

When you want a jump score on your V-Scoring PCBs, the manufacturer must be equipped with the most up-to-date V-Scoring technology available on the market.

The most up-to-date State-of-the-Art technology makes it easier to raise the V-Scoring blade than ever before.

Furthermore, the lifting will take place at the precise time you need it to do so. As a result, it is critical to select PCB manufacturers that are well-equipped and knowledgeable in order to work on V-Scoring PCBs.

What Is V-Scoring PCB Panelization?

A PCB panel is a single board that contains many circuit boards. A PCB panel is often referred to as a PCB array. After the PCBs have been assembled, the panelized PCBs are depanelized and separated. After the breakout process is done, this separation produces separate PCBs.

PCB panelization lowers the cost of building circuit boards. Additionally, the defect fact has decreased because the assembly process was mechanized, which is a good thing. Panelization may take several forms, one of which is V-Scoring PCB panelization.

V-Scoring PCB Panelization

V-Scoring panelization is characterized by the separation of separate printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a V-cut groove.

PCB Panelization Features Separation Of Individual PCBs

As previously stated, the v-cut removes one-third of the top surface and one-third of the bottom surface of the PCBs. Panelization is accomplished using a V-Scoring angled blade.

The remaining 13 percent is referred to as the web, and it is sturdy enough to withstand pressure. Although, if necessary, you may separate the PCBs by applying physical pressure to them.

What Factors Impact The Thickness Of The V-Scoring PCBs?

The standard PCB thickness is 0.062 inches. Besides this, the PCB thickness may differ based on various customized requirements. So, there are different factors that impact the thickness of V-Scoring PCBs.

Size And Weight

The size and weight requirements will determine the PCB thickness. The lighter and thinner boards are more flexible and reliable. But they tend to break. On the other hand, thicker boards are stronger but get more weight.

Thickness Of Copper

Copper is the most conductive substance in electronics. A big portion of PCB thickness relies on copper thickness and layers. If you make more conductive layers with copper, the thickness will increase.

Copper Thickness Impacts Overall PCB Thickness

Board Materials

Board materials are the most important substances of PCBs. Different board materials impact the thickness of PCBs. Board laminates, silkscreen, solder mask, etc., are among the important board materials.

PCB Layer Stack Up

In multilayer PCBs, you need more conductive and insulating layers. The more layer counts the more PCB thickness.

Types Of Signals

Different types of signals need different thicker copper. High-frequency signals need thicker copper. On the other hand, thinner copper can comply with lower frequencies.

Via Types

Vias are the medium of contacting layers. Vias go through the PCB boards. Types of vias impact the PCB thickness.

What Are The Challenges Of V-Scoring In PCBs?

Ultimately, every good thing has some challenges as well. If you want to get success on V-Scoring PCBs, you must face some challenges.

So, what are they?

V-Scoring is about the separation of PCBs. If you cannot properly V-cut the surface, it may fail to separate properly. Uneven V-cut may bring fractures on the board while giving pressure to separate the boards.

This will bring a poor separation process, quality fall, and incorrect specifications.

Improper V-Scoring Can Fracture The PCBs

When you face the difficulties of separation, and you give more pressure, the PCBs may face a halo effect. The haloing effect causes fractures on the base laminate and epoxy glass of the PCBs.

You may also face the worst situation while separating the boards, which is outside separation. Your boards will break out onto the outside edges of the boards’ V-Scoring area. Inconsistent V-Scoring may result in this issue.

So, you must ensure proper V-Scoring with the required equipment on your V-Scoring PCBs.

How To Make A V-Scoring PCB?

You have to follow various steps while making a V-Scoring PCB. Since V-scoring is the last stage of the PCB, you must complete the previous steps before. Here are the step-by-step processes briefly described below for making V-Scoring PCBs.

Schematic Diagram

The very first step of designing a PCB is to draw a schematic. Schematic is the foundation design or blueprint of any electronics. It shows the shape, size, and components placement of the PCBs.

Layout Design

After drawing the schematic, you need to implement the drawing as a virtual PCB layout. To do this, you need to use PCB designing software. You have to import the schematic file and design the layout based on the schematic. PCB layers should be determined here.

Printing PCB

Now the time is to print the layout on the PCB boards. There are different printing methods available for PCB printing, laser-cut, 3D printing, are among them.

See how laser-cut PCB printing prints a PCB on a PCB board.

Trace Etching

After printing the PCBs on the boards, you have to etch conductive traces on the PCBs. The electric current signal will pass through the conductive traces.

Assembly The Components

After finishing every pre-requirements, now it’s time to assemble the PCBs. In the assembling part, you can assemble the components via through-hole, SMT, or press-fit technologies. But, you have to determine the component mounting technology in the starting phase of the PCB design.

SMT Features Pick And Place Component Mounting

Routing

After successfully mounting the components, rout the components with each other to function the PCBs.

After a  successful routing, your PCBs are ready to use.

What Is The Most Effective Surface Finish In V-Scoring PCBs?

V-scoring PCBs use different types of metals. Copper is one of the most important metals which is corrosion-prone. So, you need to properly coat them to protect them from corrosion.

PCB surface finishes are the protective coating that protects the PCBs from corrosions. There are different types of PCB surface finishes available.

In the following, we are going to describe some most popular PCB surface finishes.

ENIG And ENEPIG

Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold and Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold are two types of most expensive and most powerful surface finishes. The nickel layer protects the copper, and gold protects the nickel.

ENIG Surface Finish On PCB Surface

On the other hand, palladium is a cost-effect alternative to nickel. They both are RoHS compliant and lead-free.

Immersion Silver(IAg) And Immersion Tin (ISn)

Immersion silver consists of thin silver plating, and immersion tin consists of thinner tin plating. They both are lead-free and RoHS compliant. They provide good protection to the PCBs.

Organic Solderability Preservative (OSP)

OSP is an organic surface finish. Transparent organic material is used in OSP to coat the surface of PCBs. A water-based organic compound is used that bonds to the copper.

Hot Air Solder Leveling (HASL)

The most robust type of surface finish. HASL finish is covered by solder. After finishing, hot air knives are used to remove the extra solders. Though it is the most common type of finish, it is harmful to the environment.

What Is Via And Its Types In V-Scoring PCB?

Vias are conductive plated holes in PCB that join multiple layers of PCBs electrically, thermally, and mechanically. The holes are generally copper cylinders.

Different Types OF Vias

When you design a multilayer PCB, you must use vias to get connected with the rest of the layers. There are different types of vias that are used for different needs. They are as follows.

Through-Hole Vias

Through vias start from the surface layer and end at the bottom layer of the PCBs. That means, they go through the entire PCB and join every layer of the PCBs.

Blind Vias

Blind vias start from an outer layer and end at any of the inner layers. You will not see the via goes from an outer layer to another outer layer.

Buried Vias

Buried vias are completely structured in the inner layers.

MicroVias

MicroVias are drilled onto a maximum of two layers. It lies in the inner layers.

What Are The V-Scoring PCB’s Base Material?

PCB base materials are the most important part of any PCB. Because the base material is the main structure of PCBs. There are different types of base materials used for forming V-Scoring PCBs.

In the following, we will be describing the most popular ones among them.

FR4

FR4 is the most common type of PCB base material. FR refers to Fire Retardant. It has NEMA class standards against flame. FR has excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties. However, it is the cheapest material and is used for a maximum of 14-layer PCBs.

FR4 Epoxy Sheets

Polyimide

Polyimide provides higher performance than FR4 regarding thermal, chemical, and mechanical perspectives. Though Polyimides cost more than FR4.

Teflon

Teflon is a material that is used in high-speed and high-frequency PCBs. Expectedly, it ensures more thermal, and electrical performance.

What Are The Thermal Properties Of V-Scoring PCBs?

Thermal properties are the state of PCB materials, in which they perform. Since there are different materials used for making V-Scoring PCBs, the thermal properties are different for them. Here we are going to discuss the thermal properties of FR4.

Glass Transition temperature (Tg)

FR4 softens in a certain material, and after removing the temperature, it returns to its initial state. This is the Tg of FR4. The range of Tg for FR4 is below 130 to 250° C.

Decomposition Temperature (Td)

In which temperature materials lose their mass permanently, that temperature is called Td. The substrates can lose 5% of their overall mass. The range of Td for FR4 should be over 250° C.

Coefficient Of Thermal Expansion (CTE)

When a material exceeds its Tg range, the material gets started to expand. The rate of the expansion of the material at a particular temperature is known as CTE. The material should have the CTE range of 10 to 20 ppm. However, a maximum of 70 ppm can be accepted though.

What Are The Types Of V-Scoring PCB?

A V-Scoring PCB may come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The following are the most prevalent categories, each of which is discussed in brief.

• Single-Sided PCBs: PCBs formed with a single conductive layer are called single-sided PCBs.
• Double-Sided PCBs: PCBs with double conductive layers. Vias are used to join the layers with each other.
• Multilayer PCB: PCBs that have at least 3 conductive layers. Multilayer stack up to form like this- 2 layers, 4 layers, 6 layers, etc.
• Rigid PCBs: PCBs that are stiff and are not bendable and foldable.
• Flexible PCBs: Flexible PCBs are made of flexible materials. They are bendable and foldable.
• Rigid-Flex PCBs: The combination of rigid and flexible PCBs.

Multilayer V-Scoring PCB

What are the V-Scoring parameters?

In our last discussion, we learned that the V-cut is employed for mechanical pre-separation. This means that it must maintain a minimal parameter. The following are the parameters that are maintained by the V-Scoring PCB.

• The remaining bridge thickness is about 0.3mm, with a V-score angle of 30°.
• Line spacing must be at least 500 micrometers apart.
• The edge displacement is around 150 micrometers.

What Are The Cost-Advantages Of V-Scoring In PCBs?

V-Scoring PCB has a lot of potential for cost-cutting. With V-Scoring, you may remove the need for routing space. As a result, you have more space to add additional rows to a single board’s manufacturing panel.

V-Scoring Reduces Number Of PCB Manufacturing Process

This assists you in reducing the number of panels and processing steps required throughout the PCB manufacturing process.

These facilities save you time and money.

How To Choose The Reliable V-Scoring PCB Manufacturer?

To choose a highly skilled and experienced V-Scoring PCB manufacturer, you must go through a certain criteria selection. A skilled and reliable PCB manufacturer must have some common features.

Check if the manufacturer is able to produce bulb PCB production. Also, proper certification reflects the experience and expertise of the manufacturer.

On the other hand, the PCB manufacturer must ensure the best quality by employing the latest PCB technology and highly professional staff.

Reliable customer services make a good relationship between the clients and the manufacturers.

Also, meeting the deadline delivery point is one of the most important features for a PCB manufacturer. A highly advanced workplace is another big point.

Make sure the PCB manufacturer you are selecting has the mentioned features.

Conclusion

V-Scoring PCBs require precise technique and very sophisticated equipment. We hope that you found all of your questions concerning the V-Scoring PCBs addressed here.

There is no doubt that if you do not choose a highly experienced PCB maker, you will sacrifice quality. Even so, the whole production may fail.

PCBMay is a prominent printed circuit board manufacturer in China, providing world-class services to our customers. You may contact us to get the highest quality services for your V-Scoring PCBs.