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- September 27, 2022
- PCB knowledge
- (0)
- 06 mins
PCB Drilling – How to Drill a PCB
Getting PCB drilling right is important. In PCB drilling, every minute counts. The processes of drilling make the manufacturing of PCBs a very difficult task. Designers want to do it without any errors. Also, they surely don’t want to waste time making mistakes that could have been avoidable.
Proper PCB drilling can make or break the product designed. This is everything on how designers can get it right for the next time.
What is PCB Drilling?
PCB drilling is cutting holes in printed circuit boards (PCBs) using a drill or router. It’s an essential step in the manufacturing process.
There are two main reasons to drill PCBs:
- To add a component to PCB design, designers might want to mount a button or LED on the board.
- To allow wires or cables to pass through the board to connect components.
Why is PCB drilling required?
There are several reasons for PCB drilling:
- Installing components, such as resistors and capacitors.
- Mount large heat sinks to dissipate heat.
- Connect wires and cables to the board.
- To mount components on the surface of a PCB that is too large to fit inside its through holes.
What is an ideal PCB drilling tool?
The Mini Drill 12V PCB Drill is a handy tool for drilling holes in printed circuit boards. It’s small, lightweight, and easy to use.
The Mini Drill 12V PCB Drill comes with a base plate and a chuck, which holds the drill bit. By rotating the chuck, designers can adjust the position of the bit. This allows them to drill holes at an angle and make straight cuts in PCB.
Designers can also use this tool to cut out parts of the board by drilling holes through them and snapping off the material with pliers.
The Mini Drill 12V PCB Drill has a power cord with an AC adapter. It plugs into a wall outlet or any USB port on the computer. 12 volts DC provides power, so it doesn’t require a lot of energy to run it. Thus it becomes an ideal PCB drilling tool.
What is the PCB drilling equipment?
PCB drilling equipment is a kind of high-end equipment for PCB drilling. It helps in the PCB drilling process to drill holes, cut holes and make holes on the printed circuit board.
The main function of PCB drilling equipment is to drill holes or make holes on the printed circuit boards. The advantage of this kind of equipment is that designers can use it in any position. It saves human labor costs and improves production efficiency.
PCB drilling equipment has many types, such as:
- CNC milling machine
- CNC lathe
- Laser marking machine
- CNC router
- CNC punching machine
Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
What is drill size in PCB?
Drill Size is the hole size on a printed circuit board (PCB). The diameter of the drill bit specifies the drill size that will produce the hole.
The drill size determines how large the holes are when drilled into a printed circuit board.
The typical range of drill sizes for a standard PCB is 0.1 mm to 3.2 mm (0.004″ to 0.125″). The most common drill sizes are 0.25 mm and 1 mm.
When designing boards, specify the drill size so that manufacturing can know what size bits they should use when drilling holes in boards. If designers don’t select a drill size, they may use whatever bits they have. It could cause problems when someone tries to solder something into those holes!
PCB drill holes are an essential part of the manufacturing process. The holes hold components, make room for wires, and provide access to the circuit board. Hence, different PCB drill holes can be used depending on a project’s needs.
Types of PCB drill holes
Counterbore hole
A counterbore hole is a type of PCB drill hole made deeper than usual using a larger drill bit. It holds multiple layers of epoxy or other materials inside it.
Places with space restrictions (which cannot accommodate large components like resistors and capacitors) require these holes. The counterbore holes ensure these components do not touch each other but still maintain their electrical properties after soldering together.
Countersink hole
Countersink holes are used when designers want to mount a screw head flush with the outer surface of the board. They are often used to mount something that is not round, such as an octagonal nut or hexagonal bolt head.
Countersunk holes are typically drilled using a countersink bit, which has two diameters; one at its tip and one at its base. When using this type of bit, ensure that whatever material is drilling into has enough support to not twist or bend during drilling.
Through hole
Through holes are the most common type of hole designers will find on a PCB. In this type of hole, components are soldered to the PCB from the top side of the board. Components can also be placed in a through-hole and welded on both sides.
Through-holes are usually made by drilling a hole through the entire thickness of the board using a drill bit. The drill bit should be as small as possible so that it does not damage any copper traces or other features on the board.
The PCB drilling tech
PCB drilling technology is essential for the PCB industry. Depending on the application, these drills are available in many different shapes and sizes. Moreover, the most common PCB drills are ball end mills and step drills.
Ball end mills
Ball end mills are the most common type of drills in PCB production. They are also known as “ball nose” drills because they have a ball shape at the end of the cutter. This shape helps prevent breakage and reduce friction when cutting through materials such as FR4 laminate boards.
Step drills
These drills make small holes up to 1/4 inch wide and 1/8 inch deep into hard materials such as steel, aluminum, and brass. So, step drills come in different sizes depending on what material they’re used on and how deep they have to go into it.
Indexable drills
These are perfect for larger holes up to 3 inches wide and 1-1/2 inches deep into soft materials such as plastic or wood. Another name for indexable drills is the “center cutting” tool. They don’t require pre-drilling before using them.
Considerations for the proper drill selection for PCB
Considerations for the proper drill selection for PCB:
- Purpose – If designers want to mount something, they need to know what size and shape the object will be mounted there. If it’s a signal trace hole, they need to know what size traces will be run through it and how much current they’ll carry.
- Size – Designers should match the drill size as closely as possible to the size of the object or trace being drilled. A small difference in size can significantly affect how easy it is to use on the board or how well it works!
- Material– Aluminum gives off sparks when drilled, which can cause damage to nearby components or even start fires if there are flammable materials nearby. Make sure to use appropriate material so it won’t cause any problems.
- Speed – The speed of the drill bit determines how fast it can drill through material.
Wrapping Up
The truth is that PCB drilling can be difficult. A sharp drill makes a big difference. If designers face trouble drilling, they should try running the bit’s tip against a grinding wheel to sharpen it. While PCBs are fairly durable materials, they will eventually break if they drill too quickly or too deep.
If someone has never drilled a PCB before, they need to have a reliable drill bit and process to ensure the cleanest possible holes.
Are you going to try drilling your PCBs? Or do you need any help to get the best PCBs for your project? Please feel free to contact us.
