PCB Edge Keepout - RF Cafe Forums

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Phil Drumm
Post subject: PCB Edge Keepout Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:23 pm
Does anybody have a rule-of-thumb for minimum keep-out around the edge of a PCB. My board is constrained by the case and I need all the room I can get. There's no high power anywhere, but it is running in the 2.4 GHz range. The PCB fabricators have a "standard" but I need to to push the limit without taking too much risk. Thanks for your help.

Phil


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Guest
Post subject: Keep Out AreaPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:57 pm
As for a minimum distance for a "Keep Out" area, that depends on the manufacturer. As a maker of PCB prototypes I like to tell my customers that as long as they are comfortable with a trace or component that close to the edge I will make it, but I do insist that a minimum of 4 mil (0.004" or 0.1mm) distance exist so that the trace doesn't get rubbed out. Now this is certainly true for FR-4 or Rogers RO4003/4350 material or any other material that is stiff. As for other soft material like Rogers 3000, 5000, or 6000 series, then I will have to tell the customer to rethink what they are designing.

Basically, if the manufacturer is comfortable with it, go for it.

Regards,
Ben


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Procyon PCB
Post subject: Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:59 pm

Captain

Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:47 pm
Posts: 6
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
As for a minimum distance for a "Keep Out" area, that depends on the manufacturer. As a maker of PCB prototypes I like to tell my customers that as long as they are comfortable with a trace or component that close to the edge I will make it, but I do insist that a minimum of 4 mil (0.004" or 0.1mm) distance exist so that the trace doesn't get rubbed out. Now this is certainly true for FR-4 or Rogers RO4003/4350 material or any other material that is stiff. As for other soft material like Rogers 3000, 5000, or 6000 series, then I will have to tell the customer to rethink what they are designing.

Basically, if the manufacturer is comfortable with it, go for it.

Regards,
Ben

_________________
www.procyonpcb.com
Manufacturer of Quick Turn PCB Prototypes


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Guest
Post subject: Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:30 pm
From the board manufacturer's point of view: As long as there is no copper present at the edges of the board, they are happy. They do not want to cut through metal when they are making the board panels.

There is one exception, and that is edge pads sometime made by placing large circular holes at the edge of the PWB and then letting the board manufacturer cut right through them before tin plating.



Posted  11/12/2012