RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

PCB Shears Vs. PCB cutting machine:How to Choose

Cutting printed circuit boards (PCBs) from larger panels is an essential

step in PCB fabrication and assembly. PCB manufacturers rely on

dedicated cutting tools to singulate individual boards or assembly panels

from panelized arrays cost-effectively and accurately. The two main

options are manual PCB shears and automated PCB cutting machines.

Selecting the right PCB cutting method requires evaluating key factors like

cut quality, throughput, cost, complexity, and capabilities for the types of

boards and volumes to be processed. This article provides a detailed

comparison between manual PCB shears and automated cutting

machines to help guide the optimal equipment choice.

Table of Contents

Overview of PCB Shears

PCB shears are manually-operated tools used to cut circuit boards by

applying mechanical shear force. Key features include:

 Blade Style – Straight or slant blade options exist. Slant creates

scissor-like shearing.

 Actuation – Spring, air, electric, or hydraulic pressure closes blades.

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 Capacity – Various tool sizes cut boards up to 0.8in (20mm) thick.

 Accuracy – Depends on operator skill. Fixtures can aid positioning.

 Speed – Manual process limits speed versus automation.

 Cost – Lower equipment cost in the $3k to $10k range.

PCB shears are a simple, low cost cutting option but require skilled

operators for consistent quality and throughput.

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PCB Shearing Process

Using PCB shears for cutting involves the following key steps:

Board Positioning

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The PCB panel is positioned in the shear based on measurement marks or

fixtures. Proper alignment is critical.

Clamping

Clamps hold the board securely in position during cutting to prevent

shifting.

Shear Actuation

The operator manually squeezes the shear handle to close the blades

through the board with precise downwards pressure.

Indexing

The board is manually indexed to the next cut location and aligned.

Fixtures aid repeated positioning.

Cut Repetition

Cutting strokes are repeated according to panel layout to singulate all

required boards. Deburring removes sharp edges.

Shear Cut Quality Factors

Several factors impact the cut quality and consistency using PCB shears:

 Operator skill and training

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 Tool sharpness and precision

 Clamping force and stability

 Blade type (straight, slant, double)

 Cutting stroke consistency

 Fixtures and precision measurement

 Deburring process

Dedicated tools like perforated or scored cut lines aid shear positioning.

But ultimately the operator controls key variables influencing cut quality

like pressure and alignment.

Benefits of PCB Shears

PCB shears have some compelling benefits that make them a

cost-effective cutting solution:

Low Equipment Cost

 Shears are an inexpensive cutting tool option with prices from a few

thousand dollars.

Simple Operation

 Basic manually actuated operation with no complex mechanics

or programming.

Quick Setup
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 Minimal setup time to start cutting different board designs and

sizes.

Small Footprint

 Compact tabletop footprint takes minimal floorspace.

Flexibility

 Operators can adapt on the fly to handle small volume panel

variations.

Low Maintenance

 No complex machinery to maintain. Just blade sharpening and

replacement.

For low to moderate production volumes, PCB shears can offer an

economical cutting solution when paired with an experienced operator.

Limitations of Manual PCB Shears

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While useful in some scenarios, PCB shears have some distinct limitations:

Inconsistent Quality

 Cut quality depends heavily on operator skill and fatigue level.

Lower Throughput

 Manual process limits speed and volume.

Higher Labor Cost

 Intensive labor cost for skilled operators over long shifts.

Larger Kerf

 Shear blades produce wider cut channels versus precision

machining.

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Burr Management

 Deburring adds additional manual processing step.

Limited Automation

 Harder to integrate shears into automated material handling flows.

For cutting high volumes or complex board designs, manual shears

become less viable both technically and economically.

When to Use PCB Shears

Here are typical production situations where PCB shears may be the

preferred option over automated machines:

 Low to medium volumes (<5,000 boards per week)

 Lower complexity boards and materials

 Frequent design changeovers

 Lower cut quality requirements

 Tight budget constraints

 Minimal available floorspace

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Overview of Automated PCB Cutting Machines

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Automated PCB cutting utilizes computer-controlled machines to cut

boards based on programmed tool paths. Common machine architectures

include:

Router-Type Machines

 Use a rotary end mill tool spinning at high RPM to cut boards.

Knife Cutters

 Cut with an actuated vertical knife blade mounted to X-Y gantries.

Laser Cutters

 Directed laser beam ablates material to cut complex shapes and

profiles.

Waterjet Cutters

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 High pressure waterjet quickly cuts contours in boards.

Automated cutting machines offer much higher throughput, precision,

consistency, and capabilities versus manual shears. But the equipment

cost is also far higher.

Automated PCB Cutting Process

Here is an overview of the typical automated cutting sequence:

Tool Path Programming

The required cut pattern is defined in software based on board panel sizes,

orientations, and finished board dimensions.

Board Loading

Panels are automatically loaded onto the machine bed from a conveyor or

stack. Vacuum holds boards in place.

Optical Alignment

Fiducials on the panel are detected by cameras to precisely align boards

for accurate cutting.

Cutting

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The spinning end mill, knife blade, laser or waterjet traverses the tool

paths at high speed to cut boards from the panel.

Unloading

Conveyors remove finished cut boards and scrap from the machine.

Optional sorting can separate boards and scrap.

Verification

Automated or manual inspection verifies cut quality. Precision cutting

minimizes need for extensive verification in high volume applications.

Technical Attributes of Automated Cutting

PCB Material cutting machine

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Automated PCB cutting machines enable significant enhancements across

these technical metrics:

Precision

 Tight tolerances down to +/- 0.10mm achieved from programmed

tool paths and precision stages.

Consistency

 Automated process varies minimally across thousands of boards.

Cut Quality

 Very smooth edge finish with minimal debris. Controlled cutting

parameters optimize edge quality.

Kerf Width

 Reduced kerf width as low as 0.15mm conserves material.

Productivity

 Cut rates from 10 to over 100 boards per hour depending on size

and complexity.

Reliability

 Proven machine designs for continuous operation with high uptime.

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Automation

 Seamless integration into automated material flows between

processes.

These technical capabilities enable cutting high complexity boards at mass

production volumes.

Economic Benefits of Automated Cutting

In addition to technical advantages, automated PCB cutting machines can

provide compelling economic benefits:

Labor Savings

 Dramatically reduce labor by eliminating manual cutting steps.

Improved Yields

 Consistent precision cutting minimizes panel waste from cut

defects.

Higher Throughput

 Cut more boards per day with faster cycle times.

Scalability

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 Easily scale to higher volumes by running machines longer or

adding machines.

Reduced Costs

 Lower cost per cut board through labor savings and efficiency gains.

Quick Changeovers

 Switch between different board designs with minimal downtime.

For medium and higher volume production, automated cutting machines

improve quality while reducing overall PCB fabrication costs.

Considerations for Automated PCB Cutting

Here are some factors to consider when implementing automated board

cutting:

Equipment Costs

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 Machines ranging from $50k to over $500k with advanced software,

tooling, and accessories.

Programming

 Requires CAM programming expertise to generate machine-specific

cut patterns.

Maintenance

 Must budget for machine maintenance and occasional repairs.

Floorspace

 Machines have larger footprint than shears and may require special

facilities.

Operators

 Still need qualified technicians to oversee machines and quality.

Changeover Time

 Some minor changeover and programming required when

switching board designs.

When to Use Automated Cutting Machines

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Here are typical high volume production scenarios where automated PCB

cutting machines become advantageous:

 Cutting over 5,000 PCBs per week

 Complex board shapes or profiling required

 Advanced materials like flex or rigid-flex

 Cut tolerances under 0.20mm required

 High mix of different board designs

 Integration into automated material handling flows

 Continuous mass production operation

PCB Shears vs. Automated Cutting Comparison

Factor PCB Shears Automated Cutting Machine

Equipment Cost $3k – $10k $50k – $500k+
Cut Speed 2 – 10 boards/min 10 – 200+ boards/min
Cut Precision +/- 0.25mm +/- 0.10mm or better
Cut Quality Good Excellent
Consistency Low-Moderate Very High
Complexity Simple shapes only Complex contours and profiling
Changeover < 5 min < 15 min
Labor High manual labor Low semi-automated
Volume Support Low-moderate High
Automation Integration Challenging Seamless

Hybrid Approach

For some manufacturers, a hybrid approach combining both manual

shears and automated cutting provides the right balance:

 Shears for low volume flex or rigid-flex jobs

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 Shears for prototyping and short runs

 Machines for higher volume production

 Shears for overflow capacity

This hybrid model allows optimizing the strengths of each technology for

different needs.

Recommendations for Selecting PCB Cutting Methods

Based on key parameters and tradeoffs between PCB shears and

automated cutting machines, here are some best practice

recommendations:

Low Volume Cutting

For low volume PCB cutting under 5000 units per week, with less

demanding quality and simple board shapes, manually operated PCB

shears provide the most cost-effective solution.

High Volume Cutting

For cutting volumes over 5000 PCBs per week, tighter cut tolerances, and

complex board shapes, automated cutting machines will deliver superior

quality at lower overall cost.

High Mix Production

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In facilities with high mix production across both low and high volume

boards, a hybrid approach with both shears and cutting machines allows

optimizing the cutting strategy for each job.

Technology Evaluation

Thoroughly evaluate PCB shears vs. machine cutting capabilities against

current and future requirements to avoid overbuying or underbuying

equipment. Involve staff in assessing impact on labor, quality, and total

cost.

Conclusion

Both PCB shears and automated cutting machines have their place in PCB

fabrication workflows depending on volumes, design complexity, available

labor, floorspace, and budget constraints. Carefully weighing technical

capabilities, productivity, and economics will lead to selecting the optimal

cutting solutions. A combination of manual and automated options

provides maximum manufacturing flexibility. As demands grow, adding

automated precision cutting machines supports cost-effectively scaling to

higher production levels while maintaining quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are perforated or scored lines used in PCB shearing?

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A: Perforated or scored lines on the panel help guide the operator during

shearing by defining cut locations, improving positioning accuracy.

Q: Can PCB shears effectively cut rigid-flex boards?

A: Shears can cut simple rigid-flex boards but automated machines offer

better control of cutting through multiple material zones.

Q: What safety precautions should be used with PCB shears?

A: Safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, and finger guards should be worn.

Avoid loose clothing. Maintain sharp blades.

Q: How are curved or contoured board shapes cut?

A: Automated machines with interpolation capabilities are required for

profiling complex board outlines versus simple straight line shearing.

Q: How are PCB shears maintained and adjusted?

A: Follow manufacturer instructions for lubrication, blade inspection,

sharpening, and calibration. Replace worn blades for best cut quality.

Related Posts:

1. What is a CNC Machine and How Does it Aid Manufacturing?

2. What machine is required for PCB Assembly?

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3. How to use a conformal coating machine

4. What is the Best Selective Solder Machine?

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