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36 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023 Drilling is one of the most fundamental steps in the printed circuit board manufactur- ing process. Until the advent of the through- hole, PCBs were all single-sided with traces and components located on one side. With double-sided and multilayered boards so com- mon now, a PCB without holes doesn't seem like a PCB at all. e drilling process creates the holes that connect the dif- ferent layers of the PCB. ose holes allow for the connection of components. In fact, without holes, a double-sided PCB is just a coaster. To maximize efficiency and reduce the error rate during the manufacturing process, PCB designers need to know sev- eral critical things about drill- ing. Some drilling information might vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, such as design limitations, tolerances, and opti- mal drill sizes. However, other factors can be controlled by the designer to maximize the quality of drilled holes across all manu- facturers. Since it is such a key step, understanding how drilling works during the manufacturing process can make your designs better and can help speed up pro- duction. How Does Drilling Fit Into the Manufacturing Process? Drilling happens early in the manufacturing process. For a multilayer PCB, drilling occurs directly aer all the inner layers are combined and laminated together into a single manu- facturing panel. Generally, panels are stacked together for the drill operation. Several physi- Best Drilling Practices for Better PCB Manufacturing Connect the Dots by Tim Totten, SUNSTONE CIRCUITS