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66 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2024 Once the lamination process is complete, we have what we call a book: a stack of core lay- ers manufactured into a multilayer PCB. At this stage of production, epoxy has squeezed out from between the layers and the edges are sharp and brittle. Before drilling can begin, we have to clean the panels and flash around the edges in order to restore the panel's perfect rectangular shape with smooth edges that are safe to han- dle. Not unlike using a router in a wood shop, we put the panels on a mechanical router, rout around the edges, and restore the correct panel size. Aer that, we verify registration for all those layers, wherever they are in the book. With copper on the top and bottom of the multilayer board, we can't see what's already been done, Welcome to another leg on my quest to share best practices associated with designing PCBs for the reality of manufacturing. In a recent episode of the On the Line with... podcast, we discussed the critical role of drilling in the board manufacturing process. at is the sub- ject of this article. Drilling can be one of the most complex and tricky steps in the manufacturing process. Designers need to be aware of how to cra their designs to avoid problems during drilling that can drive up costs and increase the risk of board performance issues. Done with the chemical messiness, we put holes in the board. Almost. Drilling happens aer lamination in the mul- tilayer PCB board manufacturing process. Navigating the Intricacies of PCB Drilling Connect the Dots by Matt Stevenson, SUNSTONE CIRCUITS