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62 PCB007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2025 precisely touches the surface of the PCB. The machine calculates the depth from the exact moment of contact and maintains it consistently throughout the routing path. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the routed depth is accurate relative to the potentially uneven panel surface. A typical and critical application of this technology is depth routing for cup elimination in rigid-flex PCB manufacturing. Depth Routing From Electrical Contact While a second measuring system often uses mechanical contact to establish the initial point for depth D R I V I N G I N N OVAT I O N Application Image Constant Depth Floating on Panel Surface Mapping (Remaining Web) Ta b l e 1 : Ty p i c a l d e pt h ro u t i n g a p p l i c at i o n s calculations, depth routing from elec- trical contact offers an alternative, precise method that leverages the PCB's electrical properties. In this approach, the layer designated as the starting point for depth calcula- tion must be grounded. This could be the top copper layer or an inner cop- per layer. The electrically conductive routing tool makes contact with this grounded layer, triggering a precise signal that defines the zero-point for Z-axis depth measurement. This method is particularly advan- tageous for applications requiring extremely tight tolerances and direct reference to a conductive layer. It eliminates the minor mechanical vari- ations that can occur with pressure foot systems, offering superior repeatabil- ity when the target is a copper feature. F i g u re 1 : D e pt h ro u t i n g u s i n g t h e s e c o n d m e a s u r i n g syste m s a m p l e s . ▼