When PCBA designers design circuit boards, they often leave process edges. Do you know why this is done? What are the benefits of designing process edges?Today, I will explain why PCBA needs to design process edges.The PCBA process edge, also known as the working edge, is a long strip of blank board edge set aside for SMT processing to leave space for track transmission and to place the panel Mark points.Ultimately, PCBA is to undergo SMT chip processing, and PCBA is transmitted on the SMT production line through guide rails, therefore, a pair of edges without components must be reserved as transmission edges. Typically, the two long edges of the PCBA or the large board after paneling are used as its transmission edges.In the production process of the PCBA board, reserving process edges is of great significance for subsequent SMT chip processing. The process edge is added to the two or four sides of the PCBA board to assist with SMT chip, DIP plug-in, and welding operations.Because the SMT chip machine’s track is used to clamp the PCBA board and flow through the chip machine, electronic components that are too close to the edge of the trackcan easily collide when being picked up by the SMT machine’s nozzle and attached to the PCBA board, making production impossible.Therefore, it is necessary to reserve a certain process edge to effectively address these issues encountered during SMT chip placement. Similarly, reserving process edges is also applicable to some plug-incomponents, preventing similar occurrences during wave soldering. The process edge is not part of the PCBA board, and it can be removed after the PCBA processing is completed.Additionally, removing the PCBA production process edge after completing chip processing is also very important, ensuring that the process edge is flat. The methods for removing the PCBA process edge can generally be divided into three categories: V-cut panel machines, milling panel machines, and manual removal of process edges. From a quality perspective, the milling panel machine has the best effect; the V-cut panel machine is much cheaper, cutting along the V-shaped groove of the PCBA with blades but can only perform straight cuts.Manual removal of the process edge can be done by hand-breaking or using tools like needle-nose pliers, which has advantages of low cost and ease of use, but it can easily cause stress and damage to components.