[quote author="GroovyDrifter"]I use Kicad and I do not know how to draw the vgrooves with it. I've never panelized boards, but I think that this must be the best option for panelizing several same size rectangular ones, am I wrong?[/quote]
Yeah, mousebites are an option too, but since the v-groove is offered and I don't know how to use it, I was wondering if maybe someone can explain how to use it with DirtyPCB's and Kicad. It looks at first sight like v-grooves will do cleaner cuts than mousebites do.
Oh, it's just easier to see through transparent solder mask than any colour one, almost impossible on white or black solder mask. Transparent solder mask can add an extra visibility for trying fixes to bad designs. No solder mask at all makes it even easier, but can make very difficult to hand solder SMD chips. But my main interest is for the vintage look, helpfulness of a transparent solder mask for early prototypes is just an idea of why others may want it.
Anyway it is an option that some pcb houses offer, if the PCB manufacturer can do it I can't see why not have it, and if they can't there is no more space to discussion, I can live without it :-).
No solder mask is easy to do in Kicad, you just draw a filled box or shape over the complete board on the solder mask layer(s) you want to remove. This way you can afterwards panelize no solder mask boards with solder mask ones.
I use Kicad and I do not know how to draw the vgrooves with it. I've never panelized boards, but I think that this must be the best option for panelizing several same size rectangular ones, am I wrong?
I've seen that there are already some chinese PCB houses offering the no solder mask option, but a transparent solder mask will be much better if is possible, as the no solder mask option can cause problems on SMD boards. This will not only give the boards a "vintage" look but also will be very helpful for early prototypes.
