Interesting Tools

Here I want to collect a bunch of interesting tools that are out there that might be interesting if you have a use for them. Sometimes, the hard part is just knowing that something exists.

Depaneling Tools

If you're having a large number of PCBs manufactured, you typically will have them placed into a panelized configuration. This reduces manufacturing costs substantially at scale. But, now you have a bunch of PCBs that are still attached to one another. If you've used V-grooves for these, then you can break them by hand quite easily (although you have to be cautious of the fiberglass fibers as they are quite sharp). But if you've put tabs, these are much larger and either need to be routed by the manufacturer, or you can break them yourself with one of these hand tools.