Tab routing mills a slot around the outline of each board in a panel, leaving short bridges of material, the tabs, that keep boards attached through assembly. Tabs are usually perforated with small holes, mouse bites, so they snap cleanly. It suits curved or irregular outlines and boards with parts overhanging the edge, where straight V-score lines are impossible, at the cost of a rough spot where each tab broke.
Round board, so it's tab routing with three breakaway tabs and mouse bites, keep them away from the connector.
Also heard as
- tab route
- tab-and-route
Related terms
Mouse bites
Rows of small drilled holes across breakaway tabs so boards snap cleanly from a panel, leaving a nibbled edge.
V-score
V-shaped groove cut partway into a panel from both sides so boards snap apart along straight lines.
Panelization
Arranging several boards on one production panel so they are fabricated and assembled together.