Panelizing PCB and Assembly with Pick and Place File

[mnpebm]

I don't panelize my boards since it seems best to let the particular FAB house do it. However, I am often required to approve a panel in PDF for and final gerbers.

If I am not creating the panel myself, what type of placement file (pick and place) do I provide to the assembly house.

I know how to create a pick and place file in Altium when doing a single board.

On a panel I don't create, but only get the updated gerbers from the FAB house, how does the Assembly house know the precise locations of components?

I will of course send the gerbers in panel form to the assembly house.

Thanks all,
Mike

[robertferanec]

If we leave PCB manufacturer to create a panel, we ask them for following gerbers to send us back: Top and Bottom Layer, Top and Bottom Paste. We send these to our assembly house together with other files (including Pick and Place file for one board) and they are able to figure out the position of components on the whole panel. I am not sure how exactly they do it, but they never asked for an assembly pick and place file for the whole panel. I guess, in the machine they do the settings for one board anyway and they somehow clone it with different offsets.

[mnpebm]

Your description of how they must be able to do was what I was thinking.

But now hearing it from you, just gave me great peace of mind!!

Thanks Robert.