CAM350XL
Streamlining and Integrating PCB Post Processing
For many years advances in EDA tools have gone a long way in
optimizing the PCB layout process. New routing and placement technologies have
emerged that greatly reduce the amount of time required for these phases of the
PCB layout process. In some cases design time in placement and routing has gone
from weeks to minutes. In addition, much as been done to pre-process the PCB design
flow by integrating front-end schematic design with downstream PCB layout to fully
facilitate the flow of data and communication between these two process steps.
The same, however, cannot be said for the post processing of these complex designs.
Methodologies, interfaces, and tools used to post process PCB designs into usable manufacturing
information tend to remain almost unchanged over the past few decades and can be characterized as:
- Lacking automation and not leveraging design intelligence
- Involving too many tools consisting of MS Office, PCB CAD, MCAD, PCB CAM,
etc
- Requiring multiple interfaces to handle the myriad of formats
typically required to generate the necessary outputs to drive PCB manufacturing
The bottom line is that PCB designers still rely heavily on outdated interfaces contained in
their CAD system to produce the necessary outputs to drive PCB fabrication and assembly while simultaneously
struggling with archaic methodologies to produce necessary documentation. Often data must be imported and
often converted multiple times in different systems to produce the necessary outputs.
The end result is a collection of disjointed file formats such as Gerber, NC drill and mill,
MS Office documents, PDF files, DXF files, etc. that may exists in multiple file locations that must be collected
and managed manually with basically no connectivity to each other, even though they are essential to the successful
manufacture of the physical PCB.
Ironically little to no effort has been placed on the post processing and generation of manufacturing
deliverables by major PCB CAD companies leaving the critical link in the design chain a completely manual process.
Until now, there has been no single
integrated solution to support flow of the PCB post processing cycle that can replicate the level of through put
found on the front-end of the PCB layout process.
Welcome CAM350XL...
The importance of integrated PCB Post Processing
- Retain engineering intent during translation into
physical PCB assembly
- Creates and ensures the "deliverables" from engineering
to downstream processes are accurate
- Resulting "Release Package" becomes the "Golden Source"
of all manufacturing
- Critical design defects are avoided
- Productivity greatly improved
