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Analysing integrity of Gerber/ODB++ output!

DaveatUD

Hi to everyone!

I have a question. I've completed a board design. I output Gerber & ODB++ data for the board fab people. How do I check that the Gerber data is correct against the board design?

Yes you can view the data in any of various free or paid for Gerber viewers but unless you visually check every single pad on every single symbol/component how do you ensure that they are (a) present in the data, & (b) every mask layer is correct?

Are there any tools available to do this?

Can your board fab house do it?

Grateful for any input!

Cheers, Dave

  • avant
    0

    I've used Valor to check the layers within the ODB++ database. It is very expensive and requires setting up various manufacturing rules.

    It did find Gerber errors that were not apparent on the board file when viewed in Allegro. The maintenance cost was too expensive, and we did not renew.

  • RFinley
    0

    ODB and IPC2581 include a netlist traceable to your schematic.  Your fabricator should accept ODB++ v7 or 8 in addition to IPC 2581 which is, for me, a bit more powerful than ODB due to rigid-flex support.   

    In my experience, your fabricator will do a CAM review with their Valor or Downstream system for manufacturability yield and to avoid wasting time and materials building boards that will be scrapped.  They have to put your design in a fab/assy panel anyway to make it.  

    The fabricator we use has both Valor and Downstream CAM350.   Both are very capable.  

  • DaveatUD
    0 in reply to RFinley

    These ideas are great guys BUT how do you all check Gerber/ODB++ data for yourselves??

    Or do you not check it at all?

    Cheers, Dave

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