Automated, design-for-manufacturing PCB flow accessible by designers
Based on Valor NPI technology, critical design data is automatically extracted to derive PCB technology classifications for appropriate manufacturing process constraints. It provides ease-of-use benefits to PCB designers without them having to become DFM subject-matter experts.
With the increasing complexity of PCB technology and the more varied manufacturing processes required for today’s electronics, there is a greater burden put on manufacturers to create useful DFM rules. Unlike traditional DFM methods that limited DFM technology use to specialists, with the new Valor NPI designers can benefit from DFM without having to be an expert. The release simplifies rules set-up and extracts PCB design intelligence to automatically perform DFM analyses with the highest level of productivity. The set-up time for DFM rules can be reduced from weeks to days, and by using quality rules, DFM results viewing time can be reduced by up to 50 percent.
An automated PCB DFM process supporting electronics manufacturers, Valor NPI software seamlessly connects PCB design, fabrication, assembly, and test processes. The Valor NPI application automatically extracts relevant PCB design technology from the design data to determine the correct PCB technology classification. The Valor NPI tool then maps the PCB classification to the constraints associated with the applicable manufacturing processes. Thus, only the DFM checks necessary for that design are executed using the correct DFM values for that PCB technology classification. This automated capability provides a very streamlined DFM analysis and results reviewing process.
This release provides easy set-up and maintenance of the DFM rules regardless of technical complexity – ideal for any company doing PCB design or PCB assembly. The Valor NPI release works with all major PCB layout tools: Mentor Xpedition and PADS suites, Cadence Allegro, Zuken Board Designer, and Altium products.
Mentor (Siemens); www.mentor.com/npi
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