Author: Jennifer Read

Virtual and Intelligent PCB Fabrication and Assembly Documentation

Virtual machines today are used as a replacement for physical laptops or desktops to emulate computer systems for design and verification. For printed circuit board (PCB) design and manufacturing, some fabrication and assembly information such as artwork, drill, netlist, test, and component placement has been conveyed virtually to manufacturing for over 30 years. So how about articulating critical fabrication and assembly notes and drawings in an intelligent, electronic (a virtual) format?

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True 3D AOIs to Improve Production Quality

3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) systems have become an integral solution for the surface-mount technology (SMT) industry. These systems have become more important for manufacturers, because they provide incomparable reliability to help maintain high quality of boards with thousands of solder joints. However, does this mean every 3D AOI can be the ultimate gatekeeper to identify defects early in the process? The answer may be both yes and no.

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