Anyone who’s ever designed a PCB knows the struggle of exporting files for manufacturing and assembly. Still, the question remains as to why there isn’t a proper file format to get PCBs to the board house and manufacture them end to end. Let’s discuss that today.
Today, the primary export options are Gerbers (in various versions) and ODB++. Most vendors support Gerbers as a standard but the issue is the number of files that get generated. Each layer gets its own file, on top of that you have to generate drill files, Pick n Place files, BOM files etc. If anyone has a non-automated workflow from CAD and it’s a pain to generate each time, double-check if it’s correct. ODB++ improves on this by bundling all necessary data into one zip file, yet its proprietary nature has its limitations.
Enter IPC-2581, which was released in 2004 and is an open-standard format designed to overcome these challenges. IPC-2581 consolidates everything from detailed design data and fabrication instructions to assembly information into one unified, XML-based file. It’s a single source of truth that aims to streamline communication across the entire supply chain, reducing the need for back-and-forth clarifications and lowering the risk of costly errors.
One of the standout features of IPC-2581 is that it handles fabrication and assembly. Not only does it provide all the necessary electrical and mechanical design details, but it also integrates manufacturing instructions such as solder paste application, pick-and-place coordinates, component footprints, and even inspection protocols. Additionally, it can incorporate the BOM, design tolerances, quality control benchmarks etc.
Although it hasn’t really taken off, it is currently in rev C of the standard with a lot of changes. I think part of the reason is most designers don’t know and some board houses don’t support them. To be honest, moving to this saves a designer & manufacturer so much trouble. The good news is that most CAD tools support this export as of today.
#BackToBasics #Electronics #PCBs
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