> Greg Bartlett wrote:
> 
> Has anyone seen any problems or difficulties with the newer RS274-X
> format which we should be aware of?
> 
> [log in to unmask] wrote:
> 
> This is NOT a problem with the standard of RS-274-X itself,
> but rather just a poor implementation.
> 
      Lots of this going around, and not all CAD platforms support it
      *yet*.

>[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> The biggest problem is that some prototype houses and solder paste
> stencil manufacturers still don't support it.

      Or photoplotting houses.  Of the *four* that we use in close
      geographical proximity, only one supports it.  The one that does
      support it could not view or edit when a bug caused the 274X out-
      put to overstroke the film size by .050".

      I've had mixed results from 274X.  My primary CAD vendor adopted
      early but neglected the view/load side for a version.  Then we
      had semi-mature "create" and not-mature "view/load".  Now we're
      down to "nuisance" bugs but still lack a good way to qualify the
      overall software.

      My position is that the standard 274-D works well in most en-
      vironments, where the apertures are read directly from a file.
      For most geometries this is fine,  and if a naming convention
      is used for thermal relief description then most objections are
      met.  (we use a convention of od/id/#spokes/spokesize/rotation)

      Of course, in realms where many or very detailed shapes are needed
      then the 274x method is worth its weight in platinum.  Likewise in
      cases of complex area fills.

      The weak link from my perspective is closing the loop on netlist
      comparison.  Until the IPC-D-356 netlist can be used in positive
      verification of output file content, we can't trust *any* output
      software *fully*.  But this is another thread, and look out if
      I get started on this one.  Suffice to say we at Applied CAD are
      working diligently at closing this loop inside our system, and
      when that happens it will allow new versions of software or other
      output standards to be qualified properly.

      Best regards to all,

--

      Jeff Seeger                             Applied CAD Knowledge Inc
      Chief Technical Officer                      Tyngsboro, MA  01879
      [log in to unmask]                               508 649 9800

***************************************************************************
* TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 *
***************************************************************************
* To unsubscribe from this list at any time, send a message to:           *
* [log in to unmask] with <subject: unsubscribe> and no text.        *
***************************************************************************