Jeff,
        The biggest thing coming online is your manufactures are getting
away from Gerber when then can, Gerber has no intelligence to it. It is a
series of x-y coordinates with an aperture list, there is too much room for
error especially if you are manually inputting the data. As we all know some
of the CAD tools output isn't always "what you see is what you get". By
importing an IPC-D-356 format netlist you can turn your Gerber data
intelligent. Helping identify possible errors before the board gets built.
We process Gerber data on only 40% of our jobs the remaining go through an
EDA interface. Which allows the board shop access to all the information
that you have which will reduce cost for tooling and test fixtures and
insuring that a good board gets built through some very powerful
verification tools. I've been in the service business for 20 years and it is
extremely valuable, considering everyone thinks that they are a PCB expert.
VALOR and ADI are manufacturing tools that most board shops use in their
front end CAM when setting up the production process. These tools help
identify etching errors, annular ring issues, stubs, slivers, continuity,
along with many other issues. These tools are helping us get closer to
outputting IPC-D-350 data structures that the CAD manufactures have not done
yet. I could go on for ever but I don't want to ramble. The verification is
also great with training people who think the are an expert, it will point
out manufacturing flaws that us experts don't even consider most of the
time. The main thing you have to remember is by setting up you data
correctly it keeps the board shops from messing with your data as little as
possible. There are a lot of designers out there that think there data is
perfect and shops do nothing to it (Ha ha, if they only knew). Call or email
if questions.
                                        Thank you - Dave
[log in to unmask] - Operations Manager
Praegitzer Design - San Diego
a division of Praegitzer Industries, Inc.
9605 Scranton Road, Suite 310
San Diego CA 92121
(619) 450-0994 ext. 161 voice
(619) 450-0529 fax
(619) 982-7872 pager
please visit our web site at http://www.pii.com/

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