[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Jeff,
>
> Speaking of GDT, where are you/we with it now in the PCB industry? How's IPC doing with its training
> program? I am especially interested concerning ANSI Y 14.5M and its concurrent engineering (CE)
> methodology. Any imput is appreciated.
>
        Earl,

        As Gary points out, this topic just doesn't draw the crowds,
        as badly as it is needed in our industry.

        We take mechanical drawings from all over, and it seems
        mostly international companies and very large OEMs use it
        routinely.  Combine non-GDT input with a certain clumsiness
        on the part of the CAD tools and it's easy to see why some
        of the design world hasn't rushed to utilize this proper way
        to describe the mechanical aspects of a board.

        Still trying to embrace it in our shop, but I don't think
        it'll happen globally until the eCAD system vendors improve
        the support and/or the fabrication community starts asking
        for it.  I personally dislike the method of using a 2nd CAD
        tool for the mechanical drafting if I can avoid - enough to
        keep track of one platform/database per board IMHO.

        IPC's support has been good, with John Sabo's presentation
        well-geared to the board worlds' peculiarities, but I haven't
        seen anything on concurrent engineering in this realm.  Have
        enough trouble getting the electrical community onstream with
        this technique ("No, it's not a license to blizzard netlists")
        can't quite imagine how the mechanical world will/would co-
        habit with the PWB realm in this sense.

        I hope IPC (and John!) continue w/the topic, repeated long-
        term exposure and reinforcement appear to be what's needed.

        Regards,
--

      Jeff Seeger                         Applied CAD Knowledge Inc
      Chief Technical Officer                  Tyngsboro, MA  01879
      jseeger "at" appliedcad "dot" com                978 649 9800

################################################################
TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c
################################################################
To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body:
To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name>
To unsubscribe:   SIGNOFF TechNet 
################################################################
Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information.
For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312
################################################################