We have had a little problem in the past with placement files.  We were 
providing pick and place files for our vendors for a couple years.  We found 
that we received a couple boards back where two components had been 
interchanged.  After further investigation into this we found that all our 
vendors were not using the pick and place files, but would  "bomb-site" the 
silk-screen for component locations.   With the density of many of the SMT 
boards it is not surprising that a couple of  reference designators could be 
confused.  We have played with the idea of providing "placement gerbers" to 
vendors which would eliminate most of this confusion (reference designators 
could be placed under the components).

My question is:  What is standard in the industry for most board assembly 
houses with respect to placement files? What do most people provide as 
placement files?

Thanks,
     MSW


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