i would wonder why you need targets at all. if they have any C.A.D. capability at all, most systems can automatically align layers with the click of the mouse. if it is being sent out to be plotted as single films, that usually means they are hand stepping the artwork to a drilled panel. if they are sending out stepped up artwork, that is not unusual, some shops still rely on outside plotting services. my last question would be concerning how they factor in for the controlled impedance. as others have said, you get what you pay for, not to disparage on the low tech shops ( most of us have been there ) but most shops today work with all sorts of up front C.A.D. / C.A.M. systems. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Targets and Film Author: Jespersen at ELECTROPAC Date: 7/28/97 7:28 AM Trivial question, but to the fabricators out there: What percentage of your customers faithfully supply targets on the Gerber data? Do you even use targets for alignment or measuring? Also, for anyone who cares to comment: At my new company we are using vendors who can't plot their own film, and we have to modem the data over to a photoplotting vendor. This implies that NO up-front engineering type CAM work is being done, and most of these boards are impedance controlled RF designs. Am I confused in thinking maybe we should look for more modernized vendors, or did I just get spoiled by cream-of-the-crop high-tech excellence? (Also, its probably worth noting that the previous employer's concern was high-quality prototypes FAST TURN no matter the cost. Whereas here, money is a big issue and these low-tech places are CHEAP!) Not trying to start any wars here, but I'm curious how many vendors these days just work from someone else's film? *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************