Working with a data-neutral file format

-- Test & Measurement World, 12/18/2003

Working with a data-neutral file format ensures accuracy and increases productivity. Klaus Bürkle, department manager of systems development in the electro-technical division of Rafi (Ravensburg, Germany), uses the test module from Tecnomatix to help manage complex NPI processes, which includes accepting CAD files from many customers.

“The software automatically recovers design, layout, and BOM data from a wide range of external PCB CAD systems and MRP systems, as well as from our in-house CAD and MRP systems, and normalizes it so that it is presented in a uniform way regardless of the source system,” said Mr Bürkle. “The PCB layout is displayed graphically as it is displayed on a CAD system, together with multi-page circuit schematics (recovered from CAD systems in EDIF format) and BOM information, which is stored in the part number and shape libraries. This data then generates shop floor documentation for each manufacturing process, including SMT assembly, THT assembly, manual assembly, inspection and in-circuit test, and generates recipes and input lists for assembly, test and inspection machines.”