PCB Fabrication Enhancements

Support of ODB++ Files Exported from Zuken

aPriori now supports the Zuken ODB++ export format for hole definitions.

Previously, aPriori failed to cost PCB boards with holes defined in ODB++ drill files exported from Zuken. Most ECAD systems define a hole’s start and end layers as copper layers, or they leave the start and end layers blank for through holes. The Zuken ODB++ export instead specifies the start and/or end layer for a non-buried hole as a silk screen, mask, or paste layer, which previously was not supported by aPriori. In this release, if a hole is defined as starting or ending on a silk screen, mask, or paste layer, aPriori assumes that the hole starts or ends on an outermost copper layer, and it costs the board successfully.

Detection of Duplicate Contours and Holes in PCB

aPriori now displays a warning message in the Viewer when duplicate holes or contours are extracted, and the aPriori log file captures the tool number associated with the duplicate.

With poorly defined Gerber and ODB++ ECAD files, it is possible that the same hole or contour is defined multiple times. Sometimes this is by mistake, and other times it is due to how downstream suppliers want the file defined. In these cases, aPriori extracts the duplicate holes and contours, as in previous releases. Additionally, in 2024 R1 SP1, a warning message will be displayed in the 3D viewer that duplicate holes or contours were extracted. The aPriori log file will capture the tool number that is a duplicate. To avoid overestimating the cost of the PCB, aPriori recommends that users do either of the following:

• Update the ECAD file to remove the duplicate hole or contour definition.

• Assign a No Cost Feature operation to the duplicate holes and contours.

Improved extraction from ODB++ Files

aPriori now extracts Contour GCDs from Rout files with no tool defined and from Drill files that contain oval slots. This release also improves extraction of concave rounded corners of the board outline.

aPriori 2024 R1 SP1 provides a number of minor improvements to the interpretation of ODB++ Files in the PCB Fabrication process group:

• aPriori now will extract Contour GCDs from Rout file with no drill tool defined. Previously no contours were extracted in this case.

• aPriori now will extract Contour GCDs from Drill files which contain oval-shaped slots. Previously aPriori did not extract any GCDs for non-round cutouts defined in ODB++ Drill files.

• This release of aPriori corrects a bug in previous releases in which convex rounded corners of the board outline sometimes were extracted with an inverted direction, as shown below .

  

  This issue occurred infrequently (in less than 3% of parts in our test suite), but could affect nesting layouts and result in under-estimates of material utilization.