Outline/Milling Editor.
The Outline Editor, the second tool in the PCB Solver range, was launched in November 2015. In December 2015 it has been updated to handle internal slots and cutouts as well as board outline (profiles). It has been renamed the Outline/Milling Editor. The updated version has the same powerful functionality as Version 1 with some new go-faster features for outline editing.
PCB Solver gives you the tools to fix common data issues before you place your order. You avoid delays to your delivery and can often reduce board costs. More tools will be released during 2016.
Use the Outline/Milling Editor to correct the board outline where the outline (profile) data is missing, incomplete, incorrect or duplicated (two outlines found). When this happens PCB Visualizer gives you a clear warning. In most cases you can fix the outline directly on screen, avoiding the disruption and delays involved if you have to go back to the CAD system.
Use the Outline/Milling Editor for internal slots and cutouts to
- check slot and cutout data in a mechanical layer is correct and repair it if not
- clearly identify slots and cutouts if they are not defined in a mechanical layer
Note: PCB Visualizer is an automatic pre-production Gerber and drill data analyzer. Gerber is a pure vector format, so unless attributes are used, PCB Visualizer cannot recognize slots and cutouts. For advice on defining slots and cut-outs, see here.
There’s a full description with the latest features here.
PCB Solver.
PCB Solver is the third component in the PCB Visualizer user interface. PCB Visualizer itself is the core of our pre-order data verification process. As soon as you upload your data into your Shopping basket, PCB Visualizer generates a detailed analysis of the PCB dataset and compares it to the specifications of the proposed order and of the chosen PCB service. PCB Configurator then provides a detailed report of the board status. PCB Checker pinpoints any DRC or DFM issues found in the data. PCB Solver provides the tools to fix them, either automatically or interactively.
The Outline & Milling Editor and the automatic repair of annular rings running in PCB Checker are the first two of a series of repair tools planned to fix the data issues which our customers have told us frustrate them the most.
PCB Visualizer’s pre-order data verification is a key part of our optimized PCB design workflow. By spending a few minutes checking the board data prior to ordering you avoid delivery delays of 24 hours or more while our engineers come back with questions (“exceptions”). In many cases you can also cut the board costs. That way you can order confident that you will get the right board, on the right day, at the right price.
PCB Solver has been made possible by a major change in PCB Visualizer’s core structure. This is now vector-based rather than image-based. It is structured around real objects (pads, tracks, drills …). This allows us to extend to users the benefits of procedures already field-proven in our front-end data-preparation process. It has the added benefit of smaller internal data-sets and so faster processing.
How to use the Outline & Milling Editor: go to technical description or watch our video
