HQ NextPCB takes great pride in introducing the all-new HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer and DFM Analysis Tool, now available to all users completely free of charge. With HQDFM, NextPCB aims to empower designers with essential DFM tools and knowledge, enabling them to perfect their designs at the earliest stages where potential problems incur the lowest costs.
The PCB manufacturing industry has long relied on the Ucamco Gerber standard as a means of effectively communicating PCB production requirements to manufacturers, many of whom are situated overseas. While the 2D image format successfully bridges language barriers, the realm of PCB Design for Manufacture remains ambiguous to inexperienced designers, resulting in a costly divide between PCB design and manufacturing. This obstacle often leads to missed deadlines, trial-and-error runs, and ultimately, products prone to early failure.
“There are still multitudes of designers who submit their production files without truly comprehending their contents. Resolving issues with the fabrication house becomes a challenge for both parties without the appropriate tools and insights to debug the design. We aspire to revolutionize this experience for the benefit of all,” shares Alex Chen, CEO of HQ NextPCB.
HQDFM Gerber Viewer stands as a completely free online tool, enabling users to effortlessly display and review PCB Gerber files alongside OBD++ files. The tool incorporates HQDFM’s Design for Manufacture (DFM) algorithms, leveraging the vast manufacturing expertise of NextPCB garnered over 15 years of high-reliability productions and current industry standards.
Unlike built-in Design Rule Check (DRC) features found in traditional EDA software, HQDFM empowers designers to navigate and meticulously analyze production files, proactively identifying design issues that may impede smooth manufacturing or lead to long-term reliability concerns. By providing designers with a manufacturer’s perspective, HQDFM presents valuable insights that aid in the improvement of their designs.
Based on the free desktop version, the online HQDFM has been developed as a cross-platform solution, easily accessible to Mac and Linux users without the need for any downloads, installations, or sign-ups. Users can effortlessly upload their PCB production files to the online interface, granting them instantaneous visualization of their designs.
HQDFM supports X2 and RS-274x PCB Gerber formats, Excellon drill files, and OBD++ files, seamlessly functioning across leading web browsers including Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.
Key Features:
– Comprehensive checks for over 20 Design for Manufacture issues
– Hassle-free layer-by-layer navigation of PCB designs
– Detailed downloadable DFM Report for in-depth analysis
– Streamlined, one-click ordering process through HQ NextPCB
– Completely free with no sign-up obligations
What Does HQDFM Evaluate?
Design for Manufacturability:
Ensuring PCB elements fall within the capabilities of most manufacturers in the industry, ranging from low-cost quick-turn services to advanced solutions:
– Trace width/spacing
– Drill hole/slot sizes
– Clearances to copper and board outline elements
– Special drill holes
– Solder mask openings, and more
Design for Cost:
Identifying potential production challenges that may lead to increased costs or extended lead times:
– Drill hole fees
– Testing fees
– Surface finish fees
– Small trace widths/spacings
– Special drill hole fees
Design for Reliability:
Detecting potential issues that may not hinder production but could impact the normal operation or lifespan of the PCBs:
– Shorts/opens
– Missing solder mask dams or openings
– Missing/extra pads, drill holes, annular rings
Embark on your journey to enhanced designs by exploring the remarkable HQDFM Gerber Viewer today and experience the remarkable difference it can make.
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About NextPCB:
HQ NextPCB and HQ Online serve as overseas trading brands of Shenzhen Huaqiu (HQ) Electronics Co. Ltd., a reputable manufacturer and assembly house specializing in multi-layer PCBs. Their capabilities span up to 32 layers, blind and buried vias up to HDI 3, custom stack-ups, full turnkey assembly, and more – all managed through a smart quotation platform bolstered by personalized one-to-one support.
With its founding in 2009, NextPCB has consistently displayed a passion for fast, reliable, and cost-effective full-featured electronics manufacturing, propelling the company to become an industry innovator. NextPCB’s dedicated development of HQDFM software, an unparalleled tool enabling designers to analyze PCB Gerber files and detect potential design issues, has garnered the trust of over 300,000 users worldwide. Discover the transformative potential of NextPCB for your next design at HQ NextPCB.com and witness firsthand the accelerated workflow it can bring.
