{"id":13046,"date":"2025-10-07T17:18:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/summitinterconnect.ca\/article\/from-cad-to-pcb-the-data-you-provide-and-what-pcb-manufacturers-actually-do-with-it\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T10:09:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:09:53","slug":"from-cad-to-pcb-the-data-you-provide-and-what-pcb-manufacturers-actually-do-with-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/summitinterconnect.ca\/fr\/blog\/article\/from-cad-to-pcb-the-data-you-provide-and-what-pcb-manufacturers-actually-do-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"From CAD to PCB: The Data You Provide and What PCB Manufacturers Actually Do with It"},"content":{"rendered":"
Designers often assume that once their layout is complete and exported, a manufacturer can simply \u201chit print\u201d and start fabricating boards. In reality, the path from CAD to PCB involves a complex translation of digital intent into physical instructions. Every gap, conflict, or assumption in the data package can slow the process, add cost, or result in boards that don\u2019t match the design intent. <\/p>\n
A typical data package includes Gerber or ODB++ files, drill charts, stackups, fabrication notes, and sometimes a netlist. The manufacturer imports these into CAM software and prepares the job for the production floor. This is where missing or contradictory details surface such as a drill chart that doesn\u2019t match the stackup; fabrication notes copied from an older design;, or solder mask openings that don\u2019t align with pads. <\/p>\n
Each of these discrepancies forces the fabricator to either pause and request clarification or make internal corrections. Both options come at a cost to either your schedule or to the circuit board accuracy. <\/p>\n
Just because a feature can be drawn in CAD doesn\u2019t mean it can be produced reliably. Fine lines, tight spacing, or aggressive via structures often fall outside proven manufacturing limits. Manufacturability is about yield and repeatability, not just geometry. <\/p>\n
Good design-for-manufacturability (DFM) practice accounts for:<\/p>\n
Designers who consider these realities early create boards that move through production faster, with fewer questions.<\/p>\n
Industry standards such as IPC-6012 (Qualification and Performance for Rigid PCBs) define the baseline for acceptability \u2014 covering annular ring, dielectric spacing, hole wall quality, and more. Aligning with these standards in your documentation reduces ambiguity for manufacturers. <\/p>\n
But IPC standards alone aren\u2019t enough. A design can technically \u201cmeet spec\u201d while still being extremely difficult to fabricate. That\u2019s why direct communication with the fabricator remains essential. <\/p>\n
When packages arrive incomplete, manufacturers often make corrections behind the scenes: rebuilding stackups, adjusting drill sizes, realigning solder mask, or cleaning up silkscreen. These fixes take time and can introduce risk if assumptions don\u2019t match the designer\u2019s intent. <\/p>\n
Common mistakes include:<\/p>\n
The more manufacturers have to \u201cinterpret,\u201d the greater the chance of delays or mismatches.<\/p>\n
The best outcomes come when designers and fabricators work together early. Even a quick DFM review before release can prevent days of back-and-forth later. Sharing preliminary data gives the manufacturer a chance to flag risky design features or clarify material choices before the design is locked. <\/p>\n
To minimize risk and accelerate builds, it is recommended that PCB designers provide:<\/p>\n
Always check output files in a viewer before sending them. If you see the board the way you expect it, the manufacturer will too. <\/p>\n
PCB fabrication is more than producing a set of drawings \u2014 it\u2019s building a product that must work reliably in the real world. The quality of the data package determines how smoothly that translation happens. <\/p>\n
Good PCB design isn\u2019t just about getting circuits to work in CAD. It\u2019s about communicating intent clearly, so the manufacturer can build the board right the first time. <\/p>\n
Summit Interconnect has two types of DFM reports to help create a reliable and cost-effective design. These reports help eliminate potential holds and get PCBs in your hands without unnecessary delays. Read more about our technical support and DFM services.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Designers often assume that once their layout is complete and exported, a manufacturer can simply \u201chit print\u201d and start fabricating boards. In reality, the path from CAD to PCB involves a complex translation of digital intent into physical instructions. Every gap, conflict, or assumption in the data package can slow the process, add cost, or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":13013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[83,86,82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assemblee","category-conception","category-nouvelles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n