Landpattern Calculator

[Henrik Kronborg]

Hi

First I must say that i'm pretty impressed with the amount of work put into this site

After having read some of the other threads, I have the impression that the footprints generated with landpattern calculator have been tested in high volume productions, with good results.

I would like to know if there is anyone, who is using the calculator and at the same time using AOI equipment. We are using MVP vision

I was trying to find a way to convert your libraries, but it didn't seem to possible....or am I wrong?

Keep up the good work :)

Henrik

[Tom]

Henrik,

First of all let me say that all the library documentation for the least, nominal and maximum libraries have been created out of the calculator. The 3-Tier PowerPCB libraries have also been created directly from the calculator.

The calculator is rather a simple product that takes into consideration the component dimensions and maximum lead size dimensions. It adds the appropriate Toe, Heel and Side data provided by IPC.

We have used hundreds of the PowerPCB land patterns on over 150 different designs, many of which went into high volume production. We have never had a complaint from a PCB manufacturer or an assembly shop.

We have translated the libraries from PowerPCB to Pantheon and Cadence Allegro.

More translations are on the way. Which translation are you looking for?

[Henrik Kronborg]

Tom,

The reason I asked, is that the company i'm working in, is assembling pcb's for many different customers. My plan was to tell them about this site. Since i don't know what kinda software they use for cad designing, the calculator seems like a good start :)

Second, we have had many problems with components ( sot23, electrolytics caps, melf, etc. ), due to oversized pads. The components are simply floating in all directions on the pads.
This kicks us in the groin, when we check the boards with aoi :)
If I get our customers to use this, it would save me days work :)

About libraries, i'm interested in most standard componts or just a way to convert the existing :)

[Tom]

Henrik,

We have had many problems with components ( SOT-23, Electrolytic Caps, MELF, etc. ), due to oversized pads. The components are simply floating in all directions on the pads. If I get our customers to use this, it would save me days work.
I totally agree with you on the fact that if everyone in the world used one standard CAD library that it would save everyone time. IPC has quoted that the number of hours, spent every year, building CAD library parts is around 3 million man hours. The number of lost man hours due to the chaos, errors and rework of everyone building their own parts incorrectly is 2 million man hours.

What we are trying to do is establish a high quality library to standardize the engineering process of linking the correct CAD decal in the schematic symbol (with a standardized naming convention). Standardizing the pad sizes and spacing so PCB designers can predict fanout and routing processes. Standardizing all hole sizes, annular rings, plane clearances and Anti-pads to automate the PC board manufacturing processes. Standardizing the decal origin and rotation to automate the assembly pick and place machines.

A "One World Standard Library" would save the electronics industry over 5 million man hours a year in duplication of effort and elimination of errors.

Soon, the library will be available in every CAD format. The more people that use it, the more feedback we will get on its quality and improvement recommendations. The library and all the library documentation are the highest quality available in the world today and it's free (no charge). We are trying our best to help standardize our industry.

Standardization is the ONLY way we will ever automate anything in our industry and I thank IPC and Randy Chase for helping us achieve this goal.