What is the Valor (VPL) QC check?

[randychase]

I do highly promote the idea that everyone run a Valor VPL library QC check
before going to production. We do.

Okay....what is it? :)

[Tom]

Valor Corporation has collected the physical component dimensions for just about every part in the world. They claim to have 20 million part numbers currently in their system and if you use their VPL check program and there is no match, Valor will find the physical component data to make a 100% match. Then the software super imposes the real physical part and pin outlines directly on the landpattern that you used. Any Decal construction flaws are flagged with an error marker and a description of the error.

Running a VPL (Valor Parts Library) check when you are going into production is very important. You want to make sure that you selected the correct landpattern for every device. This also picks up any human error library construction flaws.

The Valor Corporation has three basic products that can run VPL checks:

"Genesis 2000" is used by a PCB manufacturer as the front end for Orbitechs direct imaging equipment. This eliminates the need for photoplots or film because the PCB design graphics are directly imaged on the FR4 material.

"Trilogy 5000" is used by assembly shops and creates a "Virtual Prototype" before they actually assemble any boards. This produces an error list so the assembly shop can report the assembly problems back to their customer. It also optimizes the assembly process.

"Enterprise 3000" is used by PCB designers to run DRC checks for physical design verification and create ODB++ data.

Check out http://www.valor.com for more detailed information.

There is only one short coming to the VPL check and that is the price and the way they sell the "Service". Valor has their "Parts Library" on a website and you cannot download it. You have to go there to use it. You also have to pay $3.00 per part number for the rest of your life (Yearly maintenance) to gain access to the VPL website. Once you stop paying maintenance you are locked out of the VPL website and access to the VPL library. An average company that uses 2,000 different part numbers to create all their products will pay $6,000 a year to use this service. We have our production shops run a VPL check and they pick up the Valor maintenance tab.