NextPCB Launches New PCB Gerber Viewer: HQDFM Online Lite

HQ NextPCB Launches HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer and DFM Analysis Tool

HQ NextPCB, a leading PCB manufacturing company, is excited to announce the release of HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer and DFM Analysis Tool, which is now available for free to everyone. With HQDFM, NextPCB aims to empower designers with the necessary tools and knowledge to perfect their designs early on, minimizing costly issues.

The PCB manufacturing industry heavily relies on the Ucamco Gerber standard to communicate PCB production to manufacturers, especially those located overseas. While the 2D image format has helped overcome language barriers, there is still a significant gap between PCB design and manufacture, causing expensive obstacles such as missed deadlines, hit-and-miss runs, and products that fail quickly.

CEO of HQ NextPCB, Alex Chen, explains, “There are still many designers that send off their production files without any knowledge of what the files contain. Resolving issues with the fab house becomes a challenge for both sides without the appropriate tools and knowledge to debug the design, which is something we hope to change for everyone’s benefit.”

The HQDFM Gerber Viewer is a free online tool that allows designers to display and review PCB Gerber files and OBD++ files. It incorporates HQDFM’s Design for Manufacture (DFM) algorithms, which are based on NextPCB’s 15 years of high-reliability manufacturing expertise and current industry standards.

Unlike EDA software’s built-in Design Rule Check (DRC) checks, HQDFM enables designers to navigate and analyze production files, identifying design issues that may impact manufacturing or cause long-term reliability problems. By providing a manufacturer’s perspective, HQDFM offers valuable insights into how designers can improve their designs.

The online HQDFM is a cross-platform tool that can be accessed by anyone, including Mac and Linux users, without the need for download, installation, or sign-up. Users can easily upload their PCB production files to the online interface and view their designs within seconds.

HQDFM supports X2 and RS-274x PCB Gerber formats, Excellon drill files, and OBD++ files. It is compatible with popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.

Key features of HQDFM include:

1. Check for over 20 Design for Manufacture issues.

2. Navigate PCB layer-by-layer.

3. Free downloadable DFM Report for more detailed analysis.

4. Easy, one-click ordering with HQ NextPCB.

5. Absolutely free, no sign-up or obligation required.

HQDFM checks various aspects of the design to ensure manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. It examines elements such as trace width/spacing, drill hole/slot sizes, clearances to copper and board outline elements, special drill holes, solder mask openings, and more.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, HQDFM detects production difficulties that may increase costs or lead times. It identifies issues like drill hole fees, testing fees, surface finish fees, small trace widths/spacings, and special drill hole fees.

Furthermore, HQDFM focuses on design for reliability by detecting problems that may not affect production but can impact the normal operation or lifetime of the boards. It identifies shorts/opens, missing solder mask dams or openings, missing/extra pads, drill holes, and annular rings.

NextPCB is a reliable multi-layer PCB manufacturer and assembly house. They offer capabilities such as up to 32 layer boards, blind and buried vias up to HDI 3, custom stack-ups, full turnkey assembly, and more through a smart quotation platform with dedicated one-to-one support.

Founded in 2009, NextPCB is committed to fast, reliable, and affordable full-featured electronics manufacturing. They have developed and maintain the groundbreaking software HQDFM, which allows designers to analyze PCB Gerber files and detect design issues.

With over 300,000 users worldwide, NextPCB has established itself as a trusted choice for PCB manufacturing. Designers can try their services at HQ NextPCB.com and experience how they can accelerate their workflow.

In conclusion, HQ NextPCB’s release of HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer and DFM Analysis Tool is a significant step towards bridging the gap between PCB design and manufacture. By providing designers with valuable insights and analysis, HQDFM empowers them to perfect their designs early on, leading to improved manufacturing outcomes and cost savings.