LITTLETON, CO -- ScanCAD International has joined the newly formed IPC-2581 Consortium to support IPC-2581, the industry-wide CAD design data transfer standard.

"We are pleased to announce that our ConvertPLUS product fully embraces the IPC-2581 format permitting our global PCBA and PCB fab customer base to use IPC-2581 in their manufacturing processes today" said Bill Loving, president. "Joining the IPC-2581 Consortium helps promote this efficient new format that shortens the design-to-market manufacturing cycle through eliminating many common data-related production errors."

PCB Assembly operations may now use a single IPC-2581 file versus a conglomeration of files, such as Gerber, Drill, CAD centroid, etc., reducing the likelihood of surprises on the production floor. All data for manufacturing a PCB is in a single file. ScanCAD systems can import and export IPC-2581 as needed during the New Product Introduction (NPI) and first-article inspection process. Using these data, actual bare PCBs and stencils can be scanned and compared to each other and to CAD data prior to production, confirming their viability and eliminating down time, rework and scrap. In addition, first-article solder paste print and component placement inspection can be performed on the same system, all using one file.

Stencil fabricators can also use the same IPC-2581 file to streamline the process of creating & inspecting solder paste stencils & emulsion screens. The fabricator can import the file, extract and modify the key information needed for manufacturing as well as for the automatic inspection of the finished product.

ScanCAD is a provider of optical inspection, legacy re-engineering and process control tools for printed circuit board design, fabrication, assembly and semiconductor manufacturing.