The critical reasons why Gerber viewers help a PCB designer enhance his or her design and verify the accuracy of printed circuit boards include the following. Gerber files are standard file formats that represent the important information on the layout of a PCB design, including layers and components comprising a circuit board. The designer can visualize his designs in a clear and organized manner with the help of a Gerber viewer and is then capable of determining any potential issues before manufacturing begins.
Another big advantage with the use of Gerber viewer is that design error detection can be done at an earlier stage of the process. It has been estimated that early detection and correction of errors at the design stage can save up to 30% of the production cost. In a Gerber viewer, layer-to-layer alignment, trace widths, and pad sizes can be visually checked by the designer. This capability ensures the final product is to design specification and avoids costly manufacturing mistakes that can come from misalignments or incorrect dimensions.
Another reason why PCB designers make much use of these utilities is efficiency in collaboration, both with team members and manufacturers. A Gerber viewer provides an easy way to share designs with stakeholders who may not have access to specialized PCB design software. The collaborative approach minimizes communication and allows for faster feedback, thus shrinking the design cycle. In today’s industry, time-to-market is of primary importance: even saving a few days in design can mean significant competitive advantages.
Moreover, most Gerber viewers have some advanced features that allow designers to review their designs for DFM. Such capabilities include DFM checks that enable the designer to confirm that their layouts follow the manufacturing capabilities. Such checks will outline inadequate spacing between traces or pad sizes that are too small to allow assembly. By finding and fixing such issues early on, designers enhance manufacturability, thereby increasing yields and reducing scrap rates.
The online Gerber viewers are increasingly in vogue these days, as the technology keeps on upgrading. These web-based applications are very easy to access from anywhere and enable designers to review their file structure by being more flexible and productive. For instance, inspecting with the help of a free online Gerber viewer will save time and resources without having to install any software for that matter.
As the great engineer and entrepreneur Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” A gerber viewer ensures that the design indeed works effectively and at all specifications. Go to gerber viewer for a reliable, easy-to-use Gerber viewer.