Altium implements ODB++ interfaces in P-CAD PCB products

24 April 2002 Design Automation

Valor Computerized Systems, a global leader in providing productivity software solutions, and Altium, a leading developer of Windows-based electronic design and development software, have announced that Altium has joined Valor's Open Systems Alliance (OSA) partnership program in order to develop proven ODB++ interfaces for its PCB products.

ODB++ is the Valor-funded advanced EDA/CAD to CAM data exchange format which has quickly become the format of choice for high-level data exchange. It is now used by thousands of OEM and Contract Electronic Manufacturers (CEM) sites worldwide, according to the companies. In response to customer demand, Altium decided to provide its customers with ODB++ interfaces in its P-CAD and CAMtastic! products.

"The growing levels of customer demand that we are experiencing is evidence that Valor's ODB++ file format is fast becoming an emerging industry standard," says Matthew Schwaiger, director of product management at Altium. "We want to give our customers the advantage of access to this more 'intelligent' file format which will provide our customers with efficient integration of their electronic design and manufacturing environments, and will eliminate many causes of manufacturing failures - such as data integrity and transfer issues. This will result in the benefits of reduced prototype iterations, increased accuracy of testing, and shorter set-up times and product release cycles."

With the direct input of ODB++ into the downstream Design For Manufacturing (DFM), engineering collaboration, and CAM processes, Altium PCB CAD users will have the complete functionality to automatically deliver relevant design data from their Altium tools quickly and easily into the manufacturing stages of the product realisation cycle, without loss of design data integrity.

ODB++ allows for the complete elimination of Gerber, Excellon, netlist and component placement files for manufacturing data transfer, with consequent reduction in manufacturing-level engineering costs, and improved quality and cycle times.

For further information contact EDA Technologies, 012 653 3323.

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