In this article, let’s continue to introduce the second check: DFM check.
DFM Check(Design for Manufacture Ability)
DFM check, or Design for Manufacture ability, is an analysis process conducted after the completion of PCB design. It utilizes real three-dimensional component models and simulates actual manufacturing processes to conduct a comprehensive review of PCB and PCBA. The aim of this process is to identify design flaws, insufficiencies, process difficulties, manufacturing risks, and mismatch factors between design and process before production. Through DFM checks, it ensures that the design fully complies with manufacturing capabilities, thereby reducing the number of product pilot runs, reducing production costs, and enhancing product reliability.
DRC and DFM checks are two essential inspection steps at different stages of the PCB design process, each playing an indispensable role.
DRC is primarily used to ensure that PCB designs do not violate preset design specifications and constraints. It is a basic requirement for PCB design, but meeting DRC does not necessarily mean that the design meets manufacture ability requirements.
In contrast, DFM serves as a bridge between PCB design and manufacturing processes. It belongs to the category of process design and can reveal mismatch factors between design and manufacturing processes, and assess manufacturing difficulty and risks, which are areas not covered by DRC in PCB design software.
There is no conflict between DFM and DRC; they address different problems, are in different stages, and have different ultimate goals. Therefore, their differences are quite distinct.
