DFM - Responsibilities
A survey of American board manufacturers and designers indicates that both groups tend to agree that DFM is primarily the responsibility of the designer. There does seem to be a differing opinions when it comes to functions such as adding fiducials, thieving or changing pad and drill sizes.
Both parties have to work together to ensure that a design is produced successfully. Whenever in doubt the best solution is always to work with your fabricator to define those areas that are critical to your design as well as to establish where each parties responsibility lies.
This survey was first published in Printed Circuit Design. Omni has decided to post
this as it clearly defines how the industry in general views DFM responsibility.
| Whose Point of View on Responsibility for DFM | Fabricators | Designers | ||||||
| Design | Fab | Both | Design | Fab | Both | |||
| Physical DRC | 73.3% | 6.7% | 20% | 96% | 2% | 0% | ||
| Trace Thinning | 73.3% | 26.7% | 65% | 28% | 0% | 7% | ||
| Change Pad Size | 60% | 33.3% | 6.7% | 93% | 4% | 2% | ||
| Change Drill Size | 53.3% | 40% | 6.7% | 91% | 9% | 0% | ||
| Move Traces | 86.7% | 0% | 13.3% | 98% | 2% | 0% | ||
| Move Vias | 100% | 96% | 4% | 0% | 100% | 0% | ||
| Fill Plane Areas | 93.3% | 6.7% | 91% | 2% | 4% | 2% | ||
| Add Thieving | 13.3% | 73.4% | 13.3% | 43% | 46% | 4% | ||
| Add Fiducals | 80% | 13.3% | 6.7% | 24% | 59% | 9% | ||
| Add Coupons | 6.7% | 80% | 13.3% | 70% | 20% | 11% | ||
| Add Fillets | 66.7% | 13.3% | 20% | 80% | 9% | 4% | ||
| Remove Unused Pads | 46.7% | 33.3% | 20% | 72% | 26% | 2% | ||
| Panelize | 20% | 80% | 0% | 22% | 61% | 15% | ||
| Make Panelized Drl File | 0% | 100% | 20% | 72% | 7% | 2% | ||
| Stretch InnerLayer Film | 6.7% | 93.3% | 7% | 72% | 0% | 22% | ||
| Clip SilkScreen | 40% | 53.3% | 6.7% | 35% | 50% | 0% | ||
| Test Point Extraction | 40% | 53.3% | 6.7% | 63% | 20% | 11% | ||