Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1417991
78 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2021 why Gerber is sticking around, despite the fact that the newer formats may offer some effi- ciency gains for the users. Patel: Yes, ODB++ is definitely easier for most customers in terms of output, and it's just what it is. Whatever they output is what they're going to get. But I believe there's some risk of missing data errors if it's ODB++, but you know what, I've never run into any issues, especially with customers frequently send- ing IPC net list files to compare data. So, who knows? Matties: But from your point of view, it's one or all, it doesn't matter. Patel: So far, so good. Either way. Flexibility, to me, seems more important. We should be ready for anything, rather than asking for something specific. Nolan Johnson: Sunny, I think I heard you say that you're using the Ucamco soware in your CAM department? Patel: Yes. Johnson: And Ucamco is also the owner of the Gerber file format. Patel: Exactly. So I may be a little biased there. Johnson: Well, there's that, but really the gist of my question is: How well does that soware handle the other formats like ODB++ and 2581? Patel: ere are no issues with ODB++. I haven't handled enough 2581 files to really make a decision. Johnson: When your CAM department is pro- cessing the different files, is there a preparation efficiency discrepancy between the different file formats? Patel: I haven't seen anything like that; I guess our pre-CAM soware helps with all those things. So, I can't tell you if the soware is working harder or not, but we seem to be doing alright. Matties: Your input is really valuable on this topic. I can't tell you how much we appreciate your experience from actually using these for- mats. We hear a lot of anecdotal information along the way, but to have your voice, using all of these, is really helpful for us. Andy Shaughnessy: Sunny, would you have any advice or any thoughts about the file formats? Patel: Everyone likes their own way of doing things at the end of the day. Shaughnessy: at seems to be the thing. We talked to people who just absolutely love Ger- ber or ODB or 2581. Is it really a problem to have these multiple formats? Does there have to be a "winner" out of all of this? Patel: I think it's like Apple and Android, or USB 3.0 and underbolt. Everyone is going to talk about it until something changes or something new actually unifies everything, I suppose. Matties: Well, it's interesting because one of the things that we hear from some designers is that they're not going to change unless they're forced to change, or they find that it makes their life easier. Patel: A lot easier. I don't think any file format right now has an extreme advantage. If it did, then it would be changing right now. Johnson: I think we've covered everything. Sunny, that was awesome. ank you. Patel: ank you all. DESIGN007