Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1535183
46 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2025 are not omniscient. When designers rely solely on tool defaults or outdated internal guide- lines, they risk sidelining the real-world exper- tise and capabilities of their CAM engineering counterparts from EMS, test, and fabrication. So, how do we bridge the gap between PCB Design Barbie Land and reality? Recognize the Illusion of Perfection in CAD Tools Like Barbie Land, where everything seems flawlessly ideal on the surface, many PCB design tools present a polished, push-button experience that feels like a perfect world. But when those outputs hit the factory floor, that veneer cracks. is happens when a PCB designer plays make-believe with the soware, not really knowing what geometric values will cause a PCB supplier's processing capability to max out. Address the Misalignment Between CAD and CAM PCB design isn't just about creating pretty layouts—it's about communication. CAM engineers don't just need Gerber, ODB++, or IPC- 2581 files; they need clarity, context, and completeness. When designers blindly fol- low tool defaults or corpo- rate templates, they may inadvertently ignore crucial manufacturing constraints or omit vital industry standards- based class specification and documentation. Time for the Real Experts to Speak Up Let's be honest, manufac- turing and test engineers are oen treated like background characters in the PCB world, much like some of the Kens in the "Barbie" movie. ey're helpful, supportive, but ultimately sidelined. Meanwhile, the spotlight stays firmly on PCB designers handing down their so-called "best practices" like commandments from Barbie Land. But in the real world, it's the manufacturing, CAM, test, and assembly engineers who make or break a PCB. ey live and breathe the con- sequences of our design decisions, and yet, their expertise is rarely featured in our indus- try publications. Worse still, when they are quoted, it's oen through the lens of someone else—a designer, a manager, or a marketer. Not them directly. Some PCB design "influencers" like to opine, "My fab shop just loves it when I do this [insert outdated or generalized design trick here]." Please. We don't need more Barbie Land design tips masquerading as universal truths. We need real insights from the factory floor— the gritty, imperfect, but incredibly valuable knowledge that comes from actually building and testing these boards every day. at means hearing directly from CAM engineers, test technicians, assembly leads, and floor manag-