Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/898297
58 The PCB Magazine • November 2017 INDUSTRY 4.0, AI AND CIRCUITDATA within a set of rules. As AI slowly learns these rules, it helps humans to make sense of it. Grad- ually, as the intelligence expands, it replaces humans altogether. Integr8tor by Ucamco is an example of this. Although it could be argued that this is not actual intelligence—just a set of algorithms and code—it replaces humans in building understanding. There are a num- ber of other examples of software tools that do the same thing or performs related tasks; there will be more and they will become better. They won't take your job, but instead, they will sim- ply allow you to be more efficient. For them to replace humans, they need to step it up and in- tegrate with other systems, and the confidence in them needs to grow. This will happen; hun- dreds of developers are already working on it. In this chaos of formats, languages and dia- lects, AI is not the only path to choose, and it is not an "all or nothing" choice. CircuitData is an open source project that uses standardisation to replace brain power. A Substantial Challenge My colleague, Jan Pedersen, senior techni- cal advisor, has more than 40 years in printed circuits, receiving each week numerous files with manufacturing data. The pattern is quite repetitive, and not in a good way. There is one substantial challenge that keeps coming back: insufficient—or even totally wrong—article specifications. When he receives manufacturing data from 10 customers, he often gets 10 different ways to present and explain what's asked for. Tolerances are expressed differently. Fabrication drawings are explained differently. Solder mask is called green mask or even green oil. Component no- tation is called legend, silk-screen, silk layer or something else. We can live with a different word, but not a missing requirement! We have decided to challenge the world and improve this issue. We have started to create a standard PCB specification, a new language to share information. We are offering this new standard—or language—as an open source to the PCB industry. It is free of charge and will be a valuable source of information for any PCB designer, user or not. A Language in Addition to, not Instead of So, what does CircuitData do? To begin with, it aims to be a supplement to the files that are currently used, such as Gerbers, ODB++ and IPC-2581, so that all aspects of manufactur- ing not provided are resolved. As the standard evolves, we want it to replace the need for trans- mitting the files throughout the supply chain. This can be done by providing the different par- ties with only the information they need, and leave the exchanging of files to the first and last part of a set supply chain—the OEM and the manufacturer. But, as with all free and community-driven projects, the value of the language increases simultaneously as the number of contributors and users rises. It needs to be developed, main- tained and fueled like an old and beloved sports car. Because communicating PCB specifications is a dialog, not a monolog. It requires several pieces of information to come together so that all the facts are presented correctly. But the specifications are just part of what is needed; they need to fit with profiles (requirements) and capabilities. To use the format, you start out by reading the documentation. Then you prepare your in- ternal systems to be able to send and receive this kind of information. Over time, we believe that there will be several systems available that will help you utilise the format. Another way to use the language is to specify profiles. Profiles are meant to replace the current way of exchanging PDFs with "re- quirements." The current method involves " For them to replace humans, they need to step it up and integrate with other systems, and the confi- dence in them needs to grow. This will happen; hundreds of developers are already working on it. "