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Catch clearance risks before they become real failures In PCB development, it is easy to focus on routing, performance, and manufacturability. But for safety-critical designs, one of the most important questions is whether conductive elements are actually far enough apart.… Read more: Hazard Analysis for Safer PCB Layouts in Seconds

Make complex PCB data readable at a glance On dense boards, the ability to understand structure quickly is often the difference between efficient analysis and time-consuming inspection. That is exactly where Color Groups in PCB-Investigator adds value: it assigns colors… Read more: PCB-Investigator Color Groups for Faster PCB Review

When 2D PCB data is no longer enough PCB layouts often start and end as 2D data, but product development rarely stays in one dimension. Once enclosure design, mechanical integration, or cross-team approval comes into play, flat layout data can… Read more: 3D Export for PCB Layouts: STEP, OBJ and WebGL

Creepage Analysis: prevent safety issues before they reach production Once a PCB design moves above 30 V, creepage is no longer a theoretical compliance item. It becomes a practical safety requirement that can decide whether a design passes validation, meets… Read more: Creepage Analysis for Safer PCB Design

From first design to production readiness In PCB development, the visible layout is only part of the story. The details that determine quality and manufacturability often sit deeper in the design data: net definitions, lengths, impedances, change history, and safety-related… Read more: PCB-Investigator Developer Edition for Design Reviews

DFT Preparation that keeps test planning under control Test-program preparation is one of those tasks that can either stay structured—or turn into a bottleneck. Once DFT constraints, manufacturing rules, and multiple tester formats come into play, manual probe planning quickly… Read more: DFT Preparation for Faster, Smarter Test Planning

Catch thermal issues before the prototype stage In PCB development, thermal problems often surface too late—after layout is finalized, during bring-up, or once the first prototype is already on the bench. That is when changes become expensive and timelines start… Read more: PCB-Investigator Physics for Early Thermal Validation

PCB manufacturing slows down where systems stop talking to each other In many production environments, the biggest delays are not caused by the machines themselves, but by the handoffs between tools, formats, and departments. Data gets exported, checked, converted, and… Read more: Production Control for Smarter PCB Manufacturing

Why open data formats matter in electronics manufacturing In electronics manufacturing, project success is determined not only by the design itself, but also by the quality of the manufacturing data that is handed over. If CAD, CAM and production do… Read more: Open Data Formats for Reliable PCB Manufacturing

Keep everything in view from development to production When engineering, fabrication, and quality teams rely on separate tools, gaps appear quickly: duplicated checks, inconsistent data, and unnecessary risk during handover. PCB-Investigator Ultimate is designed to close that gap. It combines… Read more: PCB-Investigator Ultimate for PCB Development and Production

Why a design report matters in the PCB workflow In many development projects, time is lost not in the PCB design itself, but in follow-up questions, incomplete documentation, and unclear handoffs between design, fabrication, and production. That is exactly where… Read more: Design Report in PCB-Investigator for Faster PCB Documentation

Prepare production before errors become expensive In PCB manufacturing, success is not determined by design alone. It also depends on how well a layout can actually be produced. That is exactly where PCB-Investigator Fabrication comes in: it helps production planners,… Read more: PCB-Investigator Fabrication for Reliable PCB Production

The lean ECAD edition for PCB design review In many development projects, the winning approach is not the tool with the most features, but the one that helps teams make fast, reliable engineering decisions. That is exactly where PCB-Investigator Basic… Read more: PCB-Investigator Basic for Lean PCB Design Review

The full PCB workflow in one data environment What if your entire PCB workflow from first layout to production and test lived in one single environment? That is the core idea behind PCB-Investigator. The EasyLogix platform connects design, analysis, manufacturing,… Read more: PCB-Investigator: One Platform for the PCB Process

From scattered files to controlled digital workflows In electronics manufacturing, project success depends on more than just solid PCB design. The way production data, libraries, scripts, approvals, and coordination are managed can have a major impact on speed, traceability, and… Read more: PCBI 365: Central Data Management for PCB Manufacturing

See PCB test coverage gaps before they become production risks In electronics manufacturing, the critical question is not only whether a board was tested, but how complete that test coverage really is. The Test Coverage Report in PCB-Investigator answers that… Read more: Test Coverage Report for PCB Test Transparency

Stencil preparation should not depend on manual trial and error Stencil Generation in PCB-Investigator helps engineering and manufacturing teams create paste stencil data in a more structured and efficient way. In SMT production, stencil quality has a direct impact on… Read more: Stencil Generation for Smarter PCB Stencils

In PCB development, software capability is only part of the equation. Equally important is how easily the tool fits into daily work. That is where the PCB-Investigator license systems stand out: they offer several deployment models for teams, individual users,… Read more: License models that match real engineering workflows

Detect PCB changes before they slow down your review In PCB development, change tracking is one of the key factors that determines whether design reviews stay efficient or turn into a manual, error-prone task. When layout designers, PCB developers, and… Read more: PCB-Investigator Database Comparison for PCB Reviews

Detect tombstoning before it reaches the soldering line The tombstone effect is one of those manufacturing issues that can quietly turn into costly rework. Small SMT components such as resistors and capacitors may partially or fully lift from one pad… Read more: Tombstone DFM Analysis for Reflow-Safe PCB Design

Verify AOI inspectability before production Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is only as good as the visibility of the board design. If the camera cannot see every relevant pin or solder joint, inspection coverage drops—and the problem is often discovered too… Read more: AOI Analysis for PCB Designs: Catch Issues Early

Catch short-circuit risks before they reach fabrication In PCB design, the most dangerous issues are often not the obvious ones. Narrow clearances, exposed copper, uncoated drill holes, board-edge geometries, and contamination-sensitive areas can create short-circuit risks that are easy to… Read more: Hazard Analysis for PCB Short-Circuit Risk Detection

Turn BOM data into a reliable engineering workflow In PCB development, the bill of materials is more than a procurement document. If AVL and BOM data are incomplete, inconsistent, or not properly aligned with the CAD design, the result is… Read more: BOM Expert for Accurate AVL and BOM Validation

See PCB test coverage in one clear view How complete is your board test coverage, really? In many development and production environments, the answer is hidden across separate machine results, manual checks, and fragmented reports. The Test Coverage Report in… Read more: Test Coverage Report for Clear PCB Test Transparency

Why stencil analysis matters before production In PCB manufacturing, the paste printing step can make or break first-pass quality. If apertures are undersized, ratios are off, or the stencil thickness does not match the paste geometry, the result is often… Read more: Stencil Analysis in PCB Design: Catch Paste Issues Early

Manufacturability should be checked before the board reaches the fab A PCB can look perfectly fine on the screen and still create expensive questions in production. That is exactly where the Bare Board Analysis DRC in PCB-Investigator adds value: it… Read more: Bare Board Analysis DRC for PCB Manufacturability

Once a PCB design exceeds 30 V, strict safety standards apply. Minimum distances must be maintained between conductive elements to prevent leakage currents and dielectric breakdown. Standards such as DIN EN 60664 / VDE 0110, IPC‑2221A, and UL60950‑1 define these rules… Read more: Precise Creepage Analysis in PCB Design – Why It Matters and How PCB‑Investigator Automates It

Easter is all about discovering hidden surprises — so today, we’re sharing a few underrated features and shortcuts in PCB‑Investigator that even experienced PCB‑Investigator users may overlook. 🥚 1. Extra details in the Property Dialog If you enlarge the Property… Read more: 🥚 Easter Egg Edition: 6 Hidden PCB Tips in PCB-Investigator

Imagine instantly seeing the functional logic of your PCB—no filters, no hunting, no guesswork. That’s exactly what Color Groups in PCB‑Investigator deliver. The feature automatically groups components by type, first digit of the reference, or attributes such as PACKAGE_GROUP, each… Read more: Color Groups in PCB‑Investigator: Clear Visual Logic for PCB Analysis

🔍 Many of us analyze nets every day – but how often do we unlock their full potential?Anyone working with complex PCB designs knows that single‑net analysis can be slow, fragmented, and error‑prone. This is exactly why PCB‑Investigator’s Net Group… Read more: Net Groups: Structure and Clarity for Complex PCB Designs

When PCB analysis becomes complex, the quality of your reporting defines the quality of your decisions.Especially in multi‑team environments, you need transparent, in‑depth and well‑structured results. The Extended Design Report in PCB‑Investigator consolidates all relevant analysis outputs into one clean,… Read more: Accurate PCB Insights with the Extended Design Report

For many experts, that’s the crucial step toward making internal processes truly efficient. With the ability to develop your own plug-ins and libraries and integrate them directly into PCB Investigator, you can take automation and customization to an entirely new… Read more: What if you could extend PCB Investigator entirely on your own terms – no workarounds, no limits?

When machine formats turn into a daily challenge, one thing becomes essential: rock‑solid reliability in every export. In today’s manufacturing environments, data has to be complete and perfectly structured for each machine — whether AOI, AXI, SPI, or pick‑and‑place. With… Read more: Flexible Machine Format Exports with PCB Investigator

The more complex the requirements, the more important it is to choose the right edition.PCB‑Investigator offers specialized versions for different roles – and this overview shows exactly which edition is designed for which technical focus. 🔹 Basic EditionThe essential core… Read more: PCB‑Investigator Editions Explained: Choose the Version That Fits Your Workflow

When every millisecond in your production flow matters, one thing becomes critical: uncompromising precision in component placement. With the Component Analysis tool in PCB‑Investigator, you can instantly detect components that may cause soldering or assembly issues. The plug‑in offers precise… Read more: PCB‑Investigator Component Analysis – Precise DFM Checks for Reliable Manufacturing

🔍 How quickly can you truly access every relevant detail about your components?Many teams still rely on spreadsheets, screenshots, or scattered documents. But anyone working with complex electronics knows: component documentation must be clear, color‑coded, structured, and repeatable—otherwise issues arise… Read more: Clearer PCB Documentation: The Component Report in PCB‑Investigator

Which license model fits your team? In engineering workflows, efficiency depends not only on the software itself, but also on the right license model. PCB-Investigator offers three distinct systems: SOD, Floating, and Dongle. Each one is designed for a different… Read more: PCB-Investigator License Systems Explained

Many defects do not originate during soldering – they arise much earlier, when components or pins are simply not visible to the AOI camera. Wrong angle, blocked sightline, a tiny shadow … and the error slips through inspection. This is… Read more: 🔍 Is your AOI process really able to see everything?

Ever noticed that the test points you need most are always the ones missing? 🔍 Anyone working in DFT or manufacturing knows this pain. The Testpoint Report in PCB‑Investigator gives you complete transparency across all test points—by net, by layer,… Read more: Accurate Test Point Analysis with the PCB‑Investigator Testpoint Report

Effective Tools for Modern PCB Design In the fast-paced electronics industry, efficiency is critical. An outdated BOM management system can slow processes and lead to errors. How can we overcome these challenges? The Problem with Traditional BOMs Traditional BOM management… Read more: Optimizing PCB Design with Virtual BOM Export

🔥 Many tests performed – but do you really know what was tested?If you’re working in electronics manufacturing, you know the challenge: multiple machines, different results – but how complete is the actual test coverage of your assembly? This is… Read more: Maximum Test Coverage with the PCB‑Investigator Test Coverage Report

Ever lost valuable time because a component wasn’t connected the way you expected?With Component Connection Analysis, you instantly see what’s really going on. If you handle complex layouts, sensitive nets, or EMC‑critical designs, you know one thing for sure:Reliable, pin‑level… Read more: Component Connection Analysis: Deep Electrical Insight for EMC‑Critical PCB Designs

We continue to improve PCB‑Investigator – and the newest beta brings a wide range of enhancements and new capabilities. ✨ New Features & Improvements:• Improvements to the BOM Expert• Optimized STEP Export• Extended AI MCP Services• New Dimension Note Arrow… Read more: New Beta Version Available: PCB‑Investigator V17.1.0 Beta 8!

How much untapped potential hides in your current panel layout? Anyone working with production panels daily knows: true efficiency comes from full control — every step, every spacing rule, every placement decision. The Panel Builder in PCB Investigator delivers exactly… Read more: Efficient Panel Creation with the Panel Builder in PCB Investigator

In high‑speed designs, every geometry detail matters. Yet even experienced engineers lose time when switching tools or calculating impedances externally. The PCB‑Investigator Impedance Calculator gives you IPC‑2151‑based precision directly inside your layout environment – fast, reliable, and context‑aware. You get… Read more: Still wrestling with impedance calculations – when it could be done in seconds?

A consistent, automated stencil workflow can be the deciding factor between error‑prone production and high‑performance efficiency – especially with complex packages like BGAs, SOICs or fine‑pitch chips. 1. Efficient Stencil Preparation The Stencil Area Editor in PCB‑Investigator lets you define… Read more: 🚨 Are you sure your stencil data prep is truly production‑ready?

The tombstone effect is far from a marginal issue for experienced SMT and DFM teams. It occurs when the two pads of a 2‑pin component have thermally or geometrically asymmetric connections, resulting in uneven heat dissipation during the reflow process.… Read more: Tombstone Analysis in PCB‑Investigator: Identify Risks Early and Prevent SMT Defects

The Net List feature in PCB‑Investigator gives you instant clarity on your PCB.It shows how many objects belong to a net, which layers it spans, and provides a quick visual check of all electrical connections. With tools like Multi Select,… Read more: Net List Visualization Made Easy: Greater Clarity with PCB‑Investigator

PCB quality assurance doesn’t start in production — many issues originate in the layout phase. This is exactly where the AOI analysis in PCB‑Investigator delivers maximum value. With the integrated 2D and 3D AOI simulations, you can detect early in… Read more: No Blind Spots: AOI Analysis for Perfect PCBs

DFM is not just another pre‑production checkpoint. For experienced hardware engineers, it’s a critical part of a robust design‑review workflow. With the DFM Analysis Plugin in PCB‑Investigator, manufacturing‑critical parameters can be validated directly inside the layout environment—rule‑driven, detailed and fully… Read more: DFM Done Right: Catch Problems Before They Hit Production