Catch tombstone risk before it reaches the oven
Tombstoning is one of those reflow defects that can look random on the shop floor, but in reality it often comes down to imbalance. Small SMT parts such as resistors and capacitors can lift off one pad when the two copper connections do not behave symmetrically during soldering.
PCB-Investigator’s Tombstone DFM Analysis plugin helps engineers detect these risky spots early in the design review phase. Instead of manually hunting for problematic parts, you get a structured list of components with potential tombstone risk.
Data your team can actually work with
The analysis highlights components where the pin connections differ too much and reports the deviation in both percentage and absolute values. It also includes the mounting side and package name, which makes it easier to prioritize review and understand the physical context of each issue.
For cross-team workflows, the output can be exported directly as an Excel, TXT, or HTML report. That means design, manufacturing, and quality teams can share the same findings without extra formatting work.
When pad balance changes, reflow behavior changes with it.
Better visibility for DFM decisions
The plugin also generates a hazard-area diagram that visualizes heat dissipation potential, giving you another layer of insight during evaluation. This makes the analysis not only more detailed, but also easier to communicate in technical reviews.
- Risk analysis for small 2-pin SMT components
- Deviation shown in percent and absolute values
- Export options for Excel, TXT, and HTML
- Hazard-area diagram for quick review
If you want a practical way to reduce tombstone risk in your DFM process, take a closer look at the plugin and test PCB-Investigator with its full set of extensions.
