Using EXPRESS data modeling technique for PCB assembly analysis

Abstract

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is an electronic assembly consisting of many electronic parts on a circuit board. From design to assembly, a PCB has many related data that need to be recorded, retrieved and updated in a database to support its life-cycle activities. This research focuses on the data modeling of PCB assembly and its part definition, specifically to support PCB design-for-assembly (DFA) analysis. In the first step, the procedural hierarchy of PCB assembly processes is modeled using IDEF0 technique. Thus, the assemblability factors and the related PCB data considered in DFA analysis (particularly for insertion and soldering) are identified. For global information integration among PCB designers, manufacturers and users, this research develops an object-oriented (O-O) EXPRESS data model to define these required data for DFA analysis. Then, the implementation structure of an O-O engineering database using the defined data model is discussed. Finally, a PCB example is used to describe the data model at work. Overall, this research applies STEP enabling key-techniques including three layer architecture (i.e., application, logical, and physical layers) and O-O implementation methods to achieve the global product data integration for both data management and decision supports in PCB DFA realization.