DFM HealthCheck by ASM

What this white paper is about

Currently, stencil manufacturers do not adequately test the designs they receive from their customers for manufacturability because most checks are purely visual. The printer platforms and process parameters, which will be used on the manufacturing line, are often not considered. As a result, design flaws only become apparent when the actual production starts. At that stage, correcting the design and making new stencils cost a lot of time and money.

To overcome these challenges, technology leader ASM, the world’s largest manufacturer of stencils, has introduced DFM HealthCheck, a completely new method of testing stencil designs. Before the stencil is manufactured, DFM HealthCheck runs virtual prints based on the stencil’s Gerber data while also taking into account the planned process parameters.

ASM’s expert system identifies areas that could jeopardize a reliable printing process and recommends printing and process parameters that ensure a more stable printing process. Developers can use this ASM tool to not only check their stencil designs but also the analysis of any interactions between stencil and process designs. As a result, designs that are unsuitable for a stable printing process no longer go into production. The result: “First time right” for stencil and process designs.

This white paper describes the unique technology of DFM HealthCheck, explains concrete customer cases of design checks, and shows how developers can use this tool, also offered as a service when ordering a stencil at ASM, to save time and money.