DFM & Valor Services
FREEDOMCAD performs Valor DFM Services on all customer designs we ship. These reviews are done primarily through the use of ValorNPI software. As a supplement to the automated analysis, a visual check is done to review items not automatically checked.
Automated Valor DFM Checks
Netlist analysis
- All shorts and opens identified by net name
- Intentional shorts or opens need to be specified
Drill Checks
Note : Checks are based on finished hole sizes
- Minimum drill size
- Duplicate holes
- Touching holes
- Hole spacing
- Missing or extra holes
- Hole to board edge spacing
- Unique checks for backdrills
- Soldered PTH thermal connections
Signal Layer Checks
Note : Checks for inner and outer layers are separate. Line width and spacing values are unique to each job
- Line width and spacing
- Line/pad and pad/pad spacing
- Non-plated hole to copper spacing
- Copper to board edge spacing
- Via and plated hole annular ring
- Trace stubs
- Bottlenecks and slivers
Power/Ground Plane Checks
- Non-plated hole to copper spacing
- Via/plated hole pad to plane spacing
- Thermal relief connections (negative planes only)
- Plane spacing
- Copper to board edge clearance
- Via and plated hole annular ring/clipped holes
Soldermask checks
- Consistent clearance on pads (cleared or 1:1)
- Via mask – cleared, encroached, or tented
- Tented vias (unless specified as intentional)
- Mask coverage of adjacent features
- Board edge mask clearance
- Mask web/sliver width
- Missing mask openings
Solderpaste Checks
- Presence of paste on all SMT pads
- Size of paste matches SMT pad (1:1)
- Stray/misplaced paste shapes
Silkscreen checks (all checks related to text only)
- Silkscreen on via pads, SMT pads, PTH pads
- Silkscreen to board edge
- Silkscreen line width
- Silkscreen text height
- Silkscreen text overlapping
- Silkscreen under parts
- Reference designators misplaced/swapped
Fiducial Checks
- Minimum 3 fids on both sides
- Fiducial design (pad/mask size)
- Fiducials cleared from any copper or silkscreen
Manual Checks
Fab/Assembly drawings
- Breakaway or panelization recommendations
- Review notes for any inconsistencies, specs, etc.
- Review Drill tables for consistency with data
- Review fab dimensioning
- Review for part numbers, revs, dates, etc.
Design data
- Review board for pin 1 presence in silkscreen
- Review connections of small discretes for thermal connections
- General observations to identify unusual issues
- Unique Class 3 requirements