Spacing Synthesizer is a 2-D and 3-D routing checker for high voltage PCBs such as those carrying power supply circuits or boards designed for intrinsically safe applications.

Where voltages over 60V appear on a multilayer PCB, designers are challenged to ensure adequate separation of signal paths in the x, y and z dimensions of the board. This is particularly important where the board is to be used in environments that demand safe performance, for example on oil rigs and in mines, where insulation breakdown between layers can cause hazardous sparking. The traditional way of making the z-axis checks is manual, often taking up to six weeks to check a typical 4-layer board. This task has been reduced to a few minutes with a tool that works within the PCB design suite from Zuken.

Enables engineers to assign groups of signals, and the distance between signals of the same or a different group, from within the system schematic during the design process. The signal groups can then be visualized in different colors. A distance-matrix is automatically created that shows the design rules required.

By automating the checking process, human error is largely eliminated and board integrity with respect to conductor spacing is assured. In addition, variations in board fabrication process can be taken into account, the 3-D check being adjustable for varying board thicknesses and design rule exceptions.

Zuken USA Inc., zuken.com