Artwork Joins IPC2581 Consortium


October 1, 2011


Santa Cruz, CA - Artwork Conversion announces that it is joining the IPC 2581 consortium and will develop an IPC2581 reader that will bolt together with several of our translation engines used by electronic designers.

Supporting IPC2581 will enable our customers and OEM partners to work with any type of intelligent board data files that their customers require of them.

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Once the reader is completed and tested Artwork will be able to offer the following outputs from IPC2581:


    GDSII Stream

    Gerber RS274X and Excellon Drill

    High Resolution Raster output (TIFF/BMP) for photoplotters and inspection equipment

    Micronic's MIC Format

    AutoCAD's DXF Format

    Artwork's 3Di (3D) Format and Companion Converter to SolidWorks

    Ansoft's (now Ansys) Neutral File (ANF) and Component File

    Agilent's ADFI format (for import into ADS Layout)

    AWR's Layout and Microwave Simulator


Development of the 2581 parser will be completed in Q1 2012 and first translators using the IPC2581 front end will be available 30 days thereafter.

Because of our extensive experience in handling intelligent databases such as ODB++ and our experience in extracting nets, components and writing out formats for a wide range of simulation and design tools we expect to be able to turn around a set of products quickly and efficiently.



About IPC-2581 Consortium

IPC-2581 Consortium is a group of PCB design and supply chain companies whose collective goal is to enable, facilitate and drive the use of IPC-2581 in the industry. It is devoted to accelerating the adoption of IPC-2581 as an open, neutrally maintained global standard to encourage innovation, improve efficiency and reduce costs. Members of the IPC-2581 Consortium include OEMs, EDA/DFM/CAM software companies, PCB fabricators, electronics assemblers and test companies. The Consortium is open to any PCB design and supply chain company that is prepared to support or is committed to a roadmap for IPC-2581 adoption.

More information can be found at www.ipc-2581.com

For a history of data transfer formats, their origins and current status see A Short History of Electronic Data Formats.

Links to other articles:

Equipping the PCB Design and Supply Chain with 21st Century Data, by Keith Felton and Hemant Shah, Printed Circuit Design and Fabrication, 28 July 2011

Users Updating, Adopting IPC Data Transfer Spec by Mike Buetow, Printed Circuit Design and Fabrication, 24 June 2011 Intelligent Design, by Mike Buetow, www.pcdandf.blogspot.com, 2 August 2011


About IPC-2581

IPC-2581 is a generic standard for printed circuit board assembly products' manufacturing description data and transfer methodology. Developed in 2004 by IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industry, IPC-2581 is used for transmitting information between a printed circuit board designer and a manufacturing or assembly facility. For nearly every step in the industrial process flow, IPC-2581 offers a standard to help companies ensure superior manufacturability, quality, reliability and consistency in electronics assemblies built for their products. To learn more about IPC-2581, please visit webstds.ipc.org/2581/2581intro.htm



For more information about Artwork's IPC2581 roadmap or to collaborate with Artwork in this effort please contact:


Steve DiBartolomeo

Applications Manager

831 426-6163

Steve DiBartolomeo