Can We Trust Third-Party Libraries?

摘要

Can third-party libraries be trusted? This question arises occasionally during design team meetings. Third-party libraries are default libraries in the library tools, the standard libraries included with design software, and any libraries provided from a customer or vendor. This is not an ad for or against library tools. There are a few well-written tools for managing and building libraries. Footprint accuracy is the single most destructive mistake a layout designer or engineer can make. What are some of the factors that lead to footprints being built slightly differently? 1. Component specifications are not standardized. 2. Footprint drawings are not always to scale. 3. Specifications drawn from a bottom view as opposed to a top view. 4. Components that do not fit the manufacturer's recommended footprint. 5. Unclear controlling dimensions.