inspectAR FAQ

We take in PCB design information and then match that to calibration images of a PCB sample using augmented reality. Our software uses this to determine the position of the PCB in the real world, and through our unique augmented reality format we can match your overlays directly into the board is if it was still inside your EDA tool.

A project is a unique PCB design (sometimes called artwork). inspectAR accepts either a manufacturing output (IPC2581B) from most EDA’s, or native layout files for simpler designs (Eagle, KiCAD, Altium).

We take in PCB design information and then match that to calibration images of a PCB sample using augmented reality. Our software uses this to determine the position of the PCB in the real world, and through our unique augmented reality format we can match your overlays directly into the board is if it was still inside your EDA tool.

For mobile versions (Android and iOS) this is easy, your device’s onboard camera will be used, it must be rear-facing and at least 8MP.  For desktop, we recommend a 4k web camera with full UVC controls. The Logitech Brio will fit the bill. Any other web camera will work if it is 1080p minimum, the drawback of lower resolution is less zoom to view small & fine pitch components clearly.

Projects made through inspectAR are stored on the Cadence cloud.

Yes & yes. We are backed by the industry’s largest electronics design software provider. Our cloud is deployed on the industry's largest IaaS providers with oversight from Cadence’s IT Security team. Read about our cloud security here.

No, unfortunately! There is no automated optical inspection (AOI) capability within inspectAR. Those first article inspections to check for component rotations during board bring up are still going to be necessary but will be significantly augmented with inspectAR seeing 25%+ efficiency improvements. Plus, recording problems when they occur is easier than ever, you can take an image with full design information connected.

Yes! You can create markups locally from within the tool and attach them to the design. Other metadata such as files, comments, and more can be embedded to locations on the PCB itself.h We have a full integration to the Allegro PCB Editor which allows instructions to be communicated directly through the design tool and then run within inspectAR.

Files can be added to any component or net in the design and tying measurements to their respective net is very helpful.

Yes, this relies on our calibration step, where you match up the board outline you designed with the real-world PCB. Calibrations will need to be repeated when ~30% of the boards surface area changes (due to the assembly of components, epoxy, burns, or whatever!). No matter what condition or stage of production your design is in, you can still make it work with inspectAR.

Lighting can have a big impact if it causes glare. The best setting is soft, diffused light instead of direct light. For example, a lamp pointing away from the PCB at a wall would be better than a lamp pointing directly at it. Glare in a known orientation can be accounted for with a specific calibration for that orientation.

Yes!