The Design for Test (DFT) Tool in FixturFab Studio requires an IPC-D-356 file exported from your circuit board design tool. This guide explains the format and provides export instructions for popular ECAD software.
What is IPC-D-356?#
IPC-D-356 is an industry standard for transmitting bare board electrical test information digitally. The specification encompasses a data format for transmitting bare board electrical test information in digital form, including data suitable for computer-aided repair.
The format is ASCII-based and contains:
- Netlist information
- X/Y coordinates
- Reference designators
- Pin numbers
This universal support across design tools makes it ideal for test fixture creation.
Export Instructions by ECAD Tool#
KiCad#
- Set the Drill/File Origin from the right toolbar (position at bottom left of PCB)
- Navigate to File → Fabrication Outputs → IPC-D-356 Netlist File
- Save to desired location
Altium Designer#
- Open your PCB document
- Navigate to File → Assembly Outputs → Test Point Report or use the IPC-D-356A output generator
- Configure output settings as needed
- Generate and save the file
For detailed instructions, consult Altium's documentation on generating IPC-D-356A documents.
File Verification#
Before uploading to Studio, verify your IPC-D-356 file:
- File should be plain text (ASCII format)
- Contains coordinate data for test points
- Includes net names and reference designators
Next Steps#
Once exported, upload your IPC-D-356 file to FixturFab Studio to generate your DFT Report. The tool will analyze your design and identify optimal test points for fixture development.
For support with file exports, contact hello@fixturfab.com.