How to identify if internal layers of PCB are plane layers or signal layers?

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nagaraju.raju

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I have a Physical board, i need to prepare schematic & layout file for physical board, the board has 4 layers (Top & Bottom, 2 Internal Plane layers).

Please suggest how to identify internal layers are plane layers or Signal layers.

Please suggest steps.

Please find below steps has i followed

1.>First i need to identify the components on the board[BOM is required].

2.>Refer the technical specs of the components find the Pin numbers, connections with the physical board.

3.>Prepare the schematics.

4.>Prepare the footprints.

5.>Generate the Netlist & import.

6.>Placement & routing.

7.>Gerber Verification & Release.
 

Re: Reverse Engineering PCB

Why don't you design your own board instead of stealing someone else's?
 

Re: Reverse Engineering PCB

barry said:
Why don't you design your own board instead of stealing someone else's?
Click to expand...

I am not sure whether we can call it as "stealing" without actually knowing what exactly is the intention. There can be several reasons in reverse engineering a board. For eg:- to reproduce a board of which the layout files are not available.


By the way, replicating the circuit of a multilayer board is a little difficult. It all depends on the knowledge you have on the functionality of the circuitry of that board and the types of components onboard.
 

Re: Reverse Engineering PCB

No Schematic? No artwork? No BOM? No knowledge about how to create a board other than going on a public forum looking for advice?

If it looks like a duck, and it swims like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

I could be wrong, but it sure sounds suspicious to me.
 

Please suggest how to identify internal layers are plane layers or Signal layers.
Click to expand...
In case of a four layer board: Look sharp.
 

You can make X-ray of the PCB or use metod pictured below (grinding):
https://www.steve-m.de/pictures/pirelli_dpl10/

I forgot to mentioned there is some software which can help you with that:
Easy-Pc
Pulsonix
Altium - **broken link removed**
Eagle - there is some script (cmd-net-list2sch) - but I never use it
Target 3001! - https://server.ibfriedrich.com/wiki/ibfwikien/index.php?title=Reverse_Engineering

Last one I saw on Electronica expo in Munich but after 2 years it seems it's not available yet
 
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