Visual Systems Engineering simulates circuit boards in 3D to test them before manufacture.
Visual Systems Engineering (VSE), a spin-out from Iowa University, has developed a simulation software with an interactive and immersive 3D environment for printed circuit boards. The software is able to test manufacturability, design effectiveness, virtual performance and reliability.
VSE is releasing Preview – Predictive Environment for Visualization of Electromechanical Virtual Validation – for beta testing to several large government contractors this month. The contractors, due to confidentiality restrictions, are undisclosed.
Preview consists of three aspects. First, it coordinates various analysis tools and design activities across companies and thus improves efficiency. Design process reduces the number of design cycles from three to one, saving $40,000 on average. Testing is automated and can identify the root cause of a product failure in a virtual environment, reducing costs by up to 30%.
Circuit boards can be found in any modern product that uses electricity, from mobile phones to missiles. The most common fault customers experience is overheating or product recall. Currently, circuit boards are tested in 2D throughout multiple design cycles, and each cycle costs between $100,00 to $500,000.
VSE was previously awarded $100,000 from the Wellmark Venture Capital and Economic Development Programme. That money is now being used to launch the beta testing of its platform.
Tim Marler, co-founder of VSE, said: “I want to make circuit boards sexy.”
