Sherlock Automated Design Analysis™ Software: Real-World Reliability

WHy Choose Sherlock?

There’s no room for mediocrity in quality, reliability and durability solutions for the electronics industry when every reliability percentage point can potentially cost millions of dollars. Any compromise in the electronics reliability analysis tools used means compromised results. A plugin or limited-scope software may provide raw data or basic validation tests, but not true reliability analysis that leverages knowledge and understanding of the processes and mechanisms that induce failure in order to improve product performance.

Developed by reliability experts, Sherlock Automated Design Analysis™ software is the only proven reliability testing tool available in the electronics industry that offers a complete analysis suite (solder fatigue, PTH, CAF, etc.) that can detect and address reliability issues in the design phase -- leading to accurate outcomes and substantial cost savings.

Sherlock’s robust modeling, testing and results remain unparalleled in producing highly reliable, real-world outcomes our customers trust and confidently put their time, money and reputation behind.

Modeling

Sherlock PCB modeling capabilities have been developed over nearly a decade and meet the needs of users performing comprehensive reliability analysis. The four PCB models supported allow users to decide for themselves how to trade off simulation time and modeling precision, and how to leverage Sherlock capabilities to:

• Accurately represent material properties across X, Y and Z board dimensions and automatically generate material definitions based on the stack-up data extracted from PCB design files.
• Customize and construct detailed trace modeling on any PCB layer using design file data to meet project- or need-specific analyses. Users are able to customize the trace models to eliminate unnecessary features that increase analysis time but don’t change results.
• Simplify models by including only parts and pins required for particular needs, reducing times and allowing for manageable analysis, even on boards typically considered too large to analyze.
• Precisely control the meshing algorithms used to construct manageable 3D analysis models, down to desired element size, shape and other parameters. Users can choose between the Sherlock meshing algorithm optimized for PCB, part and pin modeling, or the native meshing algorithm provided by the FEA engine being used. In all cases, Sherlock automatically builds the desired model based solely on user inputs.

Testing

Sherlock supports both harmonic and random vibration analysis -- both of which are important to understand the damage caused by vibrations on a PCB. Sherlock allows users to:

• Define industry-standard vibration loads for application during testing and precise frequency profiles and angles at which loads affect the PCB -- inputs that identically simulate traditional HALT testing, thereby reducing both errors and the level of expertise required for translation of simulated-to-real-world testing.
• Run batch tests using a set of vibration or acceleration inputs, then automatically generate an analysis. Sherlock stores the results and assesses the total damage experienced by all the parts and the PCB and determines a predicted lifetime.
• Perform many hours of hands-off analysis, including facilitation of multiple and overnight analysis runs.

Results

Sherlock provides users with a complete set of results that includes:

• Maximum displacements and strains seen by every part.
• A precise score based on a range of part and modeling properties.
• Automatically calculated industry-standard lifetime prediction results for each part, each sub-assembly and the entire PCB.
• A complete analysis report in a customizable, downloadable PDF format that contains analysis inputs, raw data and accurate results based on user-selected information.

Versatile, dynamic and developed by top reliability experts, Sherlock Automated Design Analysis™ software is the only name you need to know for electronics reliability testing. Work with the industry leaders for uncompromised results. Contact DfR Solutions today.