Part of Obsolete Electronics Replacement & Redesign
PCB schematic and design data reconstruction: documentation you can repair, remanufacture or redesign from
Micro Digital Engineering reconstructs the design documentation of existing circuit boards: schematics, netlist, bill of materials and, when agreed, PCB layout and manufacturing data. The package is chosen for what you will do with it — repair and maintenance, remanufacturing, or redesign — built from the board itself and any documentation that still exists, and checked against the sample before handover.
Confidential task? We sign an NDA before you share technical files.
Which design documents can be reconstructed from an existing board?
Schematics, netlist and bill of materials can be reconstructed to the level supported by the available samples, component identification and agreed analysis methods. PCB layout, Gerber or ODB++ data, drill files and assembly data can be added when the board is to be manufactured again. The documents are chosen at the start, according to how the package will be used.
Packages by purpose
Repair and maintenance
Schematic, bill of materials with the status of each component, and a description of the main functions and supplies. Enough to diagnose, repair and service the board.
Remanufacturing
Everything in the maintenance package, plus PCB layout, Gerber or ODB++ and drill files, stack-up, assembly drawings and placement data, so that new boards can be ordered and assembled.
Input for redesign
Schematic, bill of materials with obsolete parts marked and possible alternatives, and the interface data a new design must keep. The redesign itself is obsolete electronics replacement or compatible replacement boards.
Documents and their use
| Document | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Schematic | Understanding, repair and redesign |
| Netlist | Checking connections and preparing the layout |
| Bill of materials | Purchasing; identifying obsolete parts |
| PCB layout | Remanufacturing the board |
| Gerber or ODB++ and drill files | Ordering bare boards |
| Assembly drawings and placement data | Assembly of new boards |
How the package is checked
- Netlist against the sample. The reconstructed connections are checked by continuity on the original board.
- Schematic against the netlist. Every connection in the schematic corresponds to the verified netlist.
- Bill of materials. Each part is checked for availability; obsolete and unidentified parts are marked.
- First boards, when agreed. For a remanufacturing package, first boards can be fabricated from the reconstructed data by a PCB manufacturing partner, assembled in-house and compared with the original on the bench using calibrated measurement equipment.
How this differs from related services
| Service | Main result |
|---|---|
| Schematic and design data reconstruction (this page) | A documentation package of the existing board, as it is |
| PCB reverse engineering | Understanding of how the board works |
| Obsolete electronics replacement | A redesigned, working replacement |
| PCB design | A new board designed from requirements |
What reconstruction does not promise
- An exact copy of every inner layer of a multilayer board: the layout is reconstructed to reproduce the verified connections, dimensions and connector positions, not necessarily the original copper geometry.
- The firmware of programmed devices: see firmware recovery and migration.
- Correction of the original design: the package documents the board as it is. Weaknesses found during the work are reported separately, as recommendations.
What’s included
Analysis of the board, reconstruction of the documents of the agreed package, identification of obsolete components with suggested alternatives, verification of the netlist against the sample, and a verification report. First boards built from the package, when agreed.
What you receive
| Deliverable | Format | How it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation package | Design files in the agreed format and PDF | Netlist compared with the sample |
| BOM with component status | Spreadsheet, obsolete and unidentified parts marked | Availability check at handover |
| Manufacturing data, for a remanufacturing package | Gerber or ODB++, drill files, stack-up, assembly data | Review against the manufacturer’s requirements |
| Verification report | Document | Description of the checks and their results |
| First boards, when agreed | Boards built from the package | Bench comparison with the original |
How the work runs
- You confirm that you own the equipment or are authorised to maintain it; the package and its use are agreed.
- The board and any existing documentation are analysed.
- Components are identified and connections traced into a netlist.
- The schematic and the other documents of the package are reconstructed.
- The package is checked against the sample.
- When agreed, first boards are built from the package and compared with the original.
- The package and the verification report are handed over.
What to send us
- One or two board samples; a spare that can be taken apart for multilayer boards.
- Any existing documentation, even incomplete.
- The intended use: maintenance, remanufacturing or redesign.
- Confirmation that you own the equipment or are authorised to maintain it.
Common questions
Can the reconstructed files be used to manufacture new boards?
Yes, if layout and manufacturing data are part of the agreed package. If components are obsolete, a redesign may be needed, see obsolete electronics replacement.
How do we know the package is correct?
The netlist is checked against the original board, and the schematic against the netlist. For remanufacturing, first boards built from the package can be compared with the original on the bench.
In which format are the files delivered?
The format is agreed at the start, so the files can be used in your tools or by your manufacturer.
What if the board contains a programmed microcontroller?
Reconstructing the hardware does not recover the firmware. See firmware recovery and migration.
Related services
- Obsolete electronics replacement — when the board has to be redesigned.
- PCB reverse engineering — analysis of the board’s function.
- Compatible replacement boards — form, fit and function replacement.
- PCB design — a new board based on the reconstructed design.
Discuss the documentation
Describe the board and what you need the documentation for.
Confidential task? We sign an NDA before you share technical files.