Recover complete, manufacturing-ready design files from any physical board — schematic, Gerber, netlist and BOM. From a single sample to full PCB duplication.
PCB reverse engineering is the process of recovering the original design data from a finished printed circuit board when the source files are lost, obsolete, or were never supplied. By carefully analysing a physical sample, an engineer rebuilds the documentation needed to understand, repair, modify, or re-manufacture the board.
The work captures every electrical detail of the board — the copper routing on each layer, the connections between components, the drilled holes, and the parts fitted to it. The result is a clean, editable design package rather than a one-off physical object you cannot change.
Teams turn to pcb reverse engineering when a legacy product must stay in production, when a supplier disappears, when documentation no longer matches the hardware, or when an existing board needs an upgrade but the source files are gone.
A repeatable seven-stage workflow takes a board from physical sample to verified, manufacturing-ready files.
The board is inspected and documented — dimensions, layer count, finish, and component types are logged, and the scope and deliverables are agreed before work begins.
Both sides of the board are photographed and scanned at high resolution. X-ray inspection reveals vias and inner-layer features that are not visible from the surface.
For multilayer boards, controlled delayering exposes each copper layer in turn so the inner routing can be imaged accurately and aligned to the outer layers.
Copper artwork is traced into vector data and every connection is mapped into a netlist, recording exactly how each pad, pin, and via links across the board.
Components are identified and the netlist is turned into a readable schematic, with reference designators, values, and part numbers confirmed against datasheets.
A matching board layout is produced and exported to Gerber, ODB++, and NC drill files — a complete fabrication package ready for manufacture.
The recovered design is checked against the original with electrical rule checks, and an optional prototype run confirms form, fit, and function before release.
Accurate recovery combines imaging hardware, electrical test gear, and professional EDA software.
Reveals buried vias, inner-layer traces, and BGA connections without destroying the board.
High-magnification optics and high-DPI scanners capture fine pitch traces and silkscreen detail.
Controlled abrasion and chemical processing expose each copper layer of multilayer boards.
Altium, KiCad, and OrCAD rebuild the schematic and lay out a manufacturable board.
CAM350 and Gerber editors generate and verify fabrication artwork and drill data.
Measure resistance, capacitance, and inductance to confirm passive values in circuit.
Identify semiconductors, diodes, and pin behaviour to verify the recovered schematic.
Cross-reference markings and packages to source equivalent, in-production components.
Two of the most requested conversions in any reverse engineering project — handled end to end.
Turn a schematic or netlist into a fully routed, manufacturable circuit board. We define the stackup, place components, route every net, and run design-rule checks so the layout is ready for fabrication.
Regenerate accurate Gerber data from a physical board or a legacy layout so it can be re-manufactured. Every copper layer, solder mask, silkscreen, and drilled hole is reconstructed to match the original.
There is no single fixed price — cost is driven by the board itself and the deliverables you need. These are the main factors that shape a quote.
More layers mean more delayering and inner-layer imaging, which adds time and cost.
Large or densely routed boards take longer to scan, trace, and verify.
High part counts and hard-to-identify or fine-pitch parts increase research effort.
Schematic only costs less than a full package with Gerber, BOM, and editable CAD.
Finding in-production equivalents for obsolete parts adds value and time.
Standard scheduling is most economical; expedited delivery carries a premium.
Send a sample or clear photos with the layer count and what you need delivered. You will receive a defined scope, timeline, and fixed quote — usually within one business day.
Request a Quote →Every project ends with a complete, editable design package — not a locked file you cannot work with.
A clean, fully annotated circuit diagram in PDF and editable source format.
Industry-standard fabrication artwork accepted by any PCB manufacturer.
Verified hole sizes and coordinates for plated and non-plated drills.
A complete connection map you can validate and reuse in your own tools.
Every component with values, packages, and sourcing for in-production parts.
The full board project, ready for you to modify, extend, or re-manufacture.
It is used to keep legacy products in production, repair and maintain equipment without source files, document boards whose paperwork is missing or outdated, and modify or upgrade an existing design when the original CAD data is no longer available.
Reverse engineering a board you own for repair, maintenance, interoperability, or obsolescence is generally permitted in many regions. You remain responsible for respecting third-party patents, copyrights, and trademarks, so confirm the rights for your specific board and jurisdiction before reproducing a design.
Yes. Inner layers are recovered with controlled delayering combined with X-ray inspection and high-resolution scanning, then aligned with the outer layers to rebuild the complete routing.
A single working board is usually enough. A second sample is helpful as a reference and for non-destructive verification, especially on dense or multilayer designs.
A typical package includes the reconstructed schematic, an editable CAD project, Gerber and ODB++ data, NC drill files, the netlist, and a bill of materials with sourcing notes.
Yes. A non-disclosure agreement is available on request, and your files and samples are handled as confidential throughout the project.
Tell us about your board and what you need delivered. We reply with a clear scope, timeline, and fixed quote — usually within one business day.
