Circuit Boards

Anyone "import" circuit boards? What program do you use? Pros? Cons?

I know of Circuitworks and there is one for Protel files...

 

I use circuitworks and it works excellent.
The only "con" was/is that I have to go back and
add a component height attribute to my PCB Parts in
the libraries. No big dealy but time consuming.

One feature that would be nice though
(not sure if it is possible) is when I make
changes to the PCB Placement, that somehow
one could import the changes into the assembly
the 3D model of the PCB resides in.

Reason why is sometimes to accommodate the enclosure
I have to change the PCB placement or vice versa.

Or sometimes the PCB changes because of function
or component changes So far I haven't found a easy
way of updating the enclosure assembly with the
new PCB placement 3D model.
Hope I'm making sense
Regards
Frank

 

Circuitworks provided excellent results for me
I believe it is bi-directional as in
you can design pcb outline with comps on it
then import into PCB software and vice-versa.
I don't remember how much it costed. sorry.

 

Tripod Data Systems

We use Protel and the link from Desktop EDA. We've been pretty happy with
it. The EE and the ME have to get together and agree on the orientation and
origin of the parts, but I would think this has to happen with any system.

The biggest pain we have is using it on flex circuits. When the Protel link
builds the assembly in SolidWorks, it fixes the position of every part. When
I insert bends into the part to fold it, the parts don't follow, since they
aren't mated. I have to mate each of the parts on the moving sections before
I insert the bends. If we go through a design revision that moves parts on
the flex, I have to go through the whole process over again.

One other minor pain is how slow SolidWorks is if you import the pads on a
reasonably complex PCB. (Don't even think about importing all of the outer
layer traces! It would be nice if we could have the circuitry showing when
we make pictures of the assembly, but that just isn't feasible, given how
slow SW is.) I usually import the pads so that I can check how parts line
up, then suppress them for most work.

Jerry Steiger

 

Sounds like I should just stick with importing a .dxf onto the top of the
board as a sketch and only worry about the tallest component height.

 

It depends on what you are designing. If you're working with simple
rectilinear shapes, that may very well be the way to go. We do hand-held
computers with funny contours and sometimes we have to jam a lot of stuff in
a small space. I wouldn't want to try it the old fashioned way.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems