Evan,
I have a Protel plug-in that exports PCB files directly into Solidworks and
back again. It works fantastic. Quite literally, with the click of one
button, the PCB launches Solidworks and creates a solid model of the PCB and
any/all the components on the board. If you select individual components,
only they show up on the board, else all the components. Even if there is no
matching solid component in the Solidworks library it will create a solid
based on the footprint outline and a height that you can specify. We are
using it to create whole assemblies and build the metal/plastics after the
PCBs are finished and aligned in the 3D world. Email me off-line if you want
more info on the plug in. Its relatively cheap.
Regards,
Lloyd Good
Engineering Systems Co-ordinator
GE Harris Energy Control Systems Canada Inc.
2728 Hopewell Place NE
Calgary, AB, Canada T1Y 7J7
* +1 (403) 214-4777
* +1 (403) 287-7946
-----Original Message-----
From: Evan Scarborough [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:22 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [PEDA] import/export PCB layouts to Solidworks
Greetings from smoggy So. Calif
(choke,gag - The "Inland Empire's" welcome sign should read: "It's not where
you go, it's where you wind up!"),
One of my clients is developing a complicated unit that has several (about
20) stepper motors, 16 optical position sensors, 2 main PC boards and lots
of little PCB's and "doodads" through out the unit. (unfortunately more
detail can not be given out here and even this is proprietary to LifePoint
Inc. so please keep it under the hat).
Here's the problem:
Our mechanical designers use SolidWorks 2000 and want to get PCB layout data
into their models and manipulate it in a fashion that exceeds the
capabilities of dxf/dwg data transfers
The SolidWorks Rep's say that this can be done very easily - bring in to
"CircuitWorks", move PCB features to match the SolidWorks model and then
export an updated layout back to Protel (that is truly intact and fully
compatible with the 99SE database).They just cant say how it's done, other
than to say it's just a "simple" EDIF data exchange. (simple = pay the money
and throw it over the wall to the PCB guys?)
They also have a package called EmbassyWorks, that takes the same PCB data,
netlist and peripheral device info from an assembly and extrudes cable
assemblies that comply to the PCB connectors and will have complete netlist
connectivity for electrical testing of a whole assembled unit.
Maybe I looked in the wrong help files,but I could not find any helpful
stuff there, so...
Here's the question:
Does anyone have any experience importing & exporting Protel 99SE PCB
layouts into this 3rd party plugin to SolidWorks called "CircuitWorks" using
EDIF format data? And, if so, are there any pointers you can give to make
this a workable method?
Thanks in advance for any help that can be offered!!
Best Regards,
Evan Scarborough
PCB Designer, LifePoint Inc.
www.e-cadds.com <http://www.e-cadds.com>
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