I did this last year when I realized the limitations of Camtastic in merging separate PCB's.
I had to have separate PCBs, since the front panel controls (switches, rotary encoder, display) are all different stand off heights. I used the 1mm flex to interconnect. What I did was to segregate the separate boards into different sheets and used the ref des prefix option to discern the different boards. I solid modeled the enclosure and boards and exported the individual board outlines to Autocad. I then did the tab routes in Autocad for the multiple boards with the proper tool radii and mouse bite locations. I also did the butterfly PICMG PCI/ISA backplane hole locations so I had a guide for the PCB footprint origins (my clearances/tolerances for positioning were <5mil). I then imported this 2D composite into Protel's PCB editor. Since had the proper locations from the solid model's connector locations (thanks to AMP for including surfaced IGES models on their web site) I was able to accurately place the proper ref-prefixed designators on the corresponding boards. I'd double click on an arc/hole location on the mechanical layer, find out what the coordinates were to be and then placed the component's PCB footprint at the same location. I've also begun using L-shaped targets centered on pin 1 and can use the electrical snap to the end points when I pick up and move the connectors. Mechanically, the completed assembly fit perfectly in the final sheet metal 1U rack I designed. The sheetmetal agreed perfectly with the completed boards and I/O cards. As to ECO's on this design, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I had to make two revisions for the software guys and it was a breeze. I find that using the solid models to locate the exact position of the parts worked really well. The combination of Solidworks, Autocad (I prefer it for the 2D drafting work), and Protel allow me to exactly coordinate the various aspects of the product design. In a message dated 12/20/2001 10:42:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > for two PCBs in the enclosure). > > The problem is that the most efficient way to do this requires all the > display parts on one PCB - the rest on the other. Unfortunately this is not > the way the schematic sheets are arranged. So it will be impossible to get a > netlist for individual PCBs. > > What I was planning to do was draw the two pcbs in one file connected > together and have a perforation or groove for splitting the two pcbs. > > Placing correctly sized vias on a 2.54mm pitch for PCB interconnections on > both PCBs should allow me to use a ribbon cable from another one of our > standard products. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
