PH, Yes, the IPC-7351 specification is starting the ball rolling on a 3D Modeling standard.
What PCB Libraries has done to introduce this is making a dedicated layer to illustrate the Maximum Component Outline with a 1 micron line that is used for IDF export. The trick to this is to not put anything else on that dedicated layer. No polarity marking, no text, no multiple lines, just a single "Closed Polygon". Taking it to the next level, the IPC-2581 will illustrate CAD library data with the land pattern and the physical component superimposed. So if you CAD tool has IPC-2581 import and 3D modeling, your new CAD library will contain both entities. This needs to be done to insure correct land pattern data from the beginning of the PCB design process and not preforming the current land pattern verification before you go into fabrication. PCB Libraries is developing a backward land pattern calculator called "IPC-7351 LandCheck". You import your CAD data ASCII format into this program. Then you can select any part that you want to check and select a component family for the part. A menu and a browser / viewer will appear and allows you to enter the basic component dimensional data. The program instantly tells you whether the land pattern meets IPC-7351 specification and if not provides you a report that will inform you on what is wrong. This will also check component height. If the Height that you entered from the datasheet does not match the Geometry Height built into the land pattern an warning will occur. This program is fully funtional for PADS right now and PCB Libraries is giving away free copies to PADS Users who register for the IPC-7351 Navigator Wizard. In the near future the IPC-7351 LandCheck will import Protel data and it certianly will import IPC-2581 data. The LandCheck program was originally intended to verify your old legacy libraries to allow you to clean them up to meet the IPC-7351 specification. Tom H -----Original Message----- From: Protel Hell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 8:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [PEDA] IPC-2581 & IPC-7351. Tom, Is anything being done to standardize 3D modeling for PCB layout? One thing I think Altium leads the pack on is closing the loop to mechanical layout (3D modeling). Protel is similar to PADS with the Z height but they have gone one better, you can map a 3D model to your library part so that you can export an IGES file that can be imported in your 3D modeling software. Unlike PADS it is not an cost add on, it comes standard with DXP2004. (DXP was extra $) So all those vendors that have models available can be used directly by Protel. You can view a model of the pcb assembly and print in Protel. very impressive. Sure, this can be done too on the mechanical end, but it works so much nicer when the PCB layout person specs the model. Nice to have one person make sure the schematic symbol, layout footprint, and 3D model are all mapped correctly. I guess what I'm wondering is if anybody is collecting 3D models of parts? PH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
