Importing a 3D model of a Printed Circuit Board

[Tom Page]

I am trying to find out whether anyone has tried to import a 3D model
(object) of an assembled
PCB from a PCB CAD package such as Zuken-Redac, Orcad, Protel or Mentor
Graphics. If so
did it successfully import i.e. as a single object? If so, could you
perform translations and rendering
on the model? If not, what problems were encountered?

Kind Regards

tom

[Michael Wittig]

Circuitworks converts Allegro PCB files well. It probably works on the
files of some of the programs you mentioned too.

-Michael

Tom Page wrote:
I am trying to find out whether anyone has tried to import a 3D model (object) of an assembled PCB from a PCB CAD package such as Zuken-Redac, Orcad, Protel or Mentor Graphics. If so did it successfully import i.e. as a single object? If so, could you perform translations and rendering on the model? If not, what problems were encountered? Kind Regards tom

[Peter Nichols]

CircuitWorks imports from most PCB systems using the IDF file format,
although a seperate translator is required for PADS.
The file is imported as a SolidWorks assembly with all parts seperate.
Regards
Pete

[Len K. Mar]

Tom,

I've used Desktop EDA to translate Protel99SE files to SW. Since
Protel does not use IDF a special translator for it is required.

The interface works inside of Protel and allows you to set up a
library folder of SW components in which the translator looks. If it
doesn't see the part model it uses the circuit board dimensions to
create primitive solids of the part (i.e. If it doesn't see a model of
an analog resistor it creates a cylinder).

It is very robust and works as advertised. Desktop EDA makes an IDF
version for those ECAD applications that use this file format. Price
is around $700.00 for the IDF version and $1000.00 for the Protel
version.

Cheers,

Len K. Mar, PEng.
E-Data Solutions




"Tom Page" <t.page@lboro.ac.uk> wrote in message news:<bdvc55$q5n$1@sun-cc204.lut.ac.uk>... I am trying to find out whether anyone has tried to import a 3D model (object) of an assembled PCB from a PCB CAD package such as Zuken-Redac, Orcad, Protel or Mentor Graphics. If so did it successfully import i.e. as a single object? If so, could you perform translations and rendering on the model? If not, what problems were encountered? Kind Regards tom

[Brian Park]

We also use this software to import from Veribest via IDF. It is mostly
error free, although it may get the heights of components wrong if the PCB
designer doesn't get his z dimension right in his library. Easily fixed in
S/W. Once it comes in, it behaves just like a standard Solidworks assembly.
Very useful for packaging checks. Paid for itself with one interference we
found, and saved us a lot of grief.

bp
DVC Co.

"Len K. Mar" <lmar@pacificcoast.net> wrote in message
news:4bec5eea.0307030553.37f16cf3@posting.google.com... Tom, I've used Desktop EDA to translate Protel99SE files to SW. Since Protel does not use IDF a special translator for it is required. The interface works inside of Protel and allows you to set up a library folder of SW components in which the translator looks. If it doesn't see the part model it uses the circuit board dimensions to create primitive solids of the part (i.e. If it doesn't see a model of an analog resistor it creates a cylinder). It is very robust and works as advertised. Desktop EDA makes an IDF version for those ECAD applications that use this file format. Price is around $700.00 for the IDF version and $1000.00 for the Protel version. Cheers, Len K. Mar, PEng. E-Data Solutions "Tom Page" <t.page@lboro.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:<bdvc55$q5n$1@sun-cc204.lut.ac.uk>... I am trying to find out whether anyone has tried to import a 3D model (object) of an assembled PCB from a PCB CAD package such as Zuken-Redac, Orcad, Protel or Mentor Graphics. If so did it successfully import i.e. as a single object? If so, could you perform translations and rendering on the model? If not, what problems were encountered? Kind Regards tom