PCB design ?

[lkiener]

Dear all,


I have to design some PCBs for a proE 2001 assembly. The PCBs are quiet simple, but with a lot of similar functionsin two to four layers. What is your experience of designing PCBs?


- with proE


-or another software before import it in proE? (withgood results?)


- what is the best way to generate the PCB manufacturing files?


- I found a solution on PTC web site with "InterComm" software. Is it usefull?


I'm waiting for all your experiences, thanks in advance.


Lionel

 

[jeff-gabby]

Hi Lionel,


I have imported lots of PCB assemblies from Cadence (PCB layout software). The Cadence exports 2 files called .emp and .emn. These are IDF formats which ProE can import. I also use Intralink which helps when bringing in new layouts because it grabs files from common space if they were already modeled. ProE also has what is known as ProEcad for doing this, but I have only used what is supplied with basic ProE, which works fine for me. There islearning and proper setting for this to work.


Jeff

 

[Dell_Boy]

Ultimately your Pro/E model should include the PCB profile, ALL
mechanical interfaces e.g. connerctors, mounting holes and their
associated areas, large or special electrical devices e.g. ICs needing
heatsinking. To arrive at this you will probably need to negotiate
these locations with the ECAD designer as an iterative process.



I have imported and exported hundreds of PCBs to and from UniCAD and Cadence some of which had up to 6,000 components



Intralink is not essential but you do need some form of library of
modelled components and the ecad_hint.map file which relates MCAD
models to ECAD models.



The .emp file contains profiles generated by the ECAD package. In an
ideal world you shouldn't need this file because you will have MCAD
models for ALL of them for a more accurate representation of the PCB
assembly.





DB