Tom Frayda
02-06-2002, 10:24 AM
Dedicate a layer in PADS to the Pro/E Shape and create the shape in every decal. The shape should represent the maximum dimensions of the component and must be created as a closed polygon, not a path (although the polygon tool should work, I recommend using the rectangle or circle tool and then splitting, mitering, or stretching the shape as necessary). There can be only one shape on this layer and it must be a closed polygon.
In PADS, Edit=>Attribute Dictionary =>Geometry.Height=>Properties and verify that Measure is selected under Types and is set to ()Size/Dimension. Verify that Part Type is selected on the Objects tab and that it is set as ECO registered. Each component must be assigned the Geometry.Height attribute (preferably as a PADS Part Type level attribute) and given a value and units that represent that maximum height of the component (ie: Geometry.Height = 2.52MM).
All decals in the design should have the Pro/E Shape defined and all Part Types should have the Geometry.Height attribute and value assigned. It is also a good idea to correctly assign a value for the pcb thickness in Setup=>Layer Definition=>Thickness.
From PADS, choose File=>Export=>Save As Type=IDF Files (*.emn, *.emp)=>Save. Select the Shape Layer that contains the Pro/E shape and click OK. If you are prompted to enter a height for any component, that component is missing the Geometry.Height attribute. If you see a message in the report file about a "pick box shape" being used, that component has a bad Pro/E shape in the decal and the extruded outline will not be accurate.
For Pro/Engineer, create or edit the text file config.pro to add the following lines:
ECAD_EXP_BOTH_TWO_AREAS YES
ECAD_BOARD_CSYS_DEF_NAME ECAD_DEFAULT
ECAD_COMP_CSYS_DEF_NAME ECAD_DEFAULT
ECAD_IMPORT_HOLES_AS_FEATURES YES
This prevents being prompted for the Coordinate System for each component. The config.pro file should reside in the \loadpoint(ie: proe2000i)\text folder.
Set the Pro/E working directory and move the *.emn and *.emp files created by PADS into that directory.
In Pro/E:
File=>Import=>Create New Model, select the *.emn file, and OK.
File=>New=>Assembly
Component=>Assemble=>In Session
Select the *.prt file created from the imported *.emn file and Open
File=>Import=>Append To Model, select the *.emn file (again), and OK.
Import Type=>Done
Select the *.emp file and Open.
You can now make checks or changes in Pro/E and then choose Export=>Model=>ECAD and send it back to PADS. When imported into PADS, traces that were connected to a component that was moved in Pro/E are disconnected at the first tack (or maybe corner) to minimize routing disruption.
PROS: Easy way to pass rudimentary 3D info without having to know Pro/E.
CONS: Shapes are extruded to one height only and therefore do not allow for accurate interference checking.
I think this pretty well covers it. I'll post what I know about the 3D Model Mapping Method soon.
+Tom
In PADS, Edit=>Attribute Dictionary =>Geometry.Height=>Properties and verify that Measure is selected under Types and is set to ()Size/Dimension. Verify that Part Type is selected on the Objects tab and that it is set as ECO registered. Each component must be assigned the Geometry.Height attribute (preferably as a PADS Part Type level attribute) and given a value and units that represent that maximum height of the component (ie: Geometry.Height = 2.52MM).
All decals in the design should have the Pro/E Shape defined and all Part Types should have the Geometry.Height attribute and value assigned. It is also a good idea to correctly assign a value for the pcb thickness in Setup=>Layer Definition=>Thickness.
From PADS, choose File=>Export=>Save As Type=IDF Files (*.emn, *.emp)=>Save. Select the Shape Layer that contains the Pro/E shape and click OK. If you are prompted to enter a height for any component, that component is missing the Geometry.Height attribute. If you see a message in the report file about a "pick box shape" being used, that component has a bad Pro/E shape in the decal and the extruded outline will not be accurate.
For Pro/Engineer, create or edit the text file config.pro to add the following lines:
ECAD_EXP_BOTH_TWO_AREAS YES
ECAD_BOARD_CSYS_DEF_NAME ECAD_DEFAULT
ECAD_COMP_CSYS_DEF_NAME ECAD_DEFAULT
ECAD_IMPORT_HOLES_AS_FEATURES YES
This prevents being prompted for the Coordinate System for each component. The config.pro file should reside in the \loadpoint(ie: proe2000i)\text folder.
Set the Pro/E working directory and move the *.emn and *.emp files created by PADS into that directory.
In Pro/E:
File=>Import=>Create New Model, select the *.emn file, and OK.
File=>New=>Assembly
Component=>Assemble=>In Session
Select the *.prt file created from the imported *.emn file and Open
File=>Import=>Append To Model, select the *.emn file (again), and OK.
Import Type=>Done
Select the *.emp file and Open.
You can now make checks or changes in Pro/E and then choose Export=>Model=>ECAD and send it back to PADS. When imported into PADS, traces that were connected to a component that was moved in Pro/E are disconnected at the first tack (or maybe corner) to minimize routing disruption.
PROS: Easy way to pass rudimentary 3D info without having to know Pro/E.
CONS: Shapes are extruded to one height only and therefore do not allow for accurate interference checking.
I think this pretty well covers it. I'll post what I know about the 3D Model Mapping Method soon.
+Tom