IPC-D-356A netlist script (from pcbstandards downloads)

[H.Tikkanen]

Has anybody used this script and got any feedback from board fabrication?

[chuckt]

I use it for every board, never any complaints.

[phillipr]

Same here, i use it on every job.
Its been around a while and had it problems Along the way.
But they all seem to be sorted now.

[Tom]

I think that John Brown from Cape CAD did a great job at creating the script and then fixing the bugs. I haven't heard of any problems from any of the Users.

We use the CAM350 version of IPC-D-356A netlist output. It's more comprehensive, but they both get the job done.

[chuckt]

Tom,

Are you exporting the IPC-D-356A after importing the IPC-D-356 "scripted" netlist? I haven't been using the export netlist feature. I use the "Import|Autoimport...", "Import|Netlist..." method and then export the Gerber/NC drill files to send to the Fab. house along with the scripted netlist.

Chuck

[Tom]

Chuck,

We ASCII Import the entire PADS file into CAM350 and then File/Export/Netlist/IPC-D-356A. The manufacturers seem to like the way the CAM350 IPC netlist is formatted.

In addition to this, we never give the manufacturers the PADS Drill data. All our Drill Data is produced from CAM350 in Excellon Format. The manufacturers also prefer this CAM350 Drill Format to what PADS V3, V4 or V5 currently produces.

[ltrakal]

Originally posted by Tom Hausherr
Chuck,

We ASCII Import the entire PADS file into CAM350 and then File/Export/Netlist/IPC-D-356A. The manufacturers seem to like the way the CAM350 IPC netlist is formatted.

In addition to this, we never give the manufacturers the PADS Drill data. All our Drill Data is produced from CAM350 in Excellon Format. The manufacturers also prefer this CAM350 Drill Format to what PADS V3, V4 or V5 currently produces.

You mean you import the actual ASC file into CAM350? Not the gerber output from Powerpcb?
I import into CAM350 all the gerbers and then panlize the board and do the gerbers and nc drill from there.
How better is to get the ASC file inside CAM350? Is this import without dropping any info? That will save a lot of work on powerpcb for CAM files and all that if we get inside CAM350 the ASC file.
I'm very interested in this.

Laszlo

[chuckt]

I think you need the "CAD Data" option for CAM350 to do this. I've only used it for reverse engineering Garber-to-CAD, not the other way around as Tom suggests.

[Tom]

Laszlo,
Chuckt Wrote.....
You need the "CAD Data" option for CAM350 to do this
Chuck is correct. You need to spend about $1,000 for each "CAD Data" option for CAM350. You can purchase ASCII IN & ASCII OUT options for 6 different CAD formats including ODB++. I.E.: You can purchase the ODB++ Option and Import ODB++ data created by Cadence Allegro and output PowerPCB ASCII data.

You can mix and match many CAD tool ASCII formats via CAM350. It's sort of a translator.

The way we create all IPC-D-356 netlists is to ASCII In the PowerPCB ASCII data and then create the IPC-D-356 netlist. We have never used the IPC-D-356 netlist VB Script. We have tested it to see if it works, but have never used it for a production project. CAM350 outputs a superior IPC netlist. Why would we send our vendors anything but the best that we can provide?

[John Foster]

Tom how do you export the excellon format from cam350. Does
this require some sort of Add on. I already check my netlist by importing the pads database in cam350 yada yada yada. But I
am curious how to export the drill data. I will play with this when I get time. But if I know you. There will be a answer here before I
get a chance

Thanks

[jmellquist]

First import your gerbers and NC drill data from PowerPCB and do whatever you want to do with them.
When you're ready to export:
File/Export/Drill Data/[setup the path and "Apply" it.
Check the "Export" box next to the filename and hit OK.
This is pretty much the same procedure for export gerber data
except File/Export/Gerber Data.