Comments on: Verifying PCB Footprints http://factoryswblog.org/2009/11/04/verifying-pcb-footprints/ Merging modern software development with electrons and metal Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:38:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Tony http://factoryswblog.org/2009/11/04/verifying-pcb-footprints/comment-page-1/#comment-4403 Tony Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:28:46 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=338#comment-4403 That's nice to know. But Altium is about $4,000 for commercial users, which is way too much for my budget (or my company's budget). I'm pretty sure some other PCB EDA tools have similar 3D capabilities, but I haven't had time to do the required research -- and unfortunately won't for quite a while. That’s nice to know.

But Altium is about $4,000 for commercial users, which is way too much for my budget (or my company’s budget). I’m pretty sure some other PCB EDA tools have similar 3D capabilities, but I haven’t had time to do the required research — and unfortunately won’t for quite a while.

]]> By: Rob LaMoreaux http://factoryswblog.org/2009/11/04/verifying-pcb-footprints/comment-page-1/#comment-4402 Rob LaMoreaux Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:11:20 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=338#comment-4402 I do all that inside Altium Design. I add the Step model to the footprint, or create the body using their simple 3d bodies and then I can render the board and be sure everything fits. I can also use Alibre of such to create new step models. I do all that inside Altium Design. I add the Step model to the footprint, or create the body using their simple 3d bodies and then I can render the board and be sure everything fits. I can also use Alibre of such to create new step models.

]]> By: Tony http://factoryswblog.org/2009/11/04/verifying-pcb-footprints/comment-page-1/#comment-4391 Tony Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:42:44 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=338#comment-4391 I've done the 3D CAD method for a while -- at work, it's simple: I just give our ME a DXF of the layout, and all the part models, and he puts it all together, in SolidWorks, much faster than I could. But I'm enjoying learning how to do it by myself. We do a rough model of the components in 3D to make sure everything should fit, then let our assembly tech put it all together -- he's good at figuring out the best layout. Then we re-do our CAD model to match his arrangement. And it's always good to leave a little extra space, for extra requirements that customers want added... I’ve done the 3D CAD method for a while — at work, it’s simple: I just give our ME a DXF of the layout, and all the part models, and he puts it all together, in SolidWorks, much faster than I could. But I’m enjoying learning how to do it by myself.

We do a rough model of the components in 3D to make sure everything should fit, then let our assembly tech put it all together — he’s good at figuring out the best layout. Then we re-do our CAD model to match his arrangement. And it’s always good to leave a little extra space, for extra requirements that customers want added…

]]> By: Alex http://factoryswblog.org/2009/11/04/verifying-pcb-footprints/comment-page-1/#comment-4388 Alex Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:46:06 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=338#comment-4388 It took me an expensive mistake before I thought to do the printout trick, lol! I have yet to try 3D cad for PCB design though. I use it a lot for mechanical assembly, and then 2D cad for things like electrical enclosure layout fit testing. Maybe my next project. It took me an expensive mistake before I thought to do the printout trick, lol!

I have yet to try 3D cad for PCB design though. I use it a lot for mechanical assembly, and then 2D cad for things like electrical enclosure layout fit testing. Maybe my next project.

]]>