PCAD to PADS Translation
Table of Contents
Overview
Router Solutions' CAMCAD PCB Translator can prepare
data and translate a wide variety of ECAD formats to other
ECAD formats. More than just a black box translator, the Windows-based
application allows for sophisticated analysis of the data
prior to translation. If any adjustments or edits are required,
the thorough tool set allows users to make modifications.
This three step process, Import, Investigate/Edit, Export,
allows users the most flexibility for their ECAD translation.
CAMCAD PCB Translator reads in the PCAD
Database which is generated using the PDIFOUT routine in PCAD.
Layermap
In general ECAD layers can be divided into two major categories,
electrical and non-electrical. Both types can be mapped in
our system to layers expected by the target system. Usually
translation of electrical layers is critical and needs to
be 100% accurate (or nearly so), while more flexibility is
allowed with non-electrical layers. Sometimes non-electrical
layers need to be combined to move the data successfully into
the target system. CAMCAD offers users full visibility
of layer mapping.
In general if the PCAD layer names are standard, the electrical
layers will be automatically mapped to the proper layers in
Pads Power.
If you do want to change a layer just
highlight the layer and hit "Edit", then select
the layer in Pads Power you want this highlighted layer to
go to. Once all your editing is complete (you might want to
save your layer file it at this time) just hit Proceed
then your on your way to making your Pads Power ascii file.
Translation
Process
Import
It is very easy to load your ready to be translated file
into CAMCAD PCB Translator, just go to File
| Import then select the PCAD PDIF Layout Read....
Click here
to be taken to the PCAD PDIF page in the Importing section.
Click
here to be taken to the PDIF.IN File page in the Importing
section.
Process
Once you have your file loaded into CAMCAD PCB Translator,
you may want to take a good look at what you are trying translate.
See if everything is there like traces, components, component
outlines, vias, board outline and good idea to check a couple
of pad stacks to see if they have the proper layers. Another
thing you might want to do is Purge the unused Geometries.
In addition to that only translate the active layers and you
might to consider removing any or all the grachics you really
do not need.
Export
Now your ready to export and that's as easy as the Import
was. Just go to File | Export
now select Pads Power V3 Layout Write then you are on your
way.
Click here
to be taken to the PADS Power page in the Exporting section.
The PADS.out file contins the layer structure which is defined
in Pads Power Ver 3.x.
Click
here to be taken to the PADS.OUT file in the Exporting
section.
The PADS.chk file sets basic rules for the naming conventions
in the PADS files. The PADS.chk file is rather involved and
should not be modified unless the user possesses a through
understanding of the cause and effect of each line in the
file. This file is well documented with the file itself, but
a general overview of the file is provided in this document
to aid in understanding why it exist and how it works.
The need for the PADS.chk file arises because of limitations
on allowed characters and the number of characters for different
key fields within the PADS file format. Since these limitation
often times change and users may want to implement varying
methods to adapt for the limitations, the concept of the .chk
file was introduced. The PADS .chk file is separated into
six basic sections.
Click here
for a general discussion of *.CHK file usage in CAMCAD.
Log File
There are 2 log files normally generated, 1 is on the import
and the other is on the export. These log files will report
findings which CAMCAD PCB Translator, when we export
we may find items which the new CAD System may have a problem
with. You can find further discriptions of these log files
at the folling links.
Click
here to be taken to the PCAD PDIF import log file in the
Importing section.
Click
here to be taken to the PADS export log file in the Exporting
section.
Limitations
In Version 3.x the part decal pin limit is 2048.
FAQs
There are none at the present time.
Support
If you need further assistance, please contact RSI's Tech
Support Department at tech@rsi-inc.com.
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