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Zuken PWS to Cadence Allegro

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 Zuken PWS files using the .bsf file for it's guide for proper input.

Layermap

In general ECAD layers can be divided into two major catagories, 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 Zuken-Redac 3000/5000 layer names are standard, the electrical layers will be automatically mapped to the proper layers in Allegro.  There will always be layer names we do not automatically handle, and these will have to be mapped to layers in Allegro.

Just highlight the layer and hit "Edit", then select the layer in Allegro 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 Allegro ascii files.

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 Zuken PWS (CR3000/CR5000) Layout Read.

Click here to be taken to the Zuken PWS page in the Importing section.

Click here to be taken to the Mentor Boardstation .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 the CADENCE Allegro PCB (Script) Write. Now you are on the way of making a new database for Cadence Allegro.

Click here to be taken to the Allegro page in the Exporting section.

The Allegro.out file sets basic rules about the...

Click here to be taken to the Allegro.OUT file in the Exporting section.

The Allegro.chk file, this file sets basic rules for the naming conventions in the Cadence Allegro files. The Allegro.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 Allegro.chk file arises because of limitations on allowed characters and the number of characters for different key fields within the Cadence Allegro 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 Allegro.chk file is separated into six basic sections.

Link to .chk file

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 Zuken PWS import log documentation in the Importing section.

Click here to be taken to the Allegro export log file in the Exporting section.

Limitations

AutoArc (radius Chamfering) is not supported in the Zuken Reader.

Reference Designators and other component attribute placement is not graphically supported in CAMCAD.

At the present time, we have not found any limitations in the translation.

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.