1) Importing an IDF file with CircuitWorks

CircuitWorks adds a Menu andToolbar into SolidWorks

CircuitWorks Menu

CircuitWorks adds a Menu andToolbar into SolidWorks

CircuitWorks Menu CircuitWorks

Toolbar

To process an IDF or PADS file, click the ‘Open IDF File’icon or select ‘Open IDF File…’ from the menu

To process an IDF or PADS file, click the ‘Open IDF File’icon or select ‘Open IDF File…’ from the menu

Open IDF File icon

CircuitWorks will start, briefly displayinglicence and version information

Browse to an IDF or PADS file and click open to continue

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides theuser through importing an IDF file.

The first stage is to select board cut-outs

CircuitWorks shows a

preview of the board and its

cut-outs

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides theuser through importing an IDF file.

The first stage is to select board cut-outs

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides theuser through importing an IDF file.

The first stage is to select board cut-outs

Un-checking the boxes removes the cut-outs. Checking the boxes adds the cut-outs as required

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides theuser through importing an IDF file.

The first stage is to select board cut-outs

These controls allow the user to zoom in or

out of the preview image

When the cut-outs have been selected, clicking

‘Next’ continues to the next stage of the Import Wizard

The next stage shows how manynon-plated holes there are in the IDF file

The total number of non-plated holes

found is shown here

The next stage shows how manynon-plated holes there are in the IDF file

The total number of non-plated holes

found is shown here

Holes in the IDF file are either

associated withthe board or withthe components

The next stage shows how manynon-plated holes there are in the IDF file

Holes in the IDF file are either

associated withthe board or withthe components

Checking this option creates the non-plated

holes associated with the board

The next stage shows how manynon-plated holes there are in the IDF file

Holes in the IDF file are either

associated withthe board or withthe components

Checking this option creates the non-plated

holes associated with the

components on the board

CircuitWorks displays the

minimum and maximum

diameters found for each hole

type

By checking this option and editing the size range. CircuitWorks can be

configured to only create board non-plated holes within a certain range of diameters

In the same way, this option configures CircuitWorks to

only create component non-plated holes within the

specified range of diameters

Checking this option will only include non-plated holes in the SolidWorks

assembly that are associated with certain

components

The user can select which components holes in include in the assembly from the pull-down list

In this example, only the non-plated holes

associated with components PL7 and TR8 will be added to

the board part in SolidWorks

When the non-plated hole options have been set,

clicking ‘Next’ continues to the next stage

The next stage of the Wizard shows howmany plated holes are in the IDF file

The next stage of the Wizard shows howmany plated holes are in the IDF file

Plated holes arethe conductive holesin the board whichcan be associated

either with the boardor the components

The next stage of the Wizard shows howmany plated holes are in the IDF file

392 Plated holes found in

the IDF file

The next stage of the Wizard shows howmany plated holes are in the IDF file

392 Plated holes found in

the IDF file

None of the holes are

associated with the board

The next stage of the Wizard shows howmany plated holes are in the IDF file

All 392 holes are associated with the components

on the board

None of the holes are

associated with the board

All 392 holes are associated with the components

on the board

Plated holes can be filtered by size or component in the same way as

the non-plated holes in the

previous stage

When the plated hole options have been set,

clicking ‘Next’ continues to the next stage

The ‘Component Heights’ page of the ImportWizard allows the user to edit the heights of the

components in the IDF file if required

Green icons indicate

components in the IDF file with a non-zero height

The ‘Component Heights’ page of the ImportWizard allows the user to edit the heights of the

components in the IDF file if required

Red icons indicate

components in the IDF file with

zero height

The ‘Component Heights’ page of the ImportWizard allows the user to edit the heights of the

components in the IDF file if required

Expanding the icon shows the current height

and units. Here the component height is 0 Thou

A new height can be defined for the

component: 30 Thou in this

example.

Display options allow the user to view the

components by name or part number

Powerful search

controls allow the user to

locate a particular

component easily

When any heights have be changed as required, clicking ‘Next’ continues to the next stage of the Import Wizard

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

Components can be filtered by their

name

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

Components can be filtered by their

name

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

Lists of components to

include or exclude in the SolidWorks assembly can be

added with full support for

wildcard characters

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizardallows the user to set criteria to include or excludecomponents from the final SolidWorks assembly

Commonly used filter settings can be saved to be used again in

future

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

Components can also be filtered

from the assembly by their height

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

Components can also be filtered

from the assembly by their height

Components can beFiltered out of the

SolidWorks assemblyin a number of ways

Components can be filtered by the side of the board

they are on

When any filters have been set as required, clicking ‘Next’

continues to the next stage of the Import Wizard

CircuitWorks is now ready to start building the board inSolidWorks. The dialog lists summary information about

the IDF file, such as its source and creation date

CircuitWorks is now ready to start building the board inSolidWorks. The dialog lists summary information about

the IDF file, such as its source and creation date

Click ‘Build’ to start the build

process

CircuitWorks will now build the board model in SolidWorksadding features for the different hole types if required

CircuitWorks will now build the board model in SolidWorksadding features for the different hole types if required

A progress bar indicates how far CircuitWorks is

through the build process

A progress bar indicates how far CircuitWorks is

through the build process The user can stop the

build process at any time. CircuitWorks can even continue

processing an incomplete board from when it was

interrupted

CircuitWorks prompts the user when board processingis complete. The user can view the information

generated during the build process

CircuitWorks prompts the user when board processingis complete. The user can view the information

generated during the build process

Icons indicate CircuitWorks

progress adding components to the

board

Icons indicate CircuitWorks

progress adding components to the

board

Clicking ‘OK’ closes the window

CircuitWorks has created an assembly of the board andcomponents in SolidWorks

CircuitWorks has created an assembly of the board andcomponents in SolidWorks

Any components not already existing in

CircuitWorks’ component library have been created and named automatically

For more information or to download an evaluation copy of CircuitWorks, visit

www.circuitworks.net or email info@circuitworks.net