How to import existing P-CAD Library to Altium Designer Integrated Library, check it and solve a problem with thick lines. Unlimited DVR storage space. Cancel anytime. No thanks Try. Jan 19, 2009 - The schematic library is refreshingly easy to browse. However it is very limited. It was still called PCAD back in 2006. Nothing of it has.
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Translating complete P-CAD designs, including schematics, PCB layout, and library files can all be directly handled by Altium Designer's Import Wizard without converting to ASCII first - thus avoiding the need for having P-CAD installed. The Import Wizard removes much of the headache normally found with design translation by analyzing your files and offering many defaults and suggested settings for project structure, layer mapping, PCB pattern (footprint) naming, and more. Complete flexibility is found in all pages of the wizard, giving you as little or as much control as you would like over the translation settings before committing to the actual translation process.
File Translation P-CAD design files in the Import Wizard translate as follows:. P-CAD PCB (.PCB) files translate into Altium Designer PCB files (.PcbDoc). P-CAD schematic (.SCH) files translate into Altium Designer schematic files (.SchDoc). Each sheet within a P-CAD schematic file is imported as a single Altium Designer schematic file (.SchDoc). Design hierarchy is maintained, including complex hierarchy. These files will be grouped into an Altium Designer PCB project (.PrjPCB) that is automatically created. P-CAD PCB files generate an output job document (.OutJob) if necessary.
This document will contain all the print settings from the P-CAD PCB. P-CAD library (.LIB and.LIA) files translate as follows:.
Libraries that contain solely pattern information translate into Altium Designer PCB library files (.PcbLib). Libraries that contain both pattern and symbol information translate into both Altium Designer PCB library files (.PcbLib), and schematic library files (.SchLib) respectively. Libraries that contain both component and symbol information translate into Altium Designer schematic library files (.SchLib). Libraries which contain solely symbol information do not import as Altium Designer does not have the same concept of a symbol as P-CAD (described later). Translated P-CAD libraries are automatically grouped in an integrated library package (.LibPkg). Translation Overview The steps for translating your P-CAD designs and libraries using the Import Wizard look like this.
The fundamentals of how components are defined, their properties, and basic relationships between components, models and library concepts are explained further in. Using the Import Wizard for P-CAD Files The Import Wizard can be launched from the Altium Designer File menu. Click on this menu command to launch the wizard as shown below in Figure 1. Right-mouse command menus are available for further control over the translation process through each page of the wizard.
Figure 1: Import Wizard as started from the File Menu. Working with Documents In P-CAD, all design work begins on the sheet, the logical working area of the design. There can be multiple schematic sheets within a single P-CAD schematic design file (.SCH file). In Altium Designer, the logical design area begins with a document, and for each document there is a file stored on the hard drive. This means that for each Altium Designer schematic document (sheet) there is a file, an important conceptual difference to remember. There can also be multiple design documents of varying types depending on the nature of the design you'll be working on.
Getting started, most P-CAD users will be interested in the schematic and PCB document types as these are the files that their designs will be translated to. New schematic and PCB document types can easily be created via the File ยป New menu, or by right-clicking on the project in the Projects panel. The Schematic Symbol Is the Component. As an expert P-CAD user, you'll know that components form the basic building blocks of design in P-CAD, and the symbol is merely a graphical representation of that component in the schematic.
But in Altium Designer the symbol is effectively the component for all phases of design, and not just the schematic capture portion of it. A little comparison will help show the differences of how the two are modeled between the respective systems for a better understanding. P-CAD Components and Altium Designer Components Figure 2.
P-CAD components have a single symbol graphic and one or more pattern graphics for each pattern In P-CAD, all of the logical and electrical data that is held in the component can be seen in Library Executive in the Pins View dialog. Pin and gate swapping component pin to symbol pin, and pattern pad mapping, along with the pin's electrical and logical data is the only component information available. Because this information relates primarily to the pins and is somewhat limited, there are inherent restrictions to the number of ways that P-CAD components can be represented throughout the design process. An Altium Designer component, on the other hand, contains more information and is more flexible in terms of how it can be represented.
In Altium Designer, the logical symbol is assumed to be the essential starting point of a component. It can be initially defined at minimum as a name in a schematic library to which pins and any graphical symbols or alternative display options needed for implementation may be added. This flexibility allows a component to be represented in different ways during the design and capture process. This may not only be as a logical symbol on the schematic, but also be a footprint on the PCB or even as a SPICE definition for simulation. The fundamentals of how components are defined, their properties, and basic relationships between components, models and library concepts are explained further in the article. See Also Below are references to other articles and tutorials in the Altium Designer Documentation Library that talk more about the conceptual information as well as walking you through specific tasks.
Remember, you can also browse through the Help contents, and use F1 and What's This at any time in a dialog for more details.
Welcome to the next generation of PCB library development. The Library Expert is the original IPC footprint automation solution, which is also flexible enough for the most advanced user-defined modifications to effortlessly create footprints from component data.
It outputs individual parts or entire libraries to all major CAD formats (each available separately). Here is what you get with the CAD output for P-CAD license:. Output to format readable by P-CAD 2002, 2004, 2006 (.LIA). Our advanced CAD LEAP TM Technology (Libraries Enhanced with Automated Preferences). complimentary access (over 1 million parts). Set of unique component packages that may be used with well over 300,000 parts!. Complimentary access to our.
New part requests, regardless complexity, as little as $5 each. 12 Months of updates included!.
Ability to create footprints with arbitrary pad shapes and positions. Low cost & FASTEST return on investment. High priority phone, email, or shared desktop support. Perpetual license does not expire; no maintenance. 1 Year maintenance renewal is 24% the list cost of license(s). FREE training webinars as needed, one-on-one or group.
Add and modify library documentation. User definable preferences or define and customize default rules wow!!. Save component dimensions to a library file. Search, edit, save functions for effective part library management. Flexibility to add, delete, or modify data fields - for example:. Corporate Part Number.
Schematic Symbol Name. Created By / Date. Purchased From. Bulk / Piece Price. DigiKey Part Number.
Project Name. etc. (no limit!). Complimentary access to POD lasts while user has latest released major version (eg. V2015, v2016, etc); latest version is highly recommended as POD data format is periodically updated to accomodate new Library Expert features. New part requests are $5 for 99% of the parts; really complex parts that take more than 2 hours to build will be charged double. PLUS all the features of the FREE Library Expert 'Pro' edition, which include:.
Pin rename & renumber. Calculate high resolution footprints directly from component dimensions. IPC-7351 compliant. Enter component dimensions using Nominal plus tolerance or Min/Max dimensions. Automate creation of component manufacturer recommended footprints. One-click rotate/mirror footprint, very useful for rapid LGA/BGA design wow!!.
One-click pad shapes supported: Rectangle, Oblong, D-Shape, and Rounded Rectangle. Dynamic support for Imperial and metric - easily convert between mil and metric units.
Convert units calculator. Apply rules to component families and component terminal lead types. User friendly GUI easy to learn. Padstack editor. Email & forum support.and more!! We built the Library Expert around the notion that there are as many unique PCB library needs as there are users.
If you consider tolerance settings, units, line-widths, pad shapes, rotations, and many dozens of other settings (all configurable with the PCB Library Expert), you can create over 1,800 variations of ONE SINGLE library! We empower you to quickly build high-quality standard libraries to meet your specific needs. 5-Tier Density Variations Supported 1IPC A: Maximum (Most) Land Protrusion โ For low-density product applications, the 'maximum' land pattern condition has been developed to accommodate wave or flow solder of leadless chip devices and leaded gull wing devices. The geometry furnished for these devices, as well as inward and 'J' - formed lead contact device families, may provide a wider process window for reflow solder processes as well. 2IPC B: Median (Nominal) Land Protrusion โ Products with a moderate level of component density may consider adapting the 'median' land pattern geometry. The median land patterns furnished for all device families will provide a robust solder attachment condition for reflow solder processes and should provide a condition suitable for wave or reflow soldering of leadless chip and leaded Gull Wing type devices. 3IPC C: Minimum (Least) Land Protrusion โ High component density typical of portable and hand-held product applications may consider the 'minimum' land pattern geometry variation.
Selection of the minimum land pattern geometry may not be suitable for all product use categories. The use of classes of performance 1, 2, and 3 is combined with that of component density levels A, B, and C in explaining the condition of an electronic assembly. As an example, combining the description as Levels 1A or 3B or 2C, would indicate the different combinations of performance and component density to aid in understanding the environment and the manufacturing requirements of a particular assembly.
4User-defined preferences. Companies can establish a standard set of preferences to apply to all users of the PCB Library Expert! Settings include:. Units (Mils, Micrometers, Inches and Millimeters).
Pad Shape (Rectangle, Oblong, D-Shape or Rounded Rectangle). Rotation (Pin 1 Up, Left, Right or Down). Origin (Centric or Pin 1).
Environment Level (Least, Nominal or Most). Silkscreen Line Width and Pad to Silkscreen Gap. Minimum Pad to Pad Gap or Pad to Thermal Pad Gap. Paste Mask Reduction for Thermal Pads. Solder Mask Swell or Solder Mask Defined Pads.
Map Silkscreen and Assembly to Nominal body or Maximum Body.and more!! 5 Component manufacturer-recommended footprint.
The Library Expert is synchronized to the latest guidelines of the IPC-7351, and IPC-J-STD-001 (Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies). You want your PCB Layout to pass the J-STD-001 standard for solder joint acceptability in the PCB assembly process.
You also get the ability to migrate your entire library to future revisions or your own custom-defined requirements as well! Why is this important?
Because it ensures that everybody - regardless of experience or language - can build high-quality parts in the same standard, professional way! Improve your PCB Library skills with solder joint goal knowledge.
Take the class ASAP! The PCB designer and EE engineer should have as much information about the PCB assembly process as possible for DFA (Design for Assembly). We have been involved in IPC standards development for many years, and are intimately familiar with both, the IPC-7351 and J-STD-001. The Product Sheet (PDF) is available in a few languages: Download and install the for the PCB Library Expert to see for yourself how it can benefit you! Feel free to contact us or any of our world-wide distributors with questions or to request no-obligation demos! There are six types of licenses: - Single User USB Key (perpetual) - Network USB Key (perpetual) - Global Network USB Key (perpetual) - Single User SL (12-month based refresh) - Network SL (12-month based refresh) - Global Network SL (12-month based refresh) By default, all quotes issued are for the perpetual USB Key, our most popular configuration. Users who want to go without a USB Key (for example if installing a Network License on a virtual server), have the option of the SL license.
Single User License (USB Key) This perpetual license entitles you to install and run the software on one local computer. This solution is ideal for the PCB design contractor or companies with one PCB designer. The Single User is licensed on USB key, and can be easily moved to any computer as needed. Contracting and/or always changing computers? No problem, we make it a snap!!
Network License (USB Key) The Network License is perpetual and available for all the users you need! It is ideal where library standardization is desired, regardless the CAD formats used. Professionals or novices can now easily create libraries according to company specification and customer requirements. The Network License is based on a network-enabled USB key that may be placed on a server or even a regular/user's computer. Once configured, when a user on the network opens the Library Expert, a license is automatically checked out from the key.
When the Library Expert is closed, the license is made available for others to check out. Global Network License (USB Key) The Global Network License is identical to the Network License, but in addition also gives customer right to place the Network License on the company's globally-accessible network so it is availalbe to company users outside the location assigned to the license.
Single-SL, Network-SL, and Global-Network-SL Licenses The HASP 'SL' Licenses (Single and Network) are not perpetual and expire 12 months after purchase, at which time they cease to function unless they either get Refreshed or Replaced. Refresh - renewing same License ID (on same machine, or server if a network license) - Replace - issue a new License ID for a new PC or server There will be no cost to REFRESH nor REPLACE either SL license if in conjunction with an upgrade purchase. If no upgrade is purchased and the license needs to be refreshed for a Library Expert version older than what is currently available at that time (for example refreshing a 2017 license for another 12 months in 2018 without upgrading to version 2018), the 12-month REFRESH will be subject to a non-refundable processing fee of $100.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE that older versions of the Library Expert will function as intended - or at all - with newer operating systems, patches,.NET Framework updates, etc. If the license needs to be installed on a new computer or a new activation is required for whatever reason, a REPLACEMENT license will be required, and will be subject to a non-refundable processing fee of $125; customer and PCBL may need to take steps to terminate all previously issued license(s)/activation(s) that are being replaced. A limit of 3 license replacements are allowed for each VERSION of the Library Expert for which a license is purchased, after which the licenses must be repurchased. NOTE: All costs associated with REFRESH or REPLACEMENT of SL Licenses are subject to reasonable change year to year. User Accounts User Accounts are needed to login and download the latest release of the Library Expert, as well as access POD. User Accounts are limited to one (1) per Single User License, and three (3) for Network Licenses. Library Expert Professional user accounts associated with currently released version have free access (25 parts/day) to the POD database.
Risk-free Purchase Before you purchase anything, you can evaluate the software to see how it works for you. It only takes minutes to evaluate! If you have any questions or prefer a walk-through! System Requirements Microsoft Windows based computer, running Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista., the Microsoft.NET Framework 4.0 (downloadable from Microsoft), 40MB of hard drive space, a USB port, and display resolution of 1024 x 768.Although quite a few Library Expert users have Windows XP, it is no longer supported by Microsoft and our ability to support XP is limited.