1) Importing an IDF file with CircuitWorks

CircuitWorks adds a Menu and Toolbar into SolidWorks

CircuitWorks adds a Menu and Toolbar into SolidWorks CircuitWorks Menu CircuitWorks adds a Menu and Toolbar 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’ Open IDF File icon To process an IDF or PADS file, click the ‘Open IDF File’ icon or select ‘Open IDF File…’ from the menu

CircuitWorks will start, briefly displaying licence and version information

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

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides the user 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 the user through importing an IDF file. The first stage is to select board cut-outs

CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides the Un-checking the boxes removes the cut-outs. Checking the boxes adds the cut-outs as required CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides the user 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 CircuitWorks’ Import Wizard guides the user through importing an IDF file. The first stage is to select board cut-outs

When the cut-outs have been selected, clicking ‘Next’ continues to the next stage of the Import Wizard

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

The total number of non-plated holes found is shown here The next stage shows how many non-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 with the board or with the components The total number of non-plated holes found is shown here The next stage shows how many non-plated holes there are in the IDF file

The next stage shows how many Holes in the IDF file are either associated with the board or with the components Checking this option creates the non-plated holes associated with the board The next stage shows how many non-plated holes there are in the IDF file

Holes in the IDF file are either associated with the board or with the 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 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 how many plated holes are in the IDF file

The next stage of the Wizard shows how Plated holes are the conductive holes in the board which can be associated either with the board or the components The next stage of the Wizard shows how many plated holes are in the IDF file

392 Plated holes found in the IDF file The next stage of the Wizard shows how many 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 how many plated holes are in the IDF file

None of the holes are associated with the board All 392 holes are associated with the components on the board The next stage of the Wizard shows how many plated holes are in the IDF file

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 Import Wizard 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 Import Wizard 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 Import Wizard 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 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 Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard Components can be Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can be filtered by their name Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Components can be filtered by their name The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can be filtered by their name Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Components can be filtered by their name The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard Components can be Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Lists of components to include or exclude in the SolidWorks assembly can be added with full support for wildcard characters The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

Commonly used filter settings can be saved to be used again in future Components can be Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Commonly used filter settings can be saved to be used again in future The ‘Component Filters’ page of the Import Wizard allows the user to set criteria to include or exclude components from the final SolidWorks assembly

Components can also be filtered from the assembly by their height Components can be Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Components can also be filtered from the assembly by their height

Components can also be filtered from the assembly by their height Components can be Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in a number of ways Components can also be filtered from the assembly by their height

Components can be filtered by the side of the board they are on Filtered out of the SolidWorks assembly in 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 in SolidWorks. The dialog lists summary information about the IDF file, such as its source and creation date

Click ‘Build’ to start the build process CircuitWorks is now ready to start building the board in SolidWorks. The dialog lists summary information about the IDF file, such as its source and creation date

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

CircuitWorks will now build the board model in SolidWorks A progress bar indicates how far CircuitWorks is through the build process CircuitWorks will now build the board model in SolidWorks adding features for the different hole types if required

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 processing is complete. The user can view the information generated during the build process

Icons indicate CircuitWorks progress adding components to the board CircuitWorks prompts the user when board processing is complete. The user can view the information generated during the build process

Icons indicate CircuitWorks progress adding components to the board Clicking ‘OK’ closes the window

CircuitWorks has created an assembly of the board and components in SolidWorks

CircuitWorks has created an assembly of the board and Any components not already existing in CircuitWorks’ component library have been created and named automatically CircuitWorks has created an assembly of the board and components in SolidWorks

For more information or to download an evaluation copy of CircuitWorks, visit www.circuitworks.net or email info@circuitworks.net