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Creating a PCB with OrCAD PCB Designer

LSAUGE

Hello,

Beginning in PCB design, I have a rather basic question. What step do we have in order to design a PCB (supposing the schematic is already done) ?

In the course Allegro PCB Editor Basic Techniques v17.4-2019QIR2 (Online), they first create a "mechanical symbol" for the board (outline.dra) and then they create a board (master.brd) in which they place the outline.dra mechanical symbol.

In another tutorial that I saw on Youtube, they directly create the .brd file and draw the outline of the board directly in it.

I assume the first way (mechanical symbol --> board) is the correct one but I don't know why. What is the concrete difference between these two methods ?

  • oldmouldy

    There isn't really a "correct or not" method to this. IF you are going to use a "standard" card format, whatever that might be these days, it could make sense to have a Mechanical Symbol for the outline, and use that in a "template" board, along with any pre-placed components, typically connectors, so that you can use this as the starting point for your design. IF, as is a bit more common today, it's a case of "never the same outline twice", there is little point in expending the effort on a Mechanical Symbol and "template" board, just add the required outline, keepouts etc. to the board and work on from there. (There are other reasons why you might have a "template" board as a starting point but it wouldn't contain any Mechanical, or Package Symbols)

  • LSAUGE
    in reply to oldmouldy

    Thank you, that's what I thought.

    I have another question as I continue the "Allegro PCB Editor Basic Techniques v17.4-2019QIR2 (Online)" course. I arrived to a part where I must use the "Place replicate create" option. The problem is that I do not have this option when I right-click on one of the selected components. Is this option somewhere else in PCB Editor 17.4 ?

  • oldmouldy
    in reply to LSAUGE

    An OrCAD PCB Designer Standard doesn't have the Place Replication functionality enabled in Placement Edit Application Mode, a license for OrCAD PCB Designer Professional, or Allegro PCB Designer, would be required to enable Place Replication functionality.

  • LSAUGE
    in reply to oldmouldy

    Ok thanks, I wil stop looking then.

    Thank you very much for your answers !

  • AvengerThanos
    in reply to LSAUGE

    If you are an OrCAD user looking for only PCB design then this would help https://resources.orcad.com/orcad-pcb-editor-tutorials

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