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Import a .DXF file in Orcad layout

alexdu71

Hi,

I work with Orcad Layout 16.0.

I have a very big .DXF file (236 MB). I would like to import it and to convert it in a .MAX file.

As the file is too big, it is impossible to convert it, the program crashes.

Do you know a solution ?

Best regards.

  • oldmouldy
    I doubt that there would be a solution beyond drastic simplification of the DXF file. When OrCAD Layout was designed, 16Meg / 32Meg would have been a decent amount of main memory and 100Meg would have been a decent hard drive, so no major surprise that data of this size would not be processed. In any case, I doubt that many PCB tools would translate DXF input of this size since most are expecting DXF file contents of outline data and mounting hole locations.
  • alexdu71
    So, I think I can't rebuild a .MAX file with my big .DXF file. I have also all Gerber files (BOTTOM.art, TOP.art, ....). Does a solution exist to rebuild a .MAX with these files ? Regards.
  • oldmouldy
    You MIGHT be able to get somewhere with translating the Gerber to DXF and then import that for each layer BUT any design "intelligence", like parts / nets and so on, won't exist in the Gerber and won't exist in the imported data. There are some tools around to "reverse engineer" Gerber to PCB data, any design intelligence for parts / nets and so on would need to be added "pretty much" manually, but I doubt that would be able to get you back to data in MAX file format.
  • tmd63

    Do you have AutoCAD?

    Import the dxf into AutoCAD and check the files. There may be items that are not required or generated. Copper planes for example, these may be drawn as traces in the dxf but only the outline is required for Layout.

    The other thing is to then save the file in R12/LT2 dxf format, this may remove extra information that is not translating well.

    You could also save individual layers and import and merge them.

    I have translation capabilities if you need to get a .MAX file but it would only be in Layout 15.7 not 16. If I am able to translate, my rates are reasonable, and I would quote for the time taken. And if I cannot translate it, I would not charge.

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