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STEP Question

Sagetech

We want to start using the 3D aspects of PCB Editor.

I'm able to output a STEP model of the PCB, but there is no component height associated with the parts.

I have watched a few on line videos that show how to use the STEP mapping command where, for example,  you can easily associate an 0402 footprint to an 0402 STEP model.

The question is, in my STEP Mapping window there are no available STEP models to map my footprints to. Are these models something I need to generate and if so, how do I generate them?

Thanks, 

Tom

  • steve

    There is a steppath variable (same principle as psmpath or padpath) that tells PCB Editor where to look for Step Models. You need to either talk to your mechanical team for STEP models or look at free resources such as 3dcontentcentral.com or ultralibrarian.com who supply step models. Many component manufacturers supply step models as well so build up a library of them. There are a few supplied in C:\Cadence\SPB_17.2\share\pcb\examples\step there is a workshop.zip that has a few samples as well. 

  • Wild

    My proceedure (16.6):

    1. Duting the footprint creation I add a max height property  to the package place bound geometery. If you edit properties on this shape you will see the fieald.  This will so the package heigth without a step model.  look at the 3D view before and after doing this, you will see what I am referencing, note you must not have any feature selected when looking at the #D view.

    2. I map the Step model into the pcbfooitprint file, and I aligh it to the package geometery, insuring pins line up.  You can rotate and move the step model in all axis.

    So the step models will be brougt hinto the layout with the footprints, of course the paths for your library need to be setup up correctly.

  • Sagetech
    in reply to Wild

    Thanks for the reply. This will be my next step (no pun intended) to start associating the models with the library parts. Your tips will help!

    Tom

  • Sagetech
    in reply to steve

    Hi Steve, 

    Mechanical team...... you're funny..... no mechanical team here.......  I figured that I would end up needing to source the .stp models myself. I have downloaded a few from Ultra Librarian and successfully imported and associated them with some of the parts on the board.

    The issue now is that they don't show up when viewing the board in the 3D viewer. If I export the pcb STEP file and use an external viewer they show just fine.

    What is the trick to getting them to show in the PCB Editor 3D viewer?

    Tom

  • Wild
    in reply to Sagetech

    BTW a great source for 3D Step models is here:

    http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/

    I output the STEP from Allegro once the board is designed so we can verify mating of boards and created 3d printer enclosures.

    Here's and example:

    ZLE38000-006_AL_Rev1_with_Ardui.pdf

    I use solidworksfor the mating and step module creation whne there is none for the parts I need.

    Kind Regards,

    Wild

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