SolidWorks IDF Modeler

This allows you to add electronics assemblies designed in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) CAD packages to your SolidWorks product assembly.

It uses the IDF standard which is supported by most PCB CAD packages.

How Does it Work?

• Creates a SolidWorks assembly from IDF files • Creates IDF files from a SolidWorks assembly

Integrated into SolidWorks

File Menu Toolbar Help Menu

Creating An Assembly from IDF Files

• • Use the Import IDF The IDF Import dialog box displays…

IDF Board File IDF Library File Assembly Folder

IDF Import – Settings Tab

Folder for SolidWorks parts

Select PCB hole types to Import

IDF Import – Options Tab

Filter holes by size Filter Keepouts by type Select how parts are named in the Assembly

IDF Import – Select Parts Tab

Filter Parts by Height If any boxes checked, only selected parts are added to the Assembly

IDF Import – Auto Parts Tab

Review part Heights Set color of Auto Parts

IDF Import – File Names Tab

Set filenames Option to save settings

Create Assembly Button Options

Creates Assembly Creates Board Outline Part Click on Arrow

Part for PCB is automatically created Auto Part Part from Library Drilled Holes Designators used as Feature Manager Names Place Keepout

Update Assembly

• • • If an Assembly exists when you browse to an IDF file, the Update Assembly button displays This gives you the option to Create a New Assembly or Update the existing Assembly Use Update for minor changes to assembly – Saves time – Preserves constraints to other elements in the product assembly

Update Assembly Options

• • When you choose Update, this dialog displays Check required check boxes to update features

Creating IDF Files from an Assembly

• Use the Export IDF command • The IDF Export dialog box displays…

IDF Export

Choose IDF version Choose IDF units Set name of IDF files Choose target ECAD system

Export searches for features tagged with attributes to get PCB geometry Export uses Part attributes to create IDF file entries To get part geometry, Export uses attributes in Part features if present, otherwise it uses the bounding cube

Options for relating IDF Package Name to Parts

1.

2.

Use IDF Package Name Use an Xref file – an ASCII that maps the IDF Package name to a Part name

Xref File

Check to use an Xref file Click to edit Look up Table file Xref file name

Starting a New PCB Design in SolidWorks

• Use the IDF PCB Tools in the SolidWorks Tools menu in Part and Assembly • Allows you to create a PCB assembly as you would any other assembly

PCB Tools

• Allow you to start your PCB design in SolidWorks Part commands Assembly commands

SolidWorks IDF Modeler Features

• Supports IDF versions 2 and 3 • Bi-directional • Supplied with electronics parts library • Automatically creates parts if no library parts available • Options to filter parts by name or height • • Options to filter holes by type of size Fully supports the IDF Specification – route outlines, keep-outs, panels etc.

• Supports Altium, Allegro, Mentor, ORCAD, PADS