Hunterecono727

Importing into SolidWorks

• Solidworks Pcb Tutorial Pdf
• Solidworks Pcb Tutorial
• Solidworks Pcb Open Gerber Files Online

The way I've been trying to do the import of Gerber files into an Altium Designer PCB document is that I open a new PCB document and then I import one Gerber file at a time by choosing File-Import-Gerber File. Shows how to use NETEX-G and Read3Di to convert Gerber files for a PCB into a 3D model in SolidWorks.

So, let's import this into SolidWorks and see what we get. What would we like to get? Something like a multi-layer sandwidth: Each Gerber conductor layer on its own Z-level in SolidWorks with a given thickness. Between each conductor layer a solid body representing the FR4. Drill holes running through the entire assembly like toothpicks holding the whole thing together.

Solidworks Pcb Tutorial Pdf

Importing

We are going to import into a SolidWorks part. We will start by just importing the top layer. We import it as a new part and the data as a 2D Sketch. here is what it looks like as it first comes in:

You can see that our circuit traces have lost their width but the solids for the square pads are OK. To convert this to a part, we have to selected the closed regions (i.e. the pads) and extrude them along Z. The actual thickness is about 0.0014 inch (assuming 1 oz.copper) but we will use 0.004 inch so that we can actually see something in 3D.

In order to extrude this, I had to first delete the sketch lines for the traces (as they don't form a closed body they can't be there), select the rest of the 2D sketch lines and then use the extude/boss function to extrude by 0.004 inch in the Z direction. I also set the material to copper which gives the data its brownish color.

I can now save this as a 'part' we'll call TOP_LAYER.SLDPRT

So you can see that to import just one layer requires several manual steps and we have yet to be able to import the traces.

Importing Gerber/DXF from PCB into SolidWorks

As the design of PCB's becomes more complex, the need to do 3D modeling of a printed circuit board also becomes more important. Many PCB design tools have an interface to SolidWorks via the IDF file format -- however this approach is useful mostly for components, connectors, board outline and mounting holes. If you need conductor and plated through hole data in 3D, IDF is not a good solution. And, of course, if your PCB layout tool does not support IDF you are out of luck.

AutoCAD DXF?

An initial thought is to use SolidWorks ability to import AutoCAD's DWG/DXF format as a way to move the board data into SolidWorks. For example, it is pretty easy to convert most Gerber files into DXF. However those that have tried this have found it does not work as well as one would hope.

Issues?

Pdf expert for mac license key. Polylines with width not supported - SolidWorks doesn't read the width of the polyline (this may have changed in recent versions of SW) so if you are using polylines with width in AutoCAD to represent traces you lose them.

Layers not Supported - most PCBs have multiple layers and you want the conductors on each layer to stay on the layer. If you try to import multiple layers into solidworks you'll find that they all get mushed together.

Manual Extrusions - You'll have to manually select the lines/arcs and extrude them to get a 'part' in Solidworks. While this is not a problem for a few pieces, a large PCB makes this quite aggravating. Skyrim essential followers list.

No Z Data - assuming you have a 'stack' of conductor and dielectric layers, you have to import them one at time and then assemble them. Again, very time consuming.

Material Properties - it would be nice if you could pass the fact that your conductors are copper and that your board is FR4 (or alumina or whatever material) but these attributes have to be attached manually.

Examples of DXF into SolidWorks

It might be worthwhile to actually demonstrate some of these issues mentioned above. We are going to run two experiments: Gerber to DXF using a standard converter and Gerber to DXF using Artworks GBRUNION. What is the difference?

Here is the set of Gerber Files we are going to use for our demo

Solidworks Pcb Tutorial

Solidworks Pcb Open Gerber Files Online

The red layer is the top.gbr, the green layer is the bottom.gbr, the blue layer is an inner power/ground (drawn in reverse as is typical for such layers) and the yellow layer represents the drill data which runs all the way through the board. A magenta layer is hardly visible but contains the board outline. You can download the set of Gerber files as solidworks_gerber.zip