PCB imports are a drag.

[FreddyB]

Hi,
I have a number of PCBs in my assembly. They have been imported as an IDF through CircuitWorks. Despite trying everything such as saving as a part, skin only, bodies too and even using as an assembly, the boards really make my PC struggle. For some reason I can't load them as lightweight parts.

Is there a way of reducing the file size to something much smaller and hence quicker?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Have you tried saving to Parasolid format and then re-importing as a dumb solid?

If the part/assy is still too large, you may have to manually simplify it by removing uneccessary detail.

 

[MadMango]

I wish I had the luxury of importing IDFs. The software our designers use only export DXF... that's a pain. CBL has teh right approach, create a simple representation for daily use, and leave the detailed one intact for specific use.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[macduff]

MadMango,
You can import IDF's in SW. Everyone has the capability in SW. It's called CircuitWorks lite. Go to file open and use the dropdown for file extensions.

FreddyB,
Try saving the SW CircuitWorks assemblies as a part. It might be less taxing on the file size. It's pretty much a dumb solid, but ME's really do not need to modify the PDB's anyways.

Just a thought,

Colin

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 4.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[FreddyB]

Hi Macduff,

I already use the PCB as a 'part'. It just doesn't seem to help. I'm going to try the Parasolid suggestion though and post back how it does.

 

[macduff]

FreddyB,
Sorry, I missed that in your thread. Let me know how it goes.

Best,

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 4.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[MadMango]

Macduff, I know I can import IDFs, but our electronics designers cannot EXPORT that file format, only DXFs.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[macduff]

What ECAD software to they use?

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 4.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[MadMango]

Not sure of the program... whatever it is, its obviously basic, cheap, and "good enough" for their purposes. I'll have to check back on Monday to get your answer. I'm sure you will be amused.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[ShaggyPE]

Back to FreddyB's post. ;-)

Freddy,
Try removing as many unnecessary features as possible. All of the edges and faces are what is slowing down your system. If the components come in as separate bodies, suppress them. Get just the basics on there and your performance will pick up.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[FreddyB]

Hi ShaggyPE

I could be accused of not wanting to help myself here; I have a very compact assembly where the PCB is sandwiched in very closely to other parts. I literally have mating mechanical components fitting down between electronic components on the board. In fact I have two or more PCB boards where even the parts on those in some cases mesh. For that reason the main benefit of having the board as it really is is that I can anticipate the assembly. There are times when removing all of the components and substituting for a lesser number of volumes would help but most of the time I am stuck with what I have.

 

[ShaggyPE]

I hear you on that. I have worked in situations you describe... not as heavily intertwined, but somewhat intertwined. sounds like you may be stuck. Just attempt to eliminate as much as possible without compromising your available volume information.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[Gurjjeet]

FreddyB

You do not need to take out the components out of your PCB. Only simplify them...The size of the file is related to the compexity not the Volume. E.g. instead of an intricate IC witha lot of small connectors thru the PCB you can do with a rectangular extrude which does not have all the detail but a indicative size.

Parasolid/IGES should really work in this situation. I remember doing a big complex part (which had a lot of surface modelling involved) on my home basic PC. All I did was saving as IGES & losing all the feature tree & keep working further.

Good Luck

 

[GRF]

You could eliminate any vias or non plated holes unless you are referencing them in your assembly.
also if you are getting IDF4 or 5 files you do not need the graphical representation of the copper layers on top. I can only get IDF 2 from Pads so do not get the luxury of dealing with that.

 

[MadMango]

Macduff, FYI, our design software is Novarm's DipTrace.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[macduff]

MadMango,
Never heard of it. Must Google....}:O)


Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 4.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[pierdesign]

I have used Circuitworks a lot. I have not experienced your problems of extreme slow CPU and I have many PCB assemblies with thousands of PTH, NPTH and components. Everyone's situation is different, so here are some general findings:

Just about every Circuitworks - Solidworks issue I have experienced is with PCB geometry, not any component geomtry.

All eCAD file translation out cannnot handle radii, circles are OK, instead outputting chordal derivative. If the eCAD translator sets a very small chordal deviation, all your radii can be thousands of elements.

Many eCAD output on holes and board corners is inconsistent: PCB corners are sub-micron radii or chamfers, holes are 2, 3, 4 items overlapped. Occasionally PCB holes of multiple circles will be different size, again by microns, creating multibody solids where there should be just one hole.

Circuitworks library function is actually as close to an epitome of CAD simplicity as it comes. Provided you let Circuitworks make its own component library of silkscreen outline based block solids. Many people lust after JEDEC standard component library, Pin 1 etc: just added complexity to something understated, simple and robust that Circuitworks got right.

Some electrical engineers will use component outlines from dubious sources, i.e. IGES files into eCAD. Then, that same IGES file retranslated... This is often thru-hole connectors. I re-download them in parasolid or STEP and put in clean models.

I group all PCB components into a folder I name "COMPONENTS" then suppress that folder.

The only Circuitworks custom setting is to automatically put a fix geometric constraint to every component and the PCB.

Lastly, I use Circuitworks full that comes with Solidworks professional. I found Circuitworks Lite to be marginal usability. Changing PCB geometry and holes and outputting BRD file for eCAD is very worthwhile practice.