The method we would like to choose is to Create a new SOLIDWORKS drawing and Convert to SOLIDWORKS entities. Tech Tip: You can also import your.DWG or.DXF files as a new part file in either a 2D or 3D Sketch. Hitting Next will present you with the ability to choose which layers and where they will be imported to in your SOLIDWORKS. A SOLIDWORKS PCB project is a set of design documents whose output defines a single implementation. For example, the schematics and PCB in a PCB project include the fileset required to manufacture a single printed circuit board. The Role of the project File. The set of design documents that make up the project are bought together by the project. Here is a list of Best Free Gerber Viewer Software for Windows. These software let you open and view Gerber files (GRB files) with the help of their extensive tool set. Some of the software listed below are Gerber editor software as well, and let you view as well as make changes to Gerber PCB designs. Jan 19, 2018 The files have now been converted to the corresponding SOLIDWORKS PCB file format with all references intact. To learn more about SOLIDWORKS PCB. Visit our SOLIDWORKS PCB product page, check out our other PCB blog articles, follow us on YouTube or give us a call at 1-877-219-6757 to speak with an electrical expert.
Library Management Tools
Easily create and manage schematic, footprint, and integrated libraries directly within SOLIDWORKS PCB. There are a variety of tools to create schematic symbols and PCB footprints including an IPC compliant footprint wizard.
SOLIDWORKS 3D Collaboration
Seamlessly collaborate ECAD designs between electrical and mechanical teams. There's no exporting or importing files - all communication and 3D board information is communicated through the built-in SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector. This connector ensures that the PCB is going to fit in an enclosure, and if not, it can be modified and pushed back to the electrical designer. The connector also allows for silkscreen and copper to be represented in 3D.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Integration
SOLIDWORKS PCB can be integrated with SOLIDWORKS PDM to securely manage all the files that are inherently required for an ECAD design, including revision control. Projects can begin inside of PDM and have part numbers generated automatically. Post it notes for mac os x.
Schematic Layout
Powerful and intuitive schematic layout tools allow designers to create the intelligence behind the printed circuit board with ease. Build circuits by drag and dropping components from the library and connect components with intelligent wiring tools. Automatically annotate components formulaically to ensure unique component identifiers. Designers can also run spice simulations to confirm that the circuit is set up correctly.
Supplier Links
When designing a printed circuit board, it's essential to have an up to date Bill of Materials. SOLIDWORKS PCB can create and manage supplier links that connect to live supplier databases, showing datasheets, stock availability, and cost of real-life components.
PCB Layout
Create printed circuit boards quickly and easily by importing nets and components from the schematic. Interactively route traces from a single or multiple pads at the same time, generate board stackups that contain up to 32 mechanical and single layers, and create customized design rules to meet requirements.
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?
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.
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. Taken game for mac. 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.
Easily create and manage schematic, footprint, and integrated libraries directly within SOLIDWORKS PCB. There are a variety of tools to create schematic symbols and PCB footprints including an IPC compliant footprint wizard.
SOLIDWORKS 3D Collaboration
Seamlessly collaborate ECAD designs between electrical and mechanical teams. There's no exporting or importing files - all communication and 3D board information is communicated through the built-in SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector. This connector ensures that the PCB is going to fit in an enclosure, and if not, it can be modified and pushed back to the electrical designer. The connector also allows for silkscreen and copper to be represented in 3D.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Integration
SOLIDWORKS PCB can be integrated with SOLIDWORKS PDM to securely manage all the files that are inherently required for an ECAD design, including revision control. Projects can begin inside of PDM and have part numbers generated automatically. Post it notes for mac os x.
Schematic Layout
Powerful and intuitive schematic layout tools allow designers to create the intelligence behind the printed circuit board with ease. Build circuits by drag and dropping components from the library and connect components with intelligent wiring tools. Automatically annotate components formulaically to ensure unique component identifiers. Designers can also run spice simulations to confirm that the circuit is set up correctly.
Supplier Links
When designing a printed circuit board, it's essential to have an up to date Bill of Materials. SOLIDWORKS PCB can create and manage supplier links that connect to live supplier databases, showing datasheets, stock availability, and cost of real-life components.
PCB Layout
Create printed circuit boards quickly and easily by importing nets and components from the schematic. Interactively route traces from a single or multiple pads at the same time, generate board stackups that contain up to 32 mechanical and single layers, and create customized design rules to meet requirements.
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?
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.
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. Taken game for mac. 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?
GBR2DXF
round pads to circles in DXF draws to polylines with width no support for negative or paint/scratch layer operations supports multiple layers no understanding of drill holes no understanding of stackup position | GBRUNion
can recover arcs and circles support for negative or paint/scratch layer operations supports multiple layers no understanding of drill holes no understanding of stackup position |
Here is the set of Gerber Files we are going to use for our demo
Solidworks Pcb Training
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
