SolidWorks IDF Modeler

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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.

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How Does it Work?

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

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Integrated into SolidWorks
File Menu
Toolbar
Help Menu
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Creating An Assembly from IDFFiles

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

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IDF Board File
IDF Library File
Assembly Folder
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IDF Import Settings Tab
Folder for SolidWorks parts
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IDF Import Options Tab
Select PCB hole types to Import
Filter holes by size
Filter Keepouts by type
Select how parts are named in the Assembly
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IDF Import Select Parts Tab
Filter Parts by Height
If any boxes checked, only selected parts are
added to the Assembly
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IDF Import Auto Parts Tab
Review part Heights
Set color of Auto Parts
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IDF Import File Names Tab
Set filenames
Option to save settings
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Create Assembly Button Options
Creates Assembly
Click on Arrow
Creates Board Outline Part
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Part for PCB is automatically created
Auto Part
Part from Library
Drilled Holes
Place Keepout
Designators used as Feature Manager Names
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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

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Update Assembly Options

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

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Creating IDF Files from an Assembly

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

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IDF Export
Set name of IDF files
Choose IDF version
Choose IDF units
Choose target ECAD system
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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
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Options for relating IDF Package Name to Parts

1. Use IDF Package Name
2. Use an Xref file an ASCII that maps the IDF
   Package name to a Part name

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

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PCB Tools

• Allow you to start your PCB design in SolidWorks

Part commands
Assembly commands
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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