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PADS Part-Type Name in Batch Create Mode

Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Product Suggestions
Forum Description: request new features
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=819
Printed Date: 25 Nov 2024 at 3:32am


Topic: PADS Part-Type Name in Batch Create Mode
Posted By: lalexman
Subject: PADS Part-Type Name in Batch Create Mode
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 6:01am
Please add the ability to have the pads part name saved in the FPE library so when you create a pads decal/part  either individually or in batch mode the pads part name is taken from a field in the library .


Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 7:45am
I think you miss the point of the Disclaimer.
 
No one is supposed to process any library data using FPE.fpx. Rather you are supposed to copy/paste the parts you need in your PCB layouts out of FPE and transfer them you your personal FPX file and when doing so, check the datasheet and the dimensions to ensure they are accurate. Do not ever trust the dimensional data in FPE.fpx. If you do not check it and you create a library that does not work PCB Libraries, Inc. is not responsible.
 
I am telling everyone straight up that there are 2,000 parts that have duplicate footprint names but the Thermal Pad and Lead Terminal Tolerances are significantly different.
 
The more parts that I add to FPE.fpx the more I appreciate the Mfr. Recommended Solder Pattern. So I think everyone should have two FPX files.
  1. FPX file that uses "User Preference Rules" for footprint creation
  2. FPX file that uses the "Mfr. Recommended Solder Pattern" for footprint creation

If I were creating a library for a company I would use every Mfr. Recommended Solder Pattern that was available. I've been comparing the pad size and spacing results of the IPC-7351C with the component manufacturer recommendations and many times there is a vast difference, so much so that it makes me wonder if the component manufacturer fully tested their pattern using thermal cycling, stress, shock and vibration.

 
There are some component families where I would always (100%) use the mfr. recommended solder pattern and one of them is Ocsillators. I can't find one Oscillator in the FPE.fpx where the resulting IPC solder pattern comes even close to matching the mfr. recommended solder pattern.
 
However, I would always (100%) trust the solder pattern produced using IPC-7351C rules for Gull Wing, J-Lead, Chip and other component familes. My rule of thumb is that I always compare every pattern pad size and spacing with the mfr. recommended pad size and spacing and if the difference is greater than 20 mils (0.5 mm) for any dimension, I would tend to use the mfr. recommendation. Even for Chip components and Electrolytic Capacitors.
 
An example of this is the TO DPAK patterns. These are mostly voltage regulators and if International Rectifier provided robust (larger) pad sizes for the Gull Wing leads and the Thermal Pad, I would trust their pattern because they tested it to handle the voltage requirements for that particular electronic package device.
 
Creating a high quality professional PCB library is an art and everyone should use common sense and educational information when building it. Trusting a single source is not the answer any more. And Batch Creating thousands of library parts is not the best or wisest solution for every component package.
 

Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 7:54am
Sorry I did not mean the actual FPE library file you provided but please the add capability to a library I am able to create. We have discussed this previously and I did not see it for the new changes for PADS.

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 7:56am
The Footprint Expert automates the creation of mfr. recommended solder patterns. Use the "Footprint" tab and enter the pad sizes and spacing. All drafting items for silkscreen, assembly, courtyard, ref des, solder mask, paste mask, pad shape, rotation (pin 1 loacation) will adhere to your User Preferences.
 
Only the pad size and spacing are modified to match the mfr. recommended pattern. That's all that they provide anyway.
 
In the near future, we will be releasing the Package Editor for both through-hole and surface mount which auomates footprint creation for non-standard component packages and the mfr. recommended hole size, but no component mfr. will ever recommend the padstack sizes and that's where you personal rule file automates padstack creation and a simple component body outline automates all drafting items for silkscreen, assembly, 3D model, courtyard and ref des based on your personal rule file.
 

Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:01am
Maybe  I am not being clear.
 
When I create my own library in the footprint expert , since I use PADS, I want to be able to save in the library a footprint name and also a different Part name. This way when I batch create my PADS library I can have different parts names then the decal names. Previously we had discusssed this and you stated you needed to add some software to do this.

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:02am
In the V2013, every CAD tool will have unique features that pretain to that CAD tool. So there will be a separate GUI for PADS users in the "Setup > Preferences" to allow PADS users to define all of their personal settings that are specific to outputting PADS data.
 
Allegro will have it's own set of features and so on. It's coming, be we first had to lay down the basics for each CAD tool and now we'll be defining the specifics.

Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:04am
So will we be able to create a library with our own decal name and part name  ? And then create a PADS library in batch mode with these decal names and part names ?

Posted By: JZsori
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:07am
Also in PADS will we be able to add a polarity attribute (either "1" or dot) so that it is movable?  Really helps clean things up after routing is done.

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:17am
The V2013 program is being set up to allow the user to pull the "Footprint Name" column attribute from the FPX file to auto-generate the PADS "Decal" and the "Part Number" column attribute from the FPX file to auto-generate the Part Type. So the User will be able to define custom Footprint Names and Part Numbers and the selections will be -
  • Create Decal and Part Type using the Footprint Name
  • Create Decal using Footprint Name and Part Type using Part Number

There will also be attributes added but the user must define the "Letter or Character" that they want to use, like lower case "o" or "1" and this will be added to every Footprint by Pin 1. This will only be available to PADS users and therefore a separate PADS User GUI must be created so if does not affect other CAD tool exports.

The V2013 Footprint Expert will support 17 different CAD tools and they all have unique attributes and features.
 

Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:19am
Ok Sounds Great Tom. Thanks for the info. I look forward to the V2013 version!

Posted By: JZsori
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:21am
Also looking forward to 2013 version.  Appreciate all your efforts.

Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2013 at 8:30am
Pulsonix has a built-in attribute called <Logic Name> that's used to enter the pin function of an IC pin, or the polarity of an electrolytic capacitor or diode.

On my footprints I add the <Logic Name> attribute on silkscreen and assembly drawing layers for the +ve pin of an electrolytic capacitor so it's moveable when editing the silkscreen, and when moving it the component the attribute is tied to is highlighted.

I wonder if the Pulsonix PADS import would recognise the PADS equivilent you describe and be able to deal with it?

Currently Pulsonix will recognise the "Ref.Des" appearing in PADS ascii and map it to <Component Name>, and also recognise "Part Type" and map it to <Part Name>.

Presumeably if the PADS attribute you're talking about appears in a similar way then Pulsonix may already be able to handle it (just that I've never seen it before in a PADS ascii output).  If it isn't able to handle it at present a nice word to the Pulsonix Developers at WestDev may get it added.

Something worth looking into in the future.

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2013 at 11:01am
Was this feature implemented to your satisfaction?
 


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Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2013 at 5:23pm
Was PADS Layout "Part Type" name added to the batch library function?
 

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2013 at 6:21am
Our idea was to use the FPX file mfr. "Part Number" column in the FPX file to auto-generate the "Part Type" and the "Footprint" column to auto-generate the "Decal" name.
 
The problem we ran into is that only PADS Layout has this issue (it's unique to PADS).
 
So we're still tinkering with it.
 


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Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2013 at 6:29am
Would it be possible to just create a new column with a specific name like Pads-Part-Name and if the software sees you are generating pads decals it then can look for a column with that name to get the different part name. This way it only happens when generating decals for pads ?

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2013 at 6:35am
Please work directly with Chris Arnold on this feature.
 
Chris is currently on vacation until the end of the month, but you can email him and he will respond.
 
Chris is the CAD tool interface software programmer and can just about do anything with the program, but we need to involve other PADS customers too so that we implement something that everyone can live with.
 
 


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Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2013 at 6:39am
Thanks Tom,
 
I will email him. Also we talked about adding other defaults to the pads interface that were missing. One item was text orientation . You had mentioned this would be implemented . Is this still a plan ? Should I just list what I would like to see and send it to Chris ?
 
 
 
 

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2013 at 6:51am
Chris Arnold is the CAD interface programmer. All features that are unique to any CAD tool need to be approved and implemented by Chris.
 
What we need for each CAD tool is a separate GUI control panel with all the unique features for that CAD tool. Example: Allegro has many features that other CAD tools do not have and Chris needs to create an Allegro Control Panel to allow Allegro users to program the custom feature like "No Probe Test Point Keep-out" or "Place Bound Layer" or "Mechanical Pins", etc.
 
This needs to be created for every CAD tool, not just PADS.
 
Chris's email is: first name dot last name at pcblibraries dot com (if I post his email address in the forum it will be picked up by junk mail search bots and he'll be bombed with unnecessary email).
 


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Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 7:28am
Hi Tom,
 
I realize you are all busy but I have sent two emails to Chris without a response in regards to additional features to the pads interface. If you are not planning to add any changes please let me know .
 
Thanks!
 
Lenny Alexman

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 7:45am
There will not be any updates until September when our main programmer for the GUI comes back from vacation.
 
Also, Chris is totally tied up with completing the 3D STEP models for every through-hole component family.
 
We haven't forgot this and it will happen (eventually).
 


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Posted By: lalexman
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 7:52am
OK. Thanks for the update.


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