Disabling Model Body Outline
Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
Forum Description: issues and technical support
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=920
Printed Date: 19 Nov 2024 at 5:16am
Topic: Disabling Model Body Outline
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Subject: Disabling Model Body Outline
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 4:19am
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Is there a way of disabling the model body outline when building a library? When using the Diptrace output option, the body outline and the centroid marker ends up on the silkscreen layer, both of which can end up over the pads. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 7:07am
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You can turn off any outline (Silkscreen, Assembly, Courtyard, 3D Model, Ref Des, etc.) by changing the line width to zero "0". If you have the "Full Version" you can permanently turn off an outline in "Setup > User Preferences > Drafting (Tab)". If you have the "Lite Version" you have to manually do this in the "Drafting Tab" for every new footprint. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 2:51pm
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I tried that, but if I set "Model Body Outline Width" to zero, it gives an error "Entry must be greater than zero" and sets it back to the previous value. The courtyard also ends up on the silkscreen with a width of 0.05. Does this cause a problem with the PCB manufacturers, as a lot of them can't print lines that small. Do I just attach a note saying, I don't mind if the silkscreen lines thinner than 0.12 are partially printed or not visible. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 10:35pm
| I don't know what is happening here, this thread has been moved to bug reports, and now back to questions and answers. But my last questions have not been answered. |
Posted By: Jeff.M
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 8:06am
| Fixed in V2012.50. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 1:33pm
This is not fixed in V2012.50. I just downloaded V2012.51 this morning and I still can't set the "Model Body Outline Width" to zero. |
Jeff.M wrote:Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 1:37pm
How do I address this issue? I don't want to turn off the courtyard. Is it even a problem? |
Posted By: Jeff.M
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 2:17pm
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The model outline isn't part of the translated output so there's no provision for turning it off other than turning off the 'Model Outline' layer in the FPX viewer display. The courtyard layer is never part of the CAM output. It's only there to enhance your CAD DFM checking to prevent parts from being placed with overlapping courtyards. You shouldn't need to include any notes to your Fab shop.
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Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 4:41pm
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The fact is that using the default options with the DipTrace output, and importing into Diptrace leaves silkscreen traces over pads. The centroid marker covers pads on small components (this can be turned off). Perhaps it is not the model body outline that is the problem, it is something with a 0.001mm width and matches the component outline that ends up on the silkscreen. The courtyard is placed on the silkscreen layer when imported into DipTrace. I assume you have actually tested this with DipTrace, can you tell me if I need to change any of the default options in the full version of PCB Footprint Expert to make it work? Some of the things that need to be changed from default are: Turn off the centroid marker. Set the PADS output format to 2007. Turn off the model body outline? Some other problems that are DipTrace issues. Diptrace currently won't import a component where all the pads are not the same shape. For a QFN I have to manually edit the PADS file to remove extra pad definitions, import into DipTrace then edit the incorrect pads back to the correct shape. DipTrace does not import the paste mask, so for QFN parts I have to add the crosshatched paste mask using the DipTrace pattern editor. Diptrace can't do batch updates of component footprints. You have to manually re-attach the footprint to each component when you make a change to the library. This is a real pain when you have a significant number of components using the same footprint. |
Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 1:25am
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Hi David, I hope you don't mind if I but in here but it sounds like my experience in importing PADS ascii into Pulsonix may be relevant. I think you're using the PADS ascii output for import to Diptrace rather like I use the PADS ascii for import into Pulsonix. The 3D body outline is on PADS layer "25" and the courtyard and crosshair are on PADS layer "20". The Pulsonix PADS ascii importer lets you create a mapping file that will map PADS layer numbers to specific layers in Pulsonix. The guide for importing PADS ascii into Pulsonix is here, if you want to see: http://www.pcblibraries.com/products/fpx/userguide/default.asp?ch=201 I map PADS layer 20 (the courtyard) to a layer in Pulsonix called "Placement Area Top" in Pulsonix. If you don't use a mapping file, or don't include mapping for PADS layers 25 and 20 in Pulsonix then Pulsonix will still import all data on these layers but import them to the silkscreen layer by default. The PADS ascii import for free version of DipTrace doesn't have any "mapping" option that I can see so I guess DipTrace does the same and imports anything on layers 20 and 25 to the silkscreen by default. Your options appear to be to change the Preferences in FPX to a line width of 0 for "Courtyard Outline Width" and "Model Body Outline Width", disable "Include Centroid Marker" to prevent these being included in the PADS ascii output, or ask the DipTrace authors to include some form of layer mapping for PADS ascii import. |
Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 2:02am
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Hi David, A little extra bit! You mentioned that there was silkscreen running over your pads but this isn't actually silkscreen but the component outline on the Assembly drawing. This is another PADS numbered layer. I think it's either 26 or 27, and silkscreen top is also either 26 or 27. Off the top of my head I don't know which is which. Again, because there's no "mapping" of PADS ascii layers to DipTrace then DipTrace is putting the Assembly Drawing outline on the Silkscreen. It happens to be the same line width as the nominal silkscreen line width by default. You can turn this off by changing "Assembly Outline Width" to 0. James |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 4:02am
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Hi James, Thanks for your help. However the Footprint Expert DipTrace output option only lists the following layers (in the create footprint dialog box): Solder Mask, Paste Mask, Silkscreen Outline, Assembly Outline. The Pulsonix output option also lists Courtyard Outline and 3D Model Outline. DipTrace appears to be importing the Assembly Outline correctly, so I assume it is Footprint Expert that is mapping the 3D Model Outline and the Courtyard Outline to the Silkscreen Outline. |
Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 5:57am
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No, it's not Footprint Expert that's doing the mapping but Diptrace. If you open the .d file you should see some lines like this: CLOSED 5 0.05 20 -1The "20" near the end of the line is the PADS layer number. These are the instructions to draw a closed rectangle for the Courtyard outline, and a circle and two lines for the cross-ahairs, all on layer 20 in PADS. Simarly, there'll also be: CLOSED 5 0.001 25 -1The "25" here is PADS layer 25 for the 3D model outline. It sounds like DipTrace doesn't recognise these two layers, and there may not be an equivilent layer in DipTrace for it to be mapped to. Actually out of the box Pulsonix doesn't have any equivilent layer to PADS 20 or 25, but I created some layers and layer classes in my technology files way back when I stated using the original PCB Wizard software with the PADS ascii output, and also created the mapping file to map these layers myself. In Pulsonix its just a case of matching up layers on one half of the screen from PADS with ones on the other half in Pulsonix then clicking SAVE MAPPING FILE. I only downloaded the freebie version of DipTrace - I don't know if you can do something similar? If you can't then I'd suggest it as feature to add to the DipTrace authors and in the mean time change the line widths to 0 in Setup Preferences in FPX so they are not included in the output. James |
Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 6:07am
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I didn't quite read your first bit correctly where you talked about the DipTrace output from FPX. I see what you are saying here now, that you don't have the option to change the layer number for the Courtyard Outline, nor 3D Model Outline in the Create Footprint dialogue. I've just noticed a small typo here! In the Pulsonix Create Footprint dialogue it says "3D Model Oultline" instead of "3D Model Outline"! Certainly 20 and 25 are the usual default layer numbers in PADS for these, that I've seen in every PADS footprint I've imported from various different sources - not just FPX - so I guess DipTrace just doesn't recognise these layers. |
Posted By: jameshead
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 6:17am
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David, I checked to make sure and 2012.51 FPX works correctly in that if you change the Courtyard Outline Width to 0.00, de-select "Include Centroid marker with Courtyard" and changed "3-D Model Outline Width" then these items will not be included in a PADS 2007 .d file output for the "Pulsonix" output, and I loaded in to DipTrace okay. *PADS-LIBRARY-PCB-DECALS-V2007*The contents of the .d file are above. If you copy and paste this into a text file and save it as trial2.d you can try and import it yourself to see. In the footprint if you click the Drafting tab you can change these settings on the fly, per footprint, or you can use Setup and User Preferences, select Drafting and change them permanently here under USER but then select USER for Environment under the Design tab. James |
Posted By: Jeff.M
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 6:36am
| I was wrong about exporting the model outline...it is included in the output (Iwas thinking about the terminal outlines which are not exported). To disable the model outline, set the width to zero. Its the very last item on the references drafting tab. This worked in the few parts I tried but if you find it isn't working for you it may be a part-specific bug. In that case please let me know the component thats giving you trouble. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 1:36pm
If I click on Setup "User Preferences" or "Default Preferences" and then the Drafting tab, I can't set the model outline width to zero. I have tried this with v2012.50 and v2012.51. I have now found that I can set the "3-D Model Outline Width" to zero on the Drafting tab individually for each component. If I "Build Current Footprint" this works, but if I "Build Library Selection" the "User Preferences" or "Default Preferences" take over and I end up with the model outline on the silkscreen again. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 1:46pm
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I just tried the Pulsonix output option with "PCB Footprint Expert Lite" (I only have the full version for the DipTrace output option). If I set the "Courtyard Outline" and "3D Model Outline" to layer 27, then these layers end up on the assembly layer when imported into DipTrace. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 2:09pm
I just had a look at the PADS file created using the DipTrace output option. The "Courtyard Outline" and the "3D Model Outline" are still placed on layers 20 and 25 respectively, Footprint Expert just does not give the option of changing them. DipTrace is mapping layers 20 and 25 onto the silkscreen. Is it possible for PCB Libraries to update Footprint Expert so that the "Create Footprint" dialog box for the DipTrace output option has the same fields as the Pulsonix output option. I would then be able to map the courtyard and model outline where I liked (probably the Assembly layer is the only possibility). |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 2:20pm
Thanks for your help. I have mentioned in some posts this morning that I can get the Pulsonix output option to work with DipTrace (but only with the Footprint Expert Lite version unfortunately). |
Posted By: chrisa_pcb
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2013 at 4:42pm
| I've set it to show the Courtyard and 3D Model Outline Layers for Diptrace. It'll be in 2013, which should be the next release. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2013 at 2:34pm
It appears this has not made it to the draft version of v2013 yet. Is it going to be possible to turn off the body outline in the user preferences drafting tab? Tom H seemed to think it should be possible in the second post of this thread. |
Posted By: dwaltoneng
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 3:12pm
Thanks for adding this. The library was not usable in DipTrace before this.
This is still not possible through Setup->UserPreferences. However it works if you edit "C:\Program Files\PCB Libraries\FPX 2013\UserPreferences.dat" and set ModelOutlineWidth="0". |