Panelization module improvements

Multi-product panels

Available only with pro license

In many cases, it may be desirable to put several different boards together into a panel. For example, by putting the different boards in a system together into a panel, it would be possible to order one panel per system. Often, the price of a multi-product panel will be substantially lower than the price of the same quantity of boards ordered individually.

Select a board in the product browser and open the panelization module. Press Ctrl+R to open the product chooser, which lists all board products that match the stackup (or number of layers) and finish/colors (if selected) of the first product. Drag a product from the product list into the panel to add the board to the panel. Move the board to the desired location and click to place the board.

All boards should be placed on the panel before adding tabs, fiducials, drill holes, etc. If no tabs are added to the panel, then the boards will be delivered as individual boards.

Move and rotate boards within a panel

Available only with pro license

Any board in a panel may be moved or rotated as desired. Draw a selection rectangle over part of a board's contour to select the board. The board will move with the mouse, but will automatically snap to align with the edges of neighboring boards. Press Ctrl to disable snap. Press the space bar to rotate 90 degrees. Click to place the board into the panel.

Add assembly masks to a panel

Available only with pro license

Add data for peel-off mask (blue mask), paste mask, glue mask, carbon or hard gold to a panel.

Often, the necessary data for assembly masks is missing from the Gerber files created by the board designer. Especially in cases where assembly is being done by an EMS provider, this missing data can be a problem. It is the EMS provider who knows the processes and needs to specify the masks, but getting this information to the board designer early enough to be included in the design is usually not possible. With this feature, the mask areas may be specified by the production engineer while creating the assembly panel.

Masks are specified by drawing rectangles on the panel. The user selects whether the mask will be applied to the entire rectangle or to all soldermask openings within the rectangle. This is repeated at the same location on all instances of the same board. The following assembly masks (top or bottom side) may be defined:

• Peel-off mask (Blue mask): Used to protect a region from the solder process(es). Normally applied to an entire rectangle.
• Paste mask: Defines openings in a solder mask stencil. This data may then be used in the Stencil Module to create a stencil product. Normally applied to pads within the rectangle.
• Glue mask: Defines openings in a glue mask stencil. Normally applied to an entire rectangle drawn between the pads of a component.
• Hard gold: Defines which pads should have a hard (electrolytic) gold (finger contact) finish. Normally applied to pads within the rectangle.
• Carbon: Defines which pads should have a carbon (finger contact) finish. Normally applied to pads within the rectangle.

Import module improvements

Define custom stackups

Specify custom layer buildups as a "free build" or a "constrained build" .

• Free build: Define the copper layers and total thickness
• Constrained build: Define the copper layers and the individual dielectric layers thicknesses

Dielectric layers may be specified by thickness or by prepreg glass style. Combinationions of prepregs (such as 1x1080+2x7628) are permitted.

The thickness tolerance may be specified. However, one should only choose a tolerance different from the default value of 10% if required by the design, due to the potential for substantial
increases in production costs and lead time.

Commonly used dielectric materials may be selected from the drop-down box, or the material may be specified as a text string.

Right-click on the word "Metal" to add plating above or below an inner layer, for use with buried vias or sequential buildup.

Fiducial marks at specified coordinates.

Fiducials may be added to a board at specified coordinates by pressing Ctrl+Alt and then clicking on the board.

Stencil module improvements

Split large stencil openings into an array of smaller openings

Often it is desirable to split a large stencil opening into an array of smaller openings. This can give better control over the total amount of solder paste deposited on a large pad. The number of columns and rows in the array may be specified, as well as the size of the split openings. By default, the split openings are reduced 10% relative to the un-split opening size. The viewer allows the user to see how the opening will be split prior to applying changes to the stencil.

View pad size adjustments

All of the pad size adjustments are listed in a table on the Shape Manipulation tab. Clicking on a row in the list causes the pads with that adjustment to be highlighted. This feature makes it easy to see what adjustments have been made to which pads.

Product browser improvements

Add assembly masks to existing products

Available only with pro license

Add data for peel-off mask (blue mask), paste mask, glue mask, carbon or hard gold to an existing product by selecting the product and clicking the Add masks button. Assembly mask data is added in the same manner as for panels (described above).

Standard folders

Four new standard folders have been added to the product browser.

• Shipped orders: Orders which have been shipped within the past week.
• Recent orders: Orders placed within the past 3 months.
• Global products: Products which may be purchased by anyone. These are typically kits for student projects.
• Bargain products: Products which are in stock at the supplier (due to overproduction) and which may be available for a reduced price.

Product search

It is now possible to choose between "begins with", "ends with", "equals" and "contains" when searching for a product.

Product history

A new progress indicator shows the status of active orders.

Import module improvements

More silkscreen symbols

Add ESD-susceptibliity and RoHs symbols to the component legend or solder mask layer of your board. You can also add an annotation field (a filled rectangle) for adding serial numbers or other handwritten information.

Bar code

Add a bar code to the component legend layer of your board. Bar codes are generated in standard Code128-B format.

Define custom stackups

Specify custom layer buildups in detail with the new custom build definition module in the stackup selection dialog box. Or choose one of your previously defined custom stackups.

Right-click on the stackup viewer to open a detailed stackup diagram in PDF format.

Fiducial marks

Add fiducial marks to your board. If Pick and place data or paste mask data exist, then fiducials are added to those layers as well.

New autolink filters

Pre-defined autolink filters have been added for Proteus and CADint 4.x

Panelization module improvements

Bar code

Add a bar code to the component legend layer of the panel frame. Bar codes are generated in standard Code128-B format.

Annotation field

Add an annotation field (a filled rectangle) for adding serial numbers or other handwritten information to the frame of a panel.

Stencil module improvements

Improved shape manipulations

Select and highlight objects before adjusting them. Select all objects having the same size/shape. Shapes adjustments are made relative to the size of the corresponding copper pad. Corner rounding may be specified.

Objects may be deleted

Select and delete unwanted objects from the stencil data. Delete unused frames from the frame manager.

Product browser improvements

Product browser columns

Two new configurable columns (Article and Description) have been added to the product browser. Use Show/hide columns in the View menu to turn them on or off.

Product info

Right-click on the stackup viewer to open a detailed stackup diagram in PDF format or to copy a simple stackup diagram to the clipboard in text format.

Product viewer

Add documentation files to a product. Right-click on the file list (below the layer list) to add a file to the product. This feature is intended for keeping component assembly documentation together with the product. (Note: Documents added to a product after an order has been placed will not necessarily be used by the manufacturer.)

If a product contains a UL-mark, this is indicated with a text just above the cursor coordinates.

Product history

An expected shipment date column has been added to the product history view.

Stencil Product Creator

Create a new solder paste stencil product from an existing PCB product or from a Gerber file. Choose from one of our pre-defined stencil frames, or upload your own. Reduce opening sizes globally or individually and see the results compared to the copper pads. Once the stencil product is defined, publish it to the product browser for pricing and ordering.

Pick and Place data

Import pick and place data together with Gerber files. Pick and Place data is automatically stepped when panelizing a board product. Right-click on a Pick&Place layer and choose from several formats for Pick and Place output.

Specify files as assembly documentation to insure that they follow the product throughout the fabrication and assembly processes.

More silkscreen symbols

Additional symbols for the component legend or solder mask layer of your board are available:

• WEEE symbol
• Recycle symbol

Improved product searching

The product search dialog now lists the names of folders where the product may be found.

You may now assign your own article and description to products which have been shared to you by partners. This should make it easier to organize and locate partner products.

Autolink filter for Proteus

A pre-defined link filter has been added for Proteus files. You may need to open the link filter manager (Edit|Link filters) to enable the new filter.

Rounded corners on panels

When panelizing a product, it is possible to specify that the corners of the panel frame should be rounded. This makes it easier to load panels into processing machines.

New panelization features

Three new features have been added to the Panelization Module:

• Fill area outside of boards with copper
• Bad-board marks
• Break-off holes in panel frame

Silkscreen symbols

Add symbols to the component legend or solder mask layer of your board. The following symbols are available:

• Lead-free symbol
• CE-mark

Complex Contour Editor

At times, complex contours may be difficult to define, due to the Import Module's requirement that an outer or inner contour be a closed loop without gaps or overlaps. By holding down the Ctrl and Alt keys while selecting a contour, you can open the Complex Contour Editor, which lists all of the selected segments and indicates any breaks with bold-faced text. You may add or delete segments to try to correct the situation, or simply use the information presented as an aid to correct the layout in your CAD system.

Panelization Module

With the new Panelization Module, you can quickly step up a single board to an array suitable for assembly. Specify the number of boards, frame width and board spacing. Break-off tabs are automatically added, but these may be modified as necessary. Add tooling holes, fiducial marks and text and then publish the finished panel to the Product Browser.

New viewer features

Cursor coordinates and board size are displayed at the bottom of the layer list.

Left-click and drag to measure distances in the viewer.

New import features

Support has been added to the Import Module for the following:

• combined positive and negative Gerber files on same layer.
• plated inner contours
• G85 slots in drill files
• placement of UL-marks
• rotation of manufacturer's batch number