Import module improvements

Automation improvements when importing files

We have made a number of changes further automate the import process.

Automated drill file scaling

In many cases, the drill files will automatically be scaled to match the scale of the Gerber files. Boards with very few drill holes, or where only a small portion of the board has drill holes, may not be scaled automatically.

Automated contour selection

Outer and inner contours are automatically detected/created in many cases. Track routing and scoring must still be specified manually. Note: If the Gerber file for the board layer contains a drawing frame or title block, then contours will not be automatically detected.

Unpack .rar files

Compressed archives in rar format can be opened in the same manner as zip files.

Link filter sharing

User defined link filters are stored online, so that they may be shared with other users in your company. We are also constantly looking at ways to improve and expand the link filters built into the system.

Paste drill tool specifications into the tool list

If drill tool diameters are not defined in the drill file, they are probably defined in one of the text files generated by your CAD system. If you right-click on the file and choose View file, you can select the lines of text that specify the tool definitions and copy them to the clipboard. Then go to the Drill tools tab, right-click on the tool list and choose Paste tool sizes from clipboard to load the tool definitions into the tool list. Note: you should only copy the lines of text that define tools. Do not copy any other text into the clipboard.

Get assistance from an engineer

If you are still having trouble getting your files imported properly, you can send them to a Macaos engineer with the
Help|Request assistance from a Macaos engineer menu command. The engineer will import your files and return an import (*.mei) file to you by e-mail. After opening the .mei file in the Import module, you can add symbols and complete board specifications (as necessary), prior to publishing the product.

Improved stackup drawing

We have refurbished the PDF stackup drawing, to give a more detailed and accurate view of the stackup. Right-click in the stackup viewer (in the stackup selection dialog box) to generate a PDF stackup drawing. The drawing follows ISO standards for the frame and title block.

A product stackup drawing is automatically generated when a product is published. If the product has blind or buried vias, these are shown in the stackup drawing. The product stackup drawing may be viewed or printed from the Macaos Enterprise product viewer.

Available only with pro license

Macaos Pro users have the option of entering their own text into the various fields of the drawing's title block. In this manner technical drawings for project documentation may be easily created, with title, drawing number, revision, etc. in accordance with the requirements of your organization.

Aluminium stackups

It is now possible to specify an aluminium carrier or core when defining a custom buildup.

Board specifications accessible in tabs

Two new tabs have been added to the product specifications tabs. Board specifications and statistics are shown in these tabs, rather than in a dialog box. This makes it possible to use the graphic viewer while viewing the product data, which can be useful when measuring minimum track, clearance and annular ring values.

Additional layer definitions

Three additional documentationlayer definitions have been added (to Additional layers) for assembly drawings and drill drawings in Gerber format.

Show/hide top or bottom layers

Right-click on the layers overview to show top, bottom or all layers, or to hide all layers.

Panelization improvements

Stackup drawing

A product stackup drawing is automatically generated when a panel is published. If the panel has blind or buried vias, these are shown in the stackup drawing. The product stackup drawing may be viewed or printed from the Macaos Enterprise product viewer.

Available only with pro license

Macaos Pro users have the option of entering their own text into the various fields of the title block. This feature applies both to the panel drawing and the product stackup drawing. In this manner technical drawings for project documentation may be easily created, with title, drawing number, revision, etc. in accordance with the requirements of your organization.

Default panel settings

With the Tools|Settings menu command, you can choose between specifying the default panelization settings at program startup, or automatically remembering the specifications used last time the program was run.

Other improvements

Request a quotation for assembly of a PCB

You can automatically send an RFQ to Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) providers for a selected PCB. The EMS providers will view your PCB and component info in Macaos Enterprise and then return a quotation to you by e-mail.

Create solder paste stencils with variable thickness

When creating a solder paste stencil, you may define regions that are to have a different thickness than the thickness of the stencil. Regions may either have a reduced thickness (by etching the region) or an expanded thickness (by gluing additional material to the stencil). Defining variable thickness regions will give you more control over the amount of solder paste deposited on component pads.

New color scheme in viewer

The product viewer has been given a new color scheme which more accurately matches the colors of a typical PCB.
You can restore the older color scheme by right-clicking on a layer name and choosing Restore classic colors.

Multiple login identities

If you use multiple user logins, Macaos Enterprise will allow you to select an identity when logging in. To enable this feature, set a check mark by the File|Remember multiple passwords menu command.

Get new password

If you have forgotten your login name or password, click on the Get new password button in the login dialog box. A new password will be sent to you by e-mail.

Commit order dialog box

The Commit Order dialog box has a summary of the order, including contents of the shopping basket, price and delivery info for each item, invoice info and total price for the order. You may add a purchase order number and additional comments, if desired.

View packing list

When viewing the order history for a product, you may click on the pack list number to view the package contents and a link to the shipper's online tracking system (where available).