CADSTAR D A T A S H E E T

BoardModeler Lite BENEFITS

 bridges the gap between electronic

BoardModeler Lite is a unique, stand-alone solution that bridges the gap and mechanical design
between electronic and mechanical design. It is the most effective design  reduces number of necessary
review tool available, displaying both electronic and mechanical information iterations between departments
in a single environment. BoardModeler Lite reduces iterations between
 provides greater accuracy
departments, decreases duplication of effort, and provides greater accuracy.
 saves time through elimination
Zuken, recognising the needs of the PCB designer working in an ECAD-MCAD of duplication of effort
environment, has brought BoardModeler Lite into the CADSTAR design suite
for use by PCB Designer and Engineer alike.

Through BoardModeler Lite the designer can access and import/export ACIS,
STEP or STL data during the design process. Visualization, measurement and
on-line design rule checking capabilities allow the electrical design to be
checked against the mechanical requirements. BoardModeler Lite allows for
bi-directional support of mechanical constraints such as placement keep out,
routing keep out and placement areas (height limits), on-Line DRC checks
while moving components, and import and export of STEP, ACIS, STL and IDF,
with the latter as a link with thermal analyse tools, such as CoolitPCB or Flotherm.

BoardModeler Lite makes a 3rd party IDF interface in addition to CADSTAR 3D

superfluous, as height limitation areas are supported. The tool also gives direct
access to detailed 3D models, and features icons for Isometric, Top, Bottom,
Left, Right View etc.
Pre-PCB Layout
Prior to PCB layout, BoardModeler Lite can import board
outlines, pre-placed components, and obstacles directly from
the mechanical system. Each obstacle is then attributed as
a height limit, placement keepout, routing keepout, placement
area, or other constraint within BoardModeler Lite.

Once the simplified shapes have been exchanged for accurate

3D models, housings and other mechanical obstacles can be
imported from the mechanical CAD system for checking
purposes. The built-in checking utilities then automatically
identify conflicts between components and housing.

BoardModeler Lite exports the board outline and pre-placed

components directly into CADSTAR.

Placement Verification
Following PCB placement, the placed design may be imported
to BoardModeler Lite. Typically, component shapes are very
simple when imported from a 2D PCB layout system.

Placement Correction
The component placement functions allow movement of
components within BoardModeler Lite to resolve any resulting
conflicts. The revised placements can back annotate from
BoardModeler Lite to the PCB layout system.

These simplified PCB shapes can be replaced with accurate

3D component models (as received from the MCAD department
or downloaded from the internet).
 Design Review and Inspection
The final designs can be inspected and reviewed easily in
BoardModeler Lite, displaying both electronic and mechanical
information in a single 3D environment.

BoardModeler Lite also supports multiple PCB assemblies to

be imported through STEP or ACIS. Clearances between the
boards can be checked, conflicts resolved, and the results can
back annotate to the PCB design.

Final Assembly
The completed PCB assembly can be exported with accurate
component models to the mechanical system for a more
accurate final assembly.

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