Using Orcad Layout with Circuit Works

One of the tasks I've taken on is to mesh our electrical documentation into our mechanical models.  Our mechanical modeling software is Dassault Systems' SolidWorks.  A handful of years back SolidWorks integrated in a piece of software called CircuitWorks that will create a solid model from an IDF file.  This is a pretty simple process, once you have everything set up correctly.  Here is what I discovered with how Orcad Layout exports its .MAX files to IDF files and how to configure both SolidWorks and Layout to bring things together nicely.

First, when exporting a .MAX file there are a couple important things to note:

1. Parts will be exported by their footprint (geometry) name and their reference designator.  When CircuitWorks reads this in, it will create a part for each unique IDF part name.  So for example:  if you have two resistors, R1 and R2, with the same R1206 footprint, Circuitworks will create an R1206_R1 and an R1206_R2 part.  The way to circumvent this is to select the checkbox "Use Library Footprints" in the IDF export dialog in Layout.  Checking this box will remove the reference designator from the IDF part names.
2. Exported parts will have 0 height unless you've specifically set the height of the component_outline obstacle.

Second, when importing into CircuitWorks note the following:

1. CircuitWorks defaults to creating models on the XY-plane, meaning boards will show up vertically in any previews you have. (Probably not a big deal)
2. CircuitWorks will use any models pre-existing in your part library.  This is a really nice feature since you can import a true 3D model as your part, instead of using the generated "block" part that CircuitWorks creates.  However, the critical thing to note is that in order to place and orient your imported part you must create an origin called CWX. The XY-plane of the origin should be parallel to the board and the +Z axis should point toward the top of the component.  Also, the origin must be centered where the board will contact your part.  None of this is documented very well in any SolidWorks documentation.  Showing Origins in Circuitworks is a good way to help you decide where your origin should be centered and how it should be oriented on the component.

I will be doing some more integration work between Layout and SolidWorks in the near future and will provide information on using a central component library, as well as how we are meshing Capture, Layout, and CircuitWorks component libraries.