Intelligent Data Transfer
VisualCAM comes standard with intelligent data transfer interfaces for formats such as IPC-2581, ODB++, DirectCAM import, and PADS ASCII import. These formats provide VisualCAM users with the ability to achieve maximum data transfer to manufacturing, for improved quality and reliability during the manufacturing engineering phases of any job flow.
VisualCAM comes standard with intelligent data transfer interfaces for formats such as IPC-2581, ODB++, DirectCAM import, and PADS ASCII import. These formats provide VisualCAM users with the ability to achieve maximum data transfer to manufacturing, for improved quality and reliability during the manufacturing engineering phases of any job flow.
If you are still working with traditional Gerber formats from other systems, then you'll be pleased to find that VisualCAM includes an Import Wizard that goes beyond just importing Gerber data. Using the Import Wizard, you simply direct VisualCAM to the location of your data, and it does the rest by detecting the various file formats (Gerber, Drill, Mill, HPGL, DXF, etc.) automatically. If you still use 274D, it will even detect aperture table formats and convert them as well. VisualCAM also has format-specific interfaces for all supported database types (Gerber, Barco DPF, DXF, HPGL & HPGL/2, Excellon, Sieb & Meyer, IPC-D-356A, etc.), just in case you want to load a single file or re-load existing files.
Optimization
Everything you need to optimize a design for manufacturing is just a mouse-click away with VisualCAM. Functions such as Draw-to-Flash conversion,Teardropping, converting special pad shapes (the ones that are always drawn) into flashes, and more. You can even use our FlattenComposite function to eliminate those 274X composites that your CAD system might be outputting.
Everything you need to optimize a design for manufacturing is just a mouse-click away with VisualCAM. Functions such as Draw-to-Flash conversion,Teardropping, converting special pad shapes (the ones that are always drawn) into flashes, and more. You can even use our FlattenComposite function to eliminate those 274X composites that your CAD system might be outputting.
The Solder Mask Generator and Optimizer create perfect solder mask layers for you, using a comprehensive set of rules that are designed to give you maximum possible clearance while maintaining optimal coverage throughout your design. Special support for fine-pitch pads is provided, with automatic generation of block openings for those areas, to prevent web (sliver) problems between pads. Existing solder mask layers can also be optimized to conform to your rule sets.
HyperNETLIST Generation
VisualCAM provides class-leading performance with HyperNETLIST generation. Even the toughest designs can be processed in a matter of just a few minutes.
VisualCAM provides class-leading performance with HyperNETLIST generation. Even the toughest designs can be processed in a matter of just a few minutes.
MCM/LTCC Layer Stack-Up means that you can generate a netlist for your ceramic or foil-based designs. VisualCAM allows you to specify Gerber or NC layers as insulators, accommodating a wider array of data input from various CAD systems.
Graphical Netlist Comparison
Using VisualCAM's Graphical Netlist Compare, you can finally get feedback that makes sense and see your problems on the screen. Netlist compare finds shorts, opens, nets without copper, missing netpoints, and test pad size differences. Each violation is easily accessible through VisualCAM's Navigator.
Pin-Point Error capabilities help speed the process of troubleshooting problems. Mere graphical rendering of netlist errors isn't always enough, particularly on more complex nets. VisualCAM can track down the actual location of shorts and opens. The faster you can locate your problems, the sooner you can resolve them and get your design out for production.
External Net access allows you to see, graphically, how a set of external net points compare with an internal net. This information, combined with Pin-Point Errors, can dramatically aid your troubleshooting process.
Dynamic DfM Analysis Suite
VisualCAM includes a comprehensive, dynamic analysis "suite", which covers Design Information, Design and Manufacturing Rules Checking, Design
for Fabrication, and even Embedded Passive Analysis. You are provided with 75+ checks to help insure that a given design is "manufacturable." The
dynamic checklist environment allows for "single-pass" analysis of an entire design, even if you want to check for 5 mil spacing on the top and bottom sides, but need 8 mill spacing on internal layers. Graphical Netlist Comparison, detailed above, rounds out the suite, allowing you to cover
all your checking needs in one environment.
VisualCAM includes a comprehensive, dynamic analysis "suite", which covers Design Information, Design and Manufacturing Rules Checking, Design
for Fabrication, and even Embedded Passive Analysis. You are provided with 75+ checks to help insure that a given design is "manufacturable." The
dynamic checklist environment allows for "single-pass" analysis of an entire design, even if you want to check for 5 mil spacing on the top and bottom sides, but need 8 mill spacing on internal layers. Graphical Netlist Comparison, detailed above, rounds out the suite, allowing you to cover
all your checking needs in one environment.
Design Information Analysis provides 25 "quick" board-level queries. These queries are used primarily for a broad overview of any given design for quoting purposes. All queries are reported back on a layer-by-layer basis. Some of the more popular checks include Minimum Air Gap, Minimum Trace Width, HoleCounts, Board Size, and Conductive Layer Count. Fabricators and Designers will both find these features particularly useful, for the purposes of quoting new jobs and putting together a design summary prior to submitting a job to production.
DRC/MRC Analysis offers checks like Trace-to-Trace, Trace-to-Pad, Pad-to-Pad, Drill-to-Pad, Drill-to-Plan, Minimum Trace Width, Solder Mask Spacing and Annular Ring Clearances for pads and drills, SMD Pitch & Spacing, and Silkscreen on Pads.
DFF Analysis offers manufacturing-oriented checks like Acid Traps, Copper Slivers, Solder Mask Slivers, Solder Mask Bridging, Starved & Isolated Thermals, Pin Hole Detection, Layer Registration, Resist Slivers, and more.
Embedded Passive Analysis provides verification support to the growing Embedded Passive market. Designers no longer need to agonize over a lack of verification capabilities within their CAD systems, when they design with passive resistors. VisualCAM verifies such aspects of passive devices as Resistor-to-Terminator Alignment, Minimum Overlap, Termination Pad Width and Extension, and more. You can work with either Additive or Subtractive passive materials. We've even added utilities for verifying your resistor values, and can output reports designed to help your fabricator during production.
NC Drill & Mill
Our NC Drill and Mill support will complete your tooling process, with features like Advanced Tool Table Support for total control over drill charts. Plated and Unplated tool support for increased compatibility with today's CAD systems. Generate mixed Tool Tables supporting both drill and mill tools for compatibility with modern NC equipment. Define NC feeds and speeds and plunge and extraction rates to accommodate a wide range of material usage and stack-up requirements.
Multiple Tool Tables support designs with blind & buried vias. Plated versus non-plated drill layers with separate tool tables are supported while still maintaining a table for Milling. Fabricators can use standardized tool tables built around their shop floor tooling and easily map a customer's tool information to their standard tables.
NC Compensation Index Tables allow you to control the compensation index for each tool, supporting unique requirements such as finish sanding. It also lets the NC operator make minor adjustments on the machine rather than sending the job back to CAM for reprocessing.
NC Tool Linking & Maximum Hits increases the life of old equipment that does not have automatic tool break detection or automatic linking. Change tools automatically, with no intervention from the operator.
Tool Reordering for Export allows you to change the export order of your tools to accommodate specific shop processes. Quickly adapt a customer-provided tool list to your shop-defined tool list.
User-Defined Break Tabs allow you to build custom break tab libraries that can be saved and reloaded as needed for new jobs. Five different tab types are supported: simple, stitched, double-stitched, crown, and crown break with stitching. Break Tabs can be on linear segments, arcs, or circles with or without compensation.
Interactive Milling allows you to create mill paths using standard "draw" and "edit" commands, even arcs to provide smooth, flowing mill paths on flex designs or irregular-shaped boards. Move data back and forth between Gerber and NC Layers; VisualCAM will automatically process the translation.
Drilled Text allows you to Drill part numbers, job numbers, etc., within your panels, utilizing the "canned" feature within the Excellon or Sieb & Meyer format that allows for automatic compensation by tool size.
Operator Messages & Stop Commands allow CAM operators to stop machines and prompt NC operators with specific messages while a job is in process.
Advanced Panelization
VisualCAM's Advanced Panelization provides a fully self-contained environment that lets you store an unlimited number of panel templates. You can build templates for each of your shop's standard panel sizes, so you'll never have to define another panel configuration again! Multi-job panelization has become more and more popular for optimizing tooling output for prototypes, limited piece count production, and assembly panels.
VisualCAM's Advanced Panelization provides a fully self-contained environment that lets you store an unlimited number of panel templates. You can build templates for each of your shop's standard panel sizes, so you'll never have to define another panel configuration again! Multi-job panelization has become more and more popular for optimizing tooling output for prototypes, limited piece count production, and assembly panels.
VisualCAM supports stepping and repeating multiple jobs within a single panel. Different Robber (Galvanic) Bars, Venting, and Thieving patterns can be defined for as many layers as necessary, through the use of layer sets. Venting and Thieving supports solid, dot, hatch, and starburst patterns on any layer. VisualCAM can also accommodate positive and negative polarities with ease.
These functions perform quickly and efficiently, without the hassle of separate editors, special symbols, and complex user interfaces. Coupons, tooling holes, title blocks, and even your one-up designs are just VisualCAM databases. Combine as many as you need in whatever configuration you like.
The possibilities are unlimited!
Feature Highlights
Feature Highlights