> I am trying to find out whether anyone has tried to import a 3D model
> (object) of an assembled
> PCB from a PCB CAD package such as Zuken-Redac, Orcad, Protel or Mentor
> Graphics. If so
> did it successfully import i.e. as a single object? If so, could you
> perform translations and rendering
> on the model? If not, what problems were encountered?
>
> Kind Regards
>
> tom
This can be done using the ECAD import option along with *.emn (if I remember correctly) exported files from an IDF compliant PCB layout package. I have done this in the past and it worked great but it took quite a bit of effort/time to get clean, accurate 3D models of PCB's. If I remember correctly, all of the parts/decals in the PCB layout tool need to have a "Z" height or thickness assigned to them and then if you want to, you can swap accurate Pro/E models for PCB decals where you like. I used this mapping functionality to place accurate models of headers, connectors and transformers on the PCB in place of the decals. If this is something that you may do quite a bit of, it is definitely worth the investment in time to get working, otherwise, modeling the board and the mechanically significant stuff in Pro/E, may be the way to go. Of course, the last time that I worked with the ECAD tools was almost 5 years ago so maybe a few things have changed (maybe gotten easier)?
Ron