I'm exploring the idea of using either Desktop EDA or CircuitWorks to translate IDF files with Cadence / Allegro.
Is one tool better than the other? What is the typical license cost... perhaps the cost will determine which software to buy?
Thanks, B-
We use Desktop EDA without any problems. I think the cost was around $700, which drove the choice. We import many boards from Veribest. Good support too.
bp DVC Co.
Bp, Does Desktop EDA translate a circuit diagram from the board assembly with all nodes connected, so just leaving you to tidy the circuit diagram up?
I.e. I design the board layout, from the rat's nest, then use a black-box to represent that board, the add other components, to get a full circuit diagram. I hope this makes sense, lol
I use CircuitWorks and it works great. I did have to go back into the PCB software part libraries and add a component height attribute to each part, once done it works excellent.
One thing that would be cool though, (I wonder if Desktop EDA can do it) Is when I make placement changes to the circuit card (I also do pcb layout) I can somehow run a macro or something that would update the pcb model which is already mounted in its enclosure. Right now when changes are done to the pcb, like add/removing parts or moving them around....etc (in the pcb software) I have to make a new model of the pcb then reinsert it into its enclosure. Bummer! as nine times out of ten the card changes even thought the enclosure doesn't. :-( Cheers Frank
bb wrote:
We use Desktop EDA and it works the same as the above description of CircuitWorks. A new PCB layout means a new assembly imported into SolidWorks. We are running an older version, so it could have changed in the latest software.
Jerry Steiger Tripod Data Systems "take the garbage out, dear"
'Fraid not. EDA is simply a file translator that converts IDF files into an assembly drawing. The connectivity intelligence is not included in the IDF. It's still worth it though. We just went through 13 iterations of a tight board and would have had serious problems had it not been for EDA showing up interference with the housings.
bp
pete wrote:
Hi B,
We use CircuitWorks here and it does the job very well. We tried Desktop EDA but it failed to export the imported assembly, this was about six months ago so this may have been fixed.
I would suggest that you evaluate both products. CircuitWorks has more features but it's more expensive.
Regards,
Stan
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