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markpsu
USA
68 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 13:15:20
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Hi all, we have a need to move designs from easy-pc to HFSS and then back again during the design process. Currently I export from easy-pc to DXF then my co-worker uses LinkCad before importing to HFSS (all is well at this point). Next gerbers are exported from HFSS to Easy-pc and this is were I have an issue. All tracks are imported as shapes! As a results I am unable to make changes to them as I would tracks/pads. I can delete only the shapes I wish to change and create tracks. However when I export a DXF once again then import into HFSS the untouched shapes are not recognised by HFSS.
Does, anyone have any experience with moving files between easy-pc and the HFSS software? |
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 13:51:32
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quote:
Next gerbers are exported from HFSS to Easy-pc and this is were I have an issue.
Don't we all! You have two choices here and that's using either the standard Gerber import feature or the so called "Intelligent" Gerber importer (as a cost option). Neither are any good, as both importers ignore all Gerber macros. Just do a search on this forum for Intelligent Gerber Importer!
Sorry can't help with HFSS. |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 13:59:48
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Try using FAB3000 from Numerical Innovations. You can get a free trial for 10 days. Not sure exactly what you trying to acheive but you will certainly be able to import your gerbers into FAB3000 and edit the layout as if it was a pcb layout package. You can then export in DXF.
Iain |
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markpsu
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 18:24:07
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| To be accurate the software we are exporting gerbers from is ANSYS designer. I do have the intelligent gerber import option, but that seems to have more issues than the gerber import. The gerbers actually import items with the correct geometry, spacing etc.. The problem is that the tracks are imported as shapes and cannot be changed to pads/tracks. The shapes can't really be edited and when a DXF is exported back out of easy-pc again the ANSYS software doesn't inport the shapes. |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 20:04:12
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Is the only reason to import the gerbers into epc simply to edit them ?
If so try Fab3000 as I mentioned above. It can also handle other import/export formats that might be more compatible with your HFSS software.
Iain |
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markpsu
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 20:11:04
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| Ian, yes we just need to edit them so we can run another simulation with the changes included. When we have our final design it will have to be exported one last time to be ordered. I bookmarked the Fab3000 site that you mentioned. I will try it when time allows, is the Fab3000 software a viewer with editing capabilities or is it intended as a replacement for easy-pc? |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2014 : 20:22:31
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Fab3000 is a fully fledged gerber editor in its own right. It is not connected to epc in any way. We use it to double check the gerber outputs we produce from epc against the netlist.
You can ask for a 10 day free trial of the full package. The support is also excellent ... Even during the trial period. There are also lots of videos showing its use.
There may be other gerber editing packages available if you look for them .... The gerber handling of epc is not particularly good so I do suggest you use something else.
Iain |
Edited by - Iain Wilkie on 25 Mar 2014 21:03:03 |
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Benno
Netherlands
79 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2014 : 14:27:39
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I just googled on Ansys and see it is some kind of simulation software.
If you export your design to DXF and then into Ansys, why do you need to import a Gerber from Ansys?
When you still have the original design, you can modify that and re-export?
Probably I do not understand your exact workflow for the need of Gerber import.
Iain is right about Fab3000. It is a fantastic piece of software and if you make a lot of (complex) designs or designs with special requirements I would definately take a look at it. The investment in the software is not that high if you can use it often. |
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markpsu
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2014 : 15:22:05
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Thanks for the replies, I haven't had a chance to try out Fab3000 yet. We don't do a lot of complex boards and for the most part easy-pc does the trick.
quote:
When you still have the original design, you can modify that and re-export?
The issue is that there a lot of changes made in the simulation software so that person can quickly make changes as he goes. By the time I get the file back, it would take a lot of time to go and make those changes on the old design. If we could easily exchange files between the programs everything would go much quicker, and have less potential for mistakes.
I found a work around to get our design completed. I went ahead and imported the gerbers as (useless) shapes and merged it with the old design by creating new "info" layers above the old layers. I then have a template on which to make changes to the old design. It speeds things up, but isn't ideal. Like I said we don't need to do this that often.
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markpsu
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2016 : 15:25:27
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| Just to follow up...after a few years of fighting this problem we finally broke down and purchased FAB3000 as suggested. It was around 3K US$ and everything seems to be working great. It's an extra step but by going through this step we can exchange files without the need to do strange things. Thank you for the suggestion! |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2016 : 18:47:00
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Glad Fab3000 did the trick.
I have to say it's one of the best software purchases I have made.
Iain |
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Topic |
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Exchanging files between EPC and HFSS