Learn the User Interface... 3 Start BluePrint-PCB... 4 Import CAD Design Data... 4 Create a Panel Drawing... 5 Add a Drill Panel... 5 Selecting Objects... 5 Format the Drill Panel... 5 Setting PCB Image Array... 7 Calculate Board Image Copies... 7 Calculate Panel Size... 8 Add Pinning Holes to Panel... 9 Add Fiducials to Panel... 9 Edit the Panel...11 Set Panel Colors...11 Add a Web Route...12 Add Mill Tabs...13 Associate Mill Tabs...14 Apply Web Route Pattern to all Board Images...15 Merge Web Routes...16 Set Dimension Snap Filtering...17 Add Panel Dimensions...18 Place Panel Drill Chart...19 Place Mill Tab Detail...20 Place Panel Drawing Notes...20 Save the File...21 BluePrint-PCB s Documentation Hierarchy...21 What else can BluePrint-PCB do?...22 Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 1 of 22
BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you create PCB panel documentation with BluePrint-PCB. The tutorial includes demonstration files to be used for creating PCB panel documentation. We cover the basics here. For more in-depth information on BluePrint-PCB functionality, please refer to BluePrint-PCB s Help content or contact us at sales@downstreamtech.com. Note: You may find it easier to print this document rather than switch back and forth between this document and BluePrint-PCB as you follow the instructions. About the Demonstration Files The demonstration files used for the tutorial are located in the BluePrint-PCB installation folder under a sub-folder named Demo Files. The location of the installation folder varies dependent upon your source of the BluePrint-PCB installation. If you are using licensed BluePrint-PCB: The default installation folder is: C:\DownStreamTech\BluePrint-PCB x.x. If you are using the Demonstration (unlicensed) version of BluePrint-PCB: The default installation folder is appended with Demo. For example: C:\DownStreamTech\BluePrint-PCB x.x Demo. Where x.x is the version of BluePrint-PCB you are currently using. For example, if you are using Version 5.1 of BluePrint, x.x would be 5.1. Since you may have chosen another location for the installation we refer to the installation folder as Your BluePrint-PCB Installation Folder. Overview/Philosophy BluePrint-PCB expedites the PCB documentation process. The process begins with extracting design data from your PCB tool and importing it into BluePrint-PCB. BluePrint-PCB automates the creation of drill drawings with drill charts, layer stack-up details, via stack up details. BluePrint-PCB automates the creation of assembly drawings with detail views, bottom and topside assembly views, parts lists, and other such PCB documentation. Documents can be customized to meet your specific documentation requirements. Simply start a document, drag and drop documentation elements onto your drawing sheets and create your documentation. Before you Begin Before you start the first exercise of this tutorial, take a moment to review the elements of the user interface presented on the next page. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 2 of 22
Learn the User Interface BluePrint-PCB s user interface is similar to that of other Windows based applications. Ribbon Document Viewing Windows Drawing Element Tool Palette RMB pop up menu Task Pane View Modes Screen Splitter BluePrint-PCB s Graphical User Interface Ribbons: Ribbons are located across the top of the application. They provide access to nearly every command available in BluePrint-PCB. Many ribbons are context sensitive and appear only when you select objects in the drawing. Several commands located on ribbons are also replicated in the pop up menu presented when you click the right mouse button (RMB). Workspace: The main workspace is where you edit and preview your documents. You select a tab (or mode) to create or edit a document, preview a document or view and query design data. Tool Palettes: On the left side of the application are Tool Palettes. Tool Palettes contain drawing elements you drag and drop onto your documents and are organized by drawing types. Drawing elements for use on any type of document such as a title block and drawing border are added from the Common palette. Drawing elements for use on a Fabrication drawing, such as a drill chart, drill pattern and a layer stack-up are added from the Fabrication Drawing palette. Similar groupings of drawing elements are added from the Assembly Drawing palette. View and select sheets in your document set from the Content palette. View and work with your BluePrint- PCB library from the Element Gallery palette. Tasks Pane: On the right side of the application is the Tasks Pane. Use this pane to search for and find objects in the drawings. Review files you have imported into BluePrint-PCB such as image files, Word processor documents, Gerber files, etc. Use Step and Repeat to duplicate objects in an array pattern. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 3 of 22
Start BluePrint-PCB 1. If not already started, start BluePrint-PCB. BluePrint-PCB s welcome screen is presented with links to help you start a release package, access this tutorial, access the help system and other activities. 2. Select the Inches Units.bps file and click OK to apply the Start-Up file. Import CAD Design Data 1. Most release packages are initiated by importing design data from a CAD system. For this tutorial, you will import a sample design in ODB++ format. Select Ribbon: Home > New From Import > Mentor > Expedition ODB++. 2. Browse to and select the preview.tgz file from <Your BluePrint-PCB Installation Folder>/Demo Files folder. Product Highlight: BluePrint-PCB is compatible with several PCB design systems including BoardStation, Expedition, PADS, Allegro, OrCAD, Visula, CADStar, CR5000, and Altium. BluePrint- PCB also offers file import or export between Mechanical CAD Systems via Design Exchange File format or DXF. Image files can be imported from almost any file format including PDF, bmp, jpeg, and gif just to name a few. Imported CAD Design View 1. At the bottom of the document viewing window, click the Design tab. The imported design is presented. 2. Locate your cursor over traces, vias, pins and other design elements and BluePrint-PCB displays tooltips with detailed information for the element. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 4 of 22
Create a Panel Drawing 3. Select Ribbon: Home > New Drawing and choose Panel Drawing. The View mode changes to Edit mode and a new blank sheet appears. 4. If the new drawing has a sheet border and title block, skip to Add a Drill Panel. 5. If it is not open, click the Common Tool Palette. 6. On the Common Tool Palette, locate your cursor over the Sheet Border element. Press and hold left mouse button, move your mouse over the blank sheet and release the mouse button to drop a sheet border element onto the sheet. Note how the sheet border is automatically positioned in the proper location. 7. Repeat the drag and drop process to add Title Block and Revision Block elements to the sheet. Note how the elements are also properly positioned on the sheet. Add a Drill Panel 1. Select the Panel Tool Palette. 2. Drag and Drop a Drill Panel element onto the sheet. BluePrint-PCB automatically adds a 4 image (2 x 2) PCB panel array with board outline and drill symbols. Selecting Objects Selection of objects in BluePrint-PCB is dependent upon what is under the cursor at the time of selection, or click of the left mouse button. When the cursor is not over an object in a view or sheet, the cursor appears normal and nothing is selectable. When the cursor is over selectable or editable objects, the cursor changes to a different presentation. 1. Move the cursor around the Drill Pattern and note how it changes as it passes over selectable objects. Format the Drill Panel The Drill Panel is a detailed drill pattern view of the assembly panel design. Drills are represented by various symbols such as plus, cross, diamond, square and so on. The presentation of the Panel design view can be modified via the Format Panel View dialog. 1. Select the Drill Pattern and choose Ribbon: View > Fit Selection to fit the Drill Pattern into the view. 2. With the cursor over a selectable object in the view (cursor presentation ), choose Format Panel from the pop-up menu. The Format Panel View dialog appears. Use this dialog to set panel size, number of PCB images, locate fiducials and pinning holes, drill symbol data and other panel parameters. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 5 of 22
Select Format Panel from Pop-up Menu Panel Format Dialog Product Highlight: The format panel dialog presents a preview of the calculated panel image in real-time. This allows you to maximize the panel array and size while minimizing material waste. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 6 of 22
Setting PCB Image Array BluePrint-PCB offers two methods for defining the PCB image array for the panel. Step and Repeat Options Auto-calculated - BluePrint-PCB calculates the PCB image array based on user defined values. For example, set image spacing, number of horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) images, and BluePrint-PCB calculates panel size to accommodate the array. Alternatively, set panel size, number of images and BluePrint-PCB calculates image spacing. Spreadsheet BluePrint-PCB calculates the PCB image array based on user defined image locations. For this tutorial, the PCB image array will be calculated for an 8.500 x 11.000 inch panel with 0.200 inch border spacing. Calculate Board Image Copies 1. Click Compute adjacent to the Board image copies values. The number of images will be calculated based on other defined parameters. 2. In the Panel size area, set Width to 8.500 inch and Height to 11.000 inch. 3. Set all Border Spacing and Border Image spacing values as 0.200 inch. 4. Board image copies are calculated as a 2 x 6 array. Format Panel settings for a 2 x 6 Array 5. Click Preview. The drill panel is updated in the drawing. 6. Set all Border Spacing values to 0.500 inch to accommodate the addition of pinning holes and fiducials. BluePrint-PCB now calculates a 2 x 5 array (or 10 images). 7. Decrease Board image spacing to 0.100 inch in both X and Y. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 7 of 22
8. Click Preview to preview the Drill Panel on the drawing. Format Panel With Larger Border Spacing. 9. Set Board image rotation to 90 degrees. BluePrint-PCB calculates a 4 x 2 array (8 images). A 0 degree rotation is clearly a better use of space. Set the rotation back to 0 degrees. Calculate Panel Size 1. Click Compute adjacent to Panel Size. BluePrint-PCB calculates an 8.300 x 9.400 inch panel instead of the 8.500 x 11.000 inch panel to support the new parameters. Calculated Panel Size Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 8 of 22
Add Pinning Holes to Panel 1. Click the Pinning Holes tab. 2. Click Add. The Add Pinning Hole dialog appears. 3. Select Pinning Hole x125 and click OK to add it. In the preview, note its appearance in the upper left corner of the panel. It needs to be relocated. 4. In the Position area, click Relative. 5. Set the position options to Left at a location of 0.200 inch and Top to 0.200 inch. 6. Add a second Pinning Hole x125 at Relative Right 0.200 inch and Top 0.200 inch. 7. Add a third Pinning Hole x125 at Relative Left 0.200 inch and Bottom 0.200 inch. Add Fiducials to Panel 1. Select the Fiducials tab. Pinning Hole Additions 2. Click Add. The Add Fiducial dialog appears. 3. Select Fiducial x40. Click OK to add it. In the preview, note its appearance in the upper left corner of the panel. It needs to be relocated. 4. In the Position area, click Relative. 5. Set the position options to Left at a location of 0.200 inch and Top to 0.600 inch. 6. Add a second Fiducial x40 at Relative Right 0.200 inch and Top 0.600 inch. 7. Add a third Fiducial x40 at Relative Left 0.200 inch and Bottom 0.600 inch. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 9 of 22
Fiducial Additions 8. Click the Drill Symbols Table tab on the Format Panel Drawing dialog. The drill symbols assigned to drills in the PCB image and the Pinning Hole are presented. Note the assignment of +A as the symbol for the Pinning Hole. Drill Symbols Table 9. Click Lock Panel Boards in the lower left part of the dialog. This freezes the Drill Panel view with the current settings. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 10 of 22
10. Click OK to accept the settings and view the updated panel. Edit the Panel Locked Panel Array 1. With the panel selected, choose Ribbon: Design > Enable Editing. This enables panel editing and applies panel color settings to the panel. Note: After entering Edit Panel mode, clicking outside of the panel will unselect the panel and abort Edit Panel mode. If this occurs, just re-select the panel and enable panel editing mode again. Set Panel Colors 1. Use Panel Colors as a visual aid for panel editing activities. Choose Ribbon: Design > Panel Colors. The Panel Colors dialog appears. 2. Choose the Panel Form Factor color and assign it a Light Grey color. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 11 of 22
Assign Panel Colors 3. Click OK to apply the colors and close the dialog. Add a Web Route 1. Select the PCB image in the lower left corner of the Drill Panel and choose Ribbon: View > Fit Selection to fit the selection into the view. 2. With the PCB image selected, choose Ribbon: Panel PCB View > Add. A routing pattern, or web route, is added around the entire perimeter of the PCB image. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 12 of 22
Web Route Added to PCB Image Add Mill Tabs 1. Click the outer edge of the web route to select it. 2. Choose Add Mill Tab from the pop-up menu. Format Mill Tab Dialog - Position 3. On the Position tab of the Format Mill Tab dialog, set position as Panel Origin and set X to 0.450 inch and Y to 1.300 inch. 4. Click the Style tab. Choose Perforated Break style. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 13 of 22
Format Mill Tab - Style 5. Click OK to apply the settings and add the Mill Tab. Mill Tab Added 6. With the Web Route selected, from the Panel Tool Palette drag a new Mill Tab add place it at any location along the arced route segment on the right side of the PCB image. Associate Mill Tabs 1. Selecting a Mill Tab requires you to click in a very specific location. The image below highlights the milling arcs in bold, the best location for selecting a Mill Tab. When it is properly selected, it is highlighted in yellow as shown on the right. Select a Mill Tab 2. Select the first (left) Mill Tab added in the previous steps. With the cursor over the Mill Tab, choose Associate Mill Tab from the pop-up menu. Associate Mill Tab Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 14 of 22
3. The cursor presentation changes to. Select the right Mill Tab to associate the Mill Tab pair. The right Mill Tab adjusts its location (if not previously aligned) to be horizontally aligned with the left Mill Tab. 4. Click OK to accept the Mill Tab Association. 5. Press Esc to exit Mill Tab Associate mode. 6. Add two more Perforated Break style Mill Tabs at the following locations: a) X 1.300 Y.450 b) X 2.700 Y.450 7. Add and associate two more Perforated Break style Mill Tabs at the following locations: a) X 1.300 Y 2.150 b) X 2.700 Y 2.150 8. Your board image should now look like the image below: Web Route with Mill Tabs Apply Web Route Pattern to all Board Images 1. Zoom out to view the entire panel. Make sure the Panel is in Edit Panel mode. 2. Select the Web Route. Select Apply Parameters to All Images from the pop-up menu. The web route pattern is copied to all PCB images. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 15 of 22
Merge Web Routes Web Routes Copied to all Board Images 1. Locate the cursor over a blank area (no PCB image) of the panel and choose Merge Web Routes from the pop-up menu. The panel updates to shown the actual material cavities that would result once the milling operation is completed. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 16 of 22
Web Routes Merged 2. Click on the drawing sheet in an area outside of the panel to exit Edit Panel mode. Set Dimension Snap Filtering 1. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Snap to Filter. The Dimension Snapping Filter dialog appears. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 17 of 22
2. Choose Select Filter Mode. Dimension Snapping Filter 3. Disable (uncheck) Panel Mill Tab Center Points, Panel Mill Tab End Points, Panel Mill Tab Perforations, and Panel Web Routes. 4. Click OK to Apply the Filter Settings and close the dialog. Add Panel Dimensions 1. Zoom into the lower left corner of the Panel. 2. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Place Origin > Horizontal Coordinate Origin. An origin dimension is attached to the cursor. 3. Position the origin end point over to the lower left corner of the panel and note how it snaps to the panel outline. Snapping is indicated by the appearance of a yellow circle and a snapping graphic on the cursor. Snapping Graphic 4. Click to place the origin on the corner. A new origin element is attached to the cursor. Press Esc to cancel adding additional origins. 5. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Add Datum > Horizontal Coordinate Dimension. 6. Move the cursor horizontally along the panel snapping and adding a dimension at each of the following: a) Fiducials b) Pinning Holes c) Center of Mill Tabs d) Left (or Lower) Most Board Edges Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 18 of 22
7. Repeat the above using Vertical Dimensions vertically along the left side of the panel. Panel with Dimensions Note: It may be necessary to adjust the dimension appearance after all dimensions have been added. Place Panel Drill Chart 1. Choose Ribbon: Home > Fit Sheet (or Press F2) to view the entire sheet. 2. Move the Panel to the left to make room on the sheet for a Drill Chart. 3. From the Panel Tool Palette, drag and drop a Drill Chart element onto the sheet to the right of the panel above the Title Block. A Drill Table with totals for all PCB images, Pinning Holes and Mill Tab drills is added. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 19 of 22
Panel Drill Chart Place Mill Tab Detail 1. Drag and drop a Mill Tab Detail from the Panel Tool Palette onto the sheet below the Panel. The Mill Tab Detail Wizard dialog appears. 2. Set the Mill Tab Name to Perforated Break and click OK to add the detail. Place Panel Drawing Notes Mill Tab Wizard Dialog 1. From the Fabrication Tool Palette, drag and drop Fabrication Notes and locate them above the Drill Table. Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 20 of 22
Save the File 1. Select Menu: File > Save. Completed Panel Drawing 2. Choose a destination folder and enter My Panel as the file name. BluePrint-PCB s Documentation Hierarchy A BluePrint-PCB file is a PCB release package. A release package contains several drawings and other files required to document the fabrication and assembly of a printed circuit board. Release drawings can include a fabrication drawing, an assembly drawing or a custom drawing. Each drawing can be one or many sheets. Each sheet can have one or many drawing elements. Use the Contents Palette to view the hierarchy of drawings, sheets and elements. Documentation Hierarchy Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 21 of 22
What else can BluePrint-PCB do? Much more! Contact us at 800 535 3226 or sales@downstreamtech.com Parts List Management and display Variant definition and display Process Step definition and display Create document templates that can be reused for every design Create a single Release Package depository for all product creation files Full 2D drafting and dimensioning tools Customize the User Interface And more. BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial 07/07/2015 Questions? Email blueprintsupport@downstreamtech.com Page 22 of 22