March, 2003. Zuken has announced CADSTAR 3D 4.2, a faster, updated version of its proven 3D verification module that allows complex board outlines to be directly imported and exported from mechanical CAD tools and transferred to the company’s CADSTAR 6.0 PCB design tool suite. CADSTAR 3D is a verification tool that links the 2D PCB design world with the 3D mechanical design-engineering environment. This removes the need for an IDF file as the design information is directly compatible between the two design environments. Design rule checks within the tool identify potential collisions between any and all objects on the PCB, and between the PCB and enclosure. This eliminates the need for physical prototypes by delivering accurate verification of the PCB within its enclosure. Design time is reduced significantly.

Other features that have been added to CADSTAR 3D include the ability to re-load the component geometries, the capability to import / export a solid board outline showing the component pin holes, and a design browser dialog. The new version also allows engineers to change the design units and to use different clearance values for keep-out areas.

Miniaturization Drives Designers to Employ 3D Environment
The need for 3D capabilities within EDA tools is being driven by product miniaturization. Engineering teams building compact consumer products such as cellular phones and MP3 players require complex enclosures and moldings to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Balancing the two presents PCB and mechanical design teams with considerable challenges in making boards fit into these enclosures.

CADSTAR 3D 4.2 is more than simply a 3D viewer. In addition to allowing board outlines to be imported, it can import 3D models of components and enclosures and then provide back annotation of changes into the CADSTAR PCB environment. Once imported into the PCB Design, the 3D models of the components and enclosures are updated through back annotations of changes to the design. This means that when components are moved in the mechanical CAD tool, to clear collisions for example, the same change is automatically made in CADSTAR in STEP AP203, ACIS, STL or SAT formats.

Back annotation therefore prevents different data from being held in the mechanical and PCB tools and reduces design effort. The ability to import 3D models of components into CADSTAR 6.0, in CADIF format, ensures accurate verification of the PCB design, even when components are placed on top of each other.

Commenting on the new capabilities of CADSTAR 3D, Product Manager Andy McAvan, said:
“This tool not only delivers substantial time-to-market advantage because there is no longer any need for physical models, it also helps improve product quality by ensuring total consistency of data between mechanical CAD and PCB design environments. We know of no other company or product that can offer this at present.”

About CADSTAR 3D
Aimed at PCB and mechanical design engineers who need to validate the interaction between electrical/electronic components and mechanical components/enclosures, CADSTAR 3D enables designers to view the heights of all components and see potential overlap problems that could occur in manufacturing. It also highlights potential placement sequences. Mechanical enclosure data can be imported directly for easy identification of potential placement errors and placement of mechanical components mounted on the enclosure, such as switches, connectors, and fans. CADSTAR 3D is compatible with mechanical design file types including ACIS, STL, SAT and STEP AP203.

• CADSTAR 3D Web page

About CADSTAR 6.0
Zuken’s CADSTAR 6.0 is a Windows-based solution for PCB design that spans schematic capture, placement, routing, library creation and management, signal integrity, EMC analysis, and production of manufacturing data. In addition to constraints management capabilities, CADSTAR 6.0 offers 45-degree routing, mixed width route constraints, interactive component placement, fast drawing tools and library management in a seamless design flow.

• CADSTAR 6.0 Web page

+++ends

For further information and reader enquiries:
Ev Milker, Zuken Ltd., 1500 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4RF, UK
Tel: +44 1454 207800 Fax: +44 1454 207803
E-mail: Ev.milker@zuken.co.uk

For further information, text and graphics by email or to discuss feature article opportunities:
Bob Jones, Publitek Ltd. Tel: +44 1225 470000
E-mail: bob@publitek.com

Editors' note:
About Zuken:
Established in 1976, Zuken provides solutions that maximize the efficiency of the design and manufacturing processes of electronics companies. Zuken holds a global share of the PCB/MCM/HIC software market in the field of electronic design automation (EDA). Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company is headquartered in Japan and has development, sales and support centres in 10 countries including the US, Germany, UK and France. Zuken's customers include the world's top 30 electronics manufacturers from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, and medical to military.