Integrating MCAD Objects and PCB Designs

Now we are going to learn how to integrate Mechanical CAD objects to the PCB designs in Altium Designer.


Altium Designer offers high levels of interaction with MCAD data. This means you can import, manipulate  nd check mechanical design elements against your PCB design  directly. MCAD data files can be linked to, which maintains the latest file information  within Altium Designer. 

Contents

• ECAD - MCAD Interaction Introduction
• STEP Format Integration
• What Interaction is Possible?
• Linked STEP Model Files
• MCAD Interaction
• Setting Up Watched Folders
• Placing and Linking STEP Files to the PCB Document
• Orienting and Positioning STEP Models
• Measuring Models and Placing Reference Snap Points
• Positioning Models Using a Single Reference Point
• Setting Model Height
• Orienting Models
• Orienting Models by Aligning a Face with the Board
• Orienting Models Using Three Reference Points
• Orienting Models Manually Using 3D Body Dialog
• Using STEP Models to Modify the Board
• Creating a Board Shape Directly From a 3D Body
• Component Clearance Checking Using 3D Bodies
• Using Design Rules to Check Component Clearances
• Setting Up the Free-floating 3D Bodies Clearance Rule
• Setting Up the 3D Body Infinite Clearance Rule
• Setting Rule Priorities
• Running Design Rule Checks and Solving Violations Between 3D Bodies and Components
• Resolving Violations Between 3D Bodies.
• Exporting PCB MCAD Data from Altium Designer
• Exporting a PCB Document as a STEP File
• Exporting a PCB Document as a DWG/DXF File
• 3D Body Placement Shortcuts