How do I go about importing copper artwork into Pro-E

[andrewsr]

How do I go about importing copper artwork into Pro-E? I am using Cadence Allegro for board layout. I can easily open the board file in Creo View, but I can't figure out how to add the copper in our 3D model.

I've seen the youtube video and it seems pretty straightforward, but the only way I've been able to create a .eda file is using Creo View. I can't get it to export anything other than vias. There must be some other way. 

Please don't tell me to use a dxf. 

Thanks

[tbraxton]

The IDF standard as supported by Creo does not support exchange of the trace layers of the PCB design. I believe that the IDF 4.0 standard was planned to support his but I am not aware of it being implemented to date. I am on Creo 4 so it is possible that this has changed with a newer release but I don't think so.

You could in theory export the layer of interest from Cadence in a format that can be brought into Creo as a trace sketch, make sure to include a set of fiducials to align it to the Creo model. If you need the actual geometry entities in a sketch then DXF is probably your best bet to get it into Creo quickly.

If you describe why you want the artwork in Creo you may get some additional suggestions.

[andrewsr]

Thanks for your response. 

This is the video I was referring to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twy8RkGtcSY

I opened the Allegro board file in Creo View and saved as an eda file but the only feature in the file was vias. Is there another way to create this eda file?

[tbraxton]

This looks like it is functionality that requires the ECAD/MCAD Collaboration extension (ECX). Do you have the ECX license? That is an add on to Creo that adds functionality for data exchange. If you have the license then you should have the capability to bring in the ECAD trace layers. I have never used the ECX functionality so I can't help with that. 

[andrewsr]

We have and are using the ECAD/MCAD Collaboration extension. 

[andrewsr]

I have the ECAD-COLLABORATION module checked out, but "import conductors" is grayed out. What am I missing here? I tried to import a IDX file first, but that's not working either. I'm not getting an error, but nothing is happening.