Creo ECAD MCAD Collaboration Tips and Techniques

Webcast Q&A

Question from Marvin:  For a wrap up question, what are the Creo Parametric, Creo View, dll, exe, license, software, etc. requirements for this.

Answer:  EXC license is required.

Webcast Q&A

Question from Michael:  What would be the best way to integrate Windchill in this ECAD MCAD Collaboration workflow?  Would we want to create a Baseline in Windchill with both the MCAD, PCBA and ECAD BRD?

Answer:  Here is a link to describe using Windchill  https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r8.0/usascii/index.html#page/electrical_design/ecad/Using_EDA_Files.html#

Webcast Q&A

Question from Patrick:  I'm not familiar with IDX.  Is this a format that most ECAD software can export?  If so, how difficult is it to bring in something made completely in another software into Creo?

Answer:  EDMD IDX files are created throughout the workflow process from both the ECAD and MCAD sides.  Most, if not all ECAD software can export this type of file.  The files have to be shared between the ECAD and MCAD users.  The files are shared either by email, using a share file location or using a PLM System (Windchill).

Question from Patrick:  Next question in the same vein - Can I generate a board ASSY directly from an IDX file without first having started one on the MCAD side?

Answer:  Yes.  It works whether ECAD first exports IDX or MCAD (Creo Parametric) first exports IDX to the other party.  Here is a good link to look at for your question.  https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/cs345659?language=en&posno=2&q=idx&source=search 

Webcast Q&A

Question from Tim:  These traces and routes are only projected to the top or bottom of the board, not their discrete layers inside the board or do they have a z-depth to them?

Answer:  You can convert the routes and traces to quilt to have a z-depth.