New Tools 'See' Both Sides of CAD Equation

摘要

Visualization software, once the domain of mechanical engineers, continues to move into the electrical space. Time was, such tools were used for simple text markups. The latest versions are sophisticated programs in which designers can create mockups of boards, parts and assemblies, view boards within their housings in 3D representations, conduct certain analyses and then communicate data and suggestions in real time back to the mechanical side. Some of today's tools even read mechanical and electrical data in their native formats and execute a variety of design rules checks. The value, say tool vendors, is as simple as the difference between native and non-native viewing. Non-native format editors convert the schematic or board file into a neutral format. If a designer makes changes and the conversion is not maintained, what others look at will be out of date. Tools that work with the same format in which the document was created - i.e., view native EDA and MCAD data in a single application - forego any conversion process. Thus, the data are more accurate.