In Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F), profiles serve as media for importing 2D information to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling and for exporting the relevant geometrical information of PCB assemblies to an EE file format. Each predefined profile includes a workplane for a specific PCB item type (such as components or holes) or property (such as keepout areas) of a PCB assembly. For instance, there are separate profiles for the board outline and for the vias of the board.
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) supports the exchange of PCB data based on layer and attribute mapping. The PCB attributes and layers are imported to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling via profiles.
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) provides its own Profile menu (Click PCB and then, in the Profile group, click Add. The Add Profile dialog box opens along with Profile Select Table.) from which you can select profiles for your PCB design. This menu lists defined profiles of the following types:
• Generic profile types
Generic profile types are used in BoardStation as well as in IDF format files.
BODY-OUTLINE
Pulls a profile in the workplane.
BOARD-CUTOUT
Punches a profile in the workplane.
RESTRICT-AREA
Creates part keep-in and part keep-out areas.
ANNOTATION
Used for commentary and text information.
• BoardStation profile types
The following profile types are used in BoardStation files (in addition to the generic profile types described above):
RESTRICT-BODY-TOP
Defines the top level of a restricted space.
RESTRICT-BODY-BOT
Defines the bottom level of a restricted space.
• IDF profile types
The following profile types are used in IDF files (in addition to the generic profile types described above):
RESTRICT-BODY
Defines a restricted space.
OTHER-OUTLINE
Used for outline types other than those specified above.
The layer/attribute-to-workplane mapping of these profiles is defined in customizable Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) configuration files. These configuration files also act as a filter where the elements to be exchanged are defined.
The following example of a Creo Elements/Direct Modeling profile definition illustrates how Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) maps BoardStation layer and attribute information to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling.
PROFILE CLASS "top-route-keepout" RESTRICT-AREA BOARD COLOR 0.0 1.0 0.0 PCB-LAYER signal_1 PCB-ATTRIBUTE routing_keepout END CLASS
In the example shown above, the BoardStation attribute routing_keepout on layer signal_1 is translated to a Creo Elements/Direct Modeling profile in the workplane top-route-keepout. This workplane is of type RESTRICT-AREA. The BOARD specifier indicates that the profile may only be used with components of type BOARD.
When data is exported from Creo Elements/Direct Modeling to BoardStation or IDF file format, the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) translator utility searches for a particular workplane with an element attached. It then searches the configuration file for the workplane of that name (in the example above: top-route-keepout) and translates the profiles into the BoardStation attribute, routing-keepout, and the BoardStation layer, signal_1.
In the case of restrict areas, arcs and circles are converted into line segments when they are translated to BoardStation or IDF format.
Add. The Add Profile dialog box opens along with Profile Select Table.) from which you can select profiles for your PCB design. This menu lists defined profiles of the following types: