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OrCAD X MCAD Integration

Published Date
Author Cadence PCB Solutions

Key Takeaways

  • OrCAD X MCAD integration is essential for many electronic product development workflows, as it allows seamless collaboration between electrical and mechanical design teams.

  • This integration streamlines the iterative design process, ensuring that changes made in either domain are synchronized. 

  • In OrCAD X, 3D design data for MCAD analysis can be exported in various formats.

OrCAD X integrates seamlessly with MCAD tools

OrCAD X integrates seamlessly with MCAD tools

OrCAD X MCAD integration is essential for many electronic product development workflows, as it allows seamless collaboration between electrical and mechanical design teams. By enabling the exchange of data formats, Orcad X PCB layouts can be exported into MCAD environments, allowing mechanical designers to visualize and interact with the PCB design within their familiar tools. This integration streamlines the iterative design process, ensuring that changes made in either domain are synchronized. 

OrCAD X MCAD Integration: An Overview

The following table gives a general overview of how such integration typically works:

OrCAD X MCAD Integration Steps

Steps

Description

1) Data Exchange Formats

Integrating OrCAD X with MCAD tools involves ensuring compatibility between the two systems' data formats. 

2) Exporting PCB Layout

OrCAD X PCB designs are then exported into a format like IDF, containing component, placement, and board outline information.

3) Importing into MCAD Tool

The exported file is imported into the MCAD tool, allowing mechanical designers to view and work with the PCB layout within the mechanical environment.

4) Collaborative Design

Design teams can collaborate more effectively as changes in either environment can be synchronized, ensuring alignment between electrical and mechanical aspects.

5) Back-Annotation

Mechanical modifications made in the MCAD tool are automatically back-annotated to the PCB layout in OrCAD X, reflecting the latest mechanical changes in the electrical design.

6) Iterative Process

Integration is often iterative, with design changes passed back and forth between environments until the final design meets all requirements.

7) Verification and Validation

The integrated design is verified and validated to ensure it meets all functional, electrical, and mechanical requirements.

8) Documentation

Documentation, including drawings, specifications, and annotations, is essential for future reference and manufacturing purposes.

Popular MCAD tools for integration with OrCAD X include SOLIDWORKS and PTC Creo (formerly Pro/ENGINEER). Cadence and Dassault Systèmes recently extended their integration partnership to include the 3DEXPERIENCE Works portfolio for SOLIDWORKS customers. This allows collaboration for continuous development across PCB and 3D mechanical design.

The cloud-enabled integration enables electrical and mechanical engineers to accelerate the end-to-end mechatronics system development process while optimizing performance, reliability, manufacturability, supply resilience, compliance, and cost designs. The new integration offers a seamless and scalable experience to customers of different sizes, from startups to enterprises.

3D Export Generation

Often, MCAD analysis requires exporting 3D board design data. In OrCAD X, 3D design data can be exported in various formats. It is also possible to export 3D design data for rigid-flex folded or bent designs. The export option can be fully customized and exports the data based on the visibility of the straight or foldable state.

To generate 3D exports, OrCAD X users should do the following:

  1. Select File – 3D Export. A docked 3D Export panel opens in a separate tab at the location of the Properties panel.

  2. Modify the options for 2D and 3D display in the Options and 3D Display tab. The 3D Display tab is functional only when the display mode is set to 3D in the Visibility panel.

OrCAD X 3D Export Panel

OrCAD X 3D Export Panel

  1. Enable Selected objects only to output only the objects selected in the design canvas.

  2. Select the output units and the output file format.

OrCAD X 3D Export Panel: Output Units and Type

OrCAD X 3D Export Panel: Output Units and Type

  1. Select Export, and a file browser opens.

  2. Specify the name and path of the output file and click the Save button. The output file contains the 3D representation of the design based on the visibility settings in the specified directory.

Cadence OrCAD X Enables Seamless MCAD Integration

Integrating OrCAD X with MCAD tools is crucial for holistic product development, as it facilitates seamless collaboration between electrical and mechanical design teams. To find out more about OrCAD X, try our free trial. Cadence has a range of PCB Design and Analysis Software tools to help designers with their PCB design projects.

Leading electronics providers rely on Cadence products to optimize power, space, and energy needs for a wide variety of market applications. To learn more about our innovative solutions, talk to our team of experts or subscribe to our YouTube channel.