PentaLogix LLC, CAM Product Comparison Details

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Input Formats
PCB Data Import
Our editors import these industry standard formats:

· Lavenir .BIN file
· Gerber Basic
· Gerber Extended (RS-274X)
· MDA Autoplot
· HPGL/ HPGL2

· ODB++
· DPF

NC Drill Import
The most common NC drill formats are easily imported into our editors:

· Excellon · Wessel · Sieb & Meyer

Aperture List Import
The Aperture Wizard allows you to define and save a method for importing aperture list formats that our editors do not automatically recognize. In addition, we can automatically transcode and merge the following CAD aperture lists:

· Apple
· Associated
· Designers
· Cadence
· Cadnetix
· Cadstar
· CAM Bridge
· Compaq
· Consultech
· Daystar
· Eagle
· EE Designer
· EZ Board · Gap
· GC CAM
· GerbTool
· Hiwire
· HNS
· IGI
· Interactive
· Intergraph
· KLA
· Megatek
· Mentor
· Optrotech
· OrCAD · PADS
· P-CAD
· Plan Master
· Protel
· Racal Redac
· Report File
· Sun
· Tango
· Theda
· TS
· Valor
· Zuken

Netlist Import
These basic formats are supported by our editors:

· Lavenir Format 2 · Lavenir Format 4 · IPC-D-356/356A

Netlist Conversion for Import
CAMMaster can read a netlist from the following netlist formats. These netlists will be converted into our native format, Lavenir F02 or F04.

· ADI – netlist format
· Boeing
·GerbTool
· Mentor
· Optrotech/Orbotech
· Rockwell
· IPC-D-356 · ADI – database format
· Cadence/Allegro
· IPC-D-350
· NTD
· PADS
· Scicards · ATF
· Fabmaster – nail
· Luther Maelzer
· ODB++
· PCAD
· TIF

Output Formats
PCB Data Export
Once you have finished with your job, the following ouput formats are supported:

· Lavenir .BIN file
· Gerber Basic · Gerber Extended (RS-274X)
· MDA Autoplot · Cutter Code (HPGL)

NC Drill Export
Send your finished files to your drillers using one of these formats:

· Excellon · Wessel · Sieb & Meyer

Aperture List Export
· Lavenir .ENV File
Netlist Export
Use these formats when you are ready to build your test fixtures or moving porbe:

· Lavenir Format 2 (IPC-D-356)
· Lavenir Format 4 (IPC-D-356 and trace data)

Additional Netlist Export
CAMMaster also exports netlists in the following formats:

· IPC-D-356A · AOI for A.O.I International
· Lloyd Doyle.

Text Database Report
Export a text report with the following information about the loaded database.

· Aperture List
· Element Counts · Plot Size
· Data Format · Arc Analysis

Printing
Share your jobs with your colleagues or customers before fabrication.

· Print the Screen
· Print All Board Layers
· Print Only a Single Board Layer
· Print Black on White or Vice Versa · Print Screen Colors on a Background Color or on White
· Set a Scale Factor or Automatically Scale to Fit on a Page
· Add a Header to the Page

Print to Bitmap file
BMP is a handy format to create reports or PDF files.

· Print the View or Selected Frame
· Print View or Frame by Board Layers
· Print Only a Single Board Layer · Print Black on White or Vice Versa
· Print Screen Colors
· Set Resolution (BPI)

Database
Layer Database
We can handle these different types of file layers:

· 255 Layers
· Positive and Negative Layers · Paint and Scratch Layers
· Composite Board Layers

Aperture Database
The D Code table defines aperture shape codes and dimensions for D Codes 4 to 10,000. PentaLogix supports the following aperture types:

· Blank
· Circle
· Polygon Fill Trace
· Heat Relief
· Obround · Rectangle
· Square
· Targets 0-6
· Octagon
· Rounded Rectangle · Drawn Rectangle
· Drawn Obround
· Drawn Crosshair
· NC Drill Hole (D Code is mapped to a Tool Code on the Tool Code Table).
· Custom Aperture

Drill Database
D Codes defined in the D Code Table as NC Drill Codes (shape N) are further defined with types and diameters on the Tool Code Table. The Tool Code Table defines Tool Codes 1 to 255. PentaLogix supports the following Tool Types:

· Plated
· Non-Plated · Tooling
· Via

Viewing Data
Layer Viewing

· Display layers in unlimited custom defined colors
· Display layers in solid or translucent colors · Turn On and Off Visibility for Layers
· Simple board layer definition and organizing

Pad and Trace Viewing

· Turn On and Off Visibility for Pads and Traces
· Show pads in the same color as traces or in contrasting color · Show traces at true width or at zero width
· Show pads filled or outlined

Selected Element Viewing

· Turn On and Off Visibility for Selected Elements · Show selected elements highlighted in white or in contrasting color to unselected elements

Unselected Element Viewing
· Turn On and Off Visibility for Unselected Elements

Zoom
Zoom range is from .001 to 7000.

· Mouse-controlled Zoom Tool for Zooming Up, Down and on an Area
· Zoom Up and Down
· Zoom to Reference Level · Zoom On Reference Frame
· Zoom To Show All Data

Pan

· Pan Up, Down, Left, Right · Pan to First and Next Screen

Editing
Insert Elements
Insert the following types of data:

· Pads
· Lines
· Orthogonal Lines
· 90-Degree Lines
· Rectangles · Chord and Tangent Arcs
· Chord and Point Arcs
· Center and Chord Arcs · 3-Point Arcs
· Circles
· Text

Select Data for Editing
Some types of editing commands work on selected elements. Use the following commands to select data for editing.

· Specified Layers or All Layers
· Specified D Codes or All D Codes
· Specified Nets or All Nets
· Specified Classes of Elements Such as Pads, Traces, and Arcs or Any Type of Element
· Single Elements
· Groups of Elements Inside or Outside an Area · Add to or Remove from a Selection
· Clear a Selection
· Invert a Selection
· Select Globally using Selection Criteria
· Select All Data

Edit Selected Elements
Use these commands on elements that have been selected using the selection commands.

· Delete
· Copy
· Transfer to other layers
· Replicate to other layers
· Mirror · Move
· Rotate
· Scale
· Step and Repeat
· Transcode to Different D Code · Snap to Grid
· Swell
· Bi-directional conversion of polygons to/from F-type D Code outlines

Editing Aids
These features make editing easier and more precise.

· Auto Save Binary Job File with User Definable Time Period
· Undo Editing (Limited only by memory allocation)
· Save/Revert To Milestone File
· Measure Distance
· Absolute/Relative Coordinate System
· XY/Polar Coordinate System
· Go To Coordinates
· Go To Origin
· Screen Grid, Fixed Interval or Variable with Zoom · Draw a Reference Frame
· Align Cursor to Element
· Query Properties of Single or Multiple Elements
· Go To First/Next/Previous Element
· Go to Other End of Element
· Go To Center of Arc
· Mark Reference Point
· Go To Marked Reference Point
· Go To Center of Data

Special Editing Commands
These manual editing commands do not require element selection.

· Insert Text
· Break Traces and Clip Filled Area · Stretch Traces
· Insert Elbows in Traces · Insert 90-Degree Elbows in Traces
· Insert Frame-Sized Pads

Layer Editing
These commands act on entire layers and do not require element selection.

· Delete Layer
· Transfer Layer
· Replicate Layer
· Swap Layer · Move Layer
· Move Layer by Displacement
· Align Layer · Center Layer to Other Layers
· Center Layer to a Frame
· Rename Layer Files in the Layers Table

Aperture Selection
Use these selection commands to select D Codes for editing in the D Code table.

· Select a Single D Code
· Select a Range of D Codes
· Add or Remove from the Selection
· Select All D Codes · Invert the Selection
· Select D Codes of the Same Shape
· Select D Codes that are Used in the Database
· Select by Size the Smallest, Next Smaller, Next Larger, or Largest D Code

Aperture Editing
You can insert and manually edit D Code definitions in the D Code Table. In addition, you can use the following operations on selected D Codes.

· Copy D Code Definitions to New D Codes
· Delete D Codes from the Table
· Rotate D Code Dimensions by 90 Degrees
· Scale D Code Dimensions
· Scale D Code Area
· Swell D Code Dimensions
· Grow D Code Dimensions · Transcode Elements of One D Code to Another D Code
· Build Custom Shapes
· Unbuild Custom Shapes
· Store Custom Shapes
· Unique Shapes (Compress the D Code Table by automatically transcoding all duplicate shapes to a single D Code)

Polygon Optimization
These routines are used to clean up files with multiple / nested polygons. This tool is especially useful for converting drawn planes to polygons. Reduces file size, speeds DRC and Netlist operations, and makes output more reliable.

· Replace with merged polygons · Replace with merged polygons per board layer

Automatic CAM Editing Tools
Venting & Thieving
Generate Venting and Thieving Patterns and Solid Fill line drawings at any angle. Mix patterns for different layer types in a single job. Use variable border types for copper balancing. Pick from among the following patterns:

· Solid
· Dots
· Interlocking Dots · Positive VPI
· Negative VPI
· Starburst · Hatched
· Crosshatched.

Filleting
Add Snowman or Teardrop Filleting at the intersection of pads and traces. Filleting can be added at variable size, percentage and position. Perform multiple operations on multiple layers simultaneously.

Fill Polygons
Fill simple or complex polygons. Fill inside or around circuit elements. Define fill and keep out areas with Nested Polygons. Automatically identify or repair Open, Crossed, or Overlapped polygons. Fill with one or two D Codes. Use the following fill patterns:

· Solid
· Hatched · Crosshatched
· Fill Inside Elements

Soldermask Generation
Automatically duplicate Padmaster pads using swelled D Codes in a Soldermask layer. Use existing D Codes for the Soldermask pads or generate new D Codes.

Overlap Correction
Retract traces to pad borders or edges of holes in circular or square pads. Transfer covered or duplicate traces and pads. Process multiple layers simultaneously.

Global Draw to Flash Pad Conversion
Convert drawn pads into standard or custom D Codes. Process single or multiple layers simultaneously using one of these two methods.1) Stand alone pads, such as elements found on soldermask layers, will allow you to quickly convert all drawn pads in a selection into standard or custom shapes. 2) Only flash elements exposed by a guide, such as the soldermask, leaving all other pads and traces unchanged.

Snap to Padmaster
Automatically snap misaligned data, layers of different resolution, or scanned artwork to a padmaster or drill file. Snap all or a selected part of the loaded data. Snap both pads and traces, or pads only, or elements of a selected D Code only. Process multiple layers simultaneously.

Copper Area Calculation
Analyzes the copper area of any combination of layers, venting patterns, test coupons, targets, and drill data. Capable of including the copper area of plated through-holes using the hole diameter and PCB thickness. Bitmap analysis accounts for element overlap. Text Copper Area Report file shows the analysis results in square inches, square cm, or percentage of analyzed area.

Centroid Data Generation
Calculates the component location of groups of lands converted to a single D Code. Outputs an ASCII file of component numbers and X, Y locations. Creates a Gerber file of Shape or Component outlines.

Delete Non-Functional Pads
Automatically deletes or transfers unconnected pads and padstacks. Uses tolerance values to determine whether pads are unconnected or stacked. Exempts some specified classes of pads from deletion or transfer. Operates on multiple layers simultaneously.

Clip Silk Screen
Clips silkscreen traces to clear soldermask pads. You have the option to automatically discard traces that have been clipped to shorter than a specified length.

Generate Outline Data
Generates trace outlines of the elements of a layer. Outlines can be swelled by a margin value. Outline data from a soldermask layer can be used to generate a laser cutting path for making stencils.

Arc Conversion
· Break 360-Degree Arcs into Quadrant Arcs
· Approximate Arcs with Chords

Sort Elements by Proximity
· Hypotenuse and Max XY Methods.

Net Compare
After you've edited and panelized your job, be sure the finished boards will match your customers' original files with Net Compare.

Design Rule Checking
Vector-Based DRC
Vector DRC uses the Gerber description of the position, size and shape of elements to determine clearance and contact between elements. You can run a vector DRC on all or only a selected part of the loaded data. The operation outputs a text Error Summary
Check the following Design Rules with vector DRC:

· Air Gap (Trace-Trace, Trace-Pad, Pad-Pad)
· Annular Ring Gap (Drill-Outer Layer, Drill-Plane Layer, Drill-Other Layer, Drill-Thermal)
· Power-Ground Shorts (Drill contact on more than one power or ground layer)
· Soldermask Clearance (Mask-Outer Layer Pad, Mask-Outer Layer Trace)
· Outline-Copper Area Clearance
· Pad-Pad Contact
· Centerline Disconnection (Trace-Trace, Trace-Pad)
· Trace Intersections
· Unterminated Traces

Vector DRC does not support the following Data types:

· Polygons
· Scratch data
· Custom (complex) flashed pads
· Arcs

Raster-Based DRC
Raster DRC converts the Gerber image into a raster bitmap and uses that bitmap to create polygonal outlines of the image. Next the Raster DRC checks for clearances and contact between polygons. The advantage of Raster vs. Vector DRC is that raster accepts merged layers; Pos/ Neg or Paint/ scratch merged layers as well as handling split ground planes directly. The Raster DRC routine outputs a text Error Summary Report and tags DRC errors with a user-definable color-coded graphic. You can go to the first, next, previous, or last error of each error type using a specialized DRC error inspection tool. You can run a Raster DRC on all or only a selected part of the loaded data.
Check the following design rules with Raster DRC:

· Air Gap (Trace-Trace, Trace-Pad, Pad-Pad)
· Annular Ring Gap (Drill-Outer Layer, Drill-Plane Layer, Drill-Other Layer, Drill-Thermal)
· Silkscreen Clearance (Silk-Outer Layer Pad)
· Power-Ground Shorts (Drill contact on more than one power or ground layer)
· Soldermask Clearance (Mask-Outer Layer Pad, Mask-Outer Layer Trace)
· Outline-Copper Area Clearance

Contour-Based DRC
Contour DRC has all of the advantages of Raster plus being resolution independent. This is useful for boards with tight geometries. Contour DRC converts the Gerber image into polygonal outlines of the image. Next the Contour DRC checks for clearances and contact between polygons. The Contour DRC routine outputs a text Error Summary Report and tags DRC errors with a user-definable color-coded graphic. You can go to the first, next, previous, or last error of each error type using a specialized DRC error inspection tool. You can run a Contour DRC on all or only a selected part of the loaded data.

· Air Gap (Trace-Trace, Trace-Pad, Pad-Pad)
· Annular Ring Gap (Drill-Outer Layer, Drill-Plane Layer, Drill-Other Layer, Drill-Thermal)
· Silkscreen Clearance (Silk-Outer Layer Pad)
· Power-Ground Shorts (Drill contact on more than one power or ground layer)
· Soldermask Clearance (Mask-Outer Layer Pad, Mask-Outer Layer Trace)
· Outline-Copper Area Clearance

Netlist Extraction
Vector-Based Netlist Extraction
Vector Netlist Extraction uses the Gerber description of the position, size and shape of elements to determine if the elements intersect. The Vector Netlist Extraction routine defines elements that intersect to be in the same net.

· Buried and Blind Vias
· Automatic power and ground short identification · Multiple power and ground splits

The Vector Netlist generates a variety of netlist information and files:

· Lavenir Format 0 Netlist
· Lavenir Format 1 Netlist
· Lavenir Format 2 Netlist (IPC-D-356)
· Lavenir Format 3 Netlist
· Lavenir Format 4 Netlist (IPC-D-356 with Trace Data) · Net Count Report
· Gerber Reference Plot
· Short Circuit Report
· Short Circuit Gerber Plot
· Split Plane Error Report

Raster-Based Netlist Extraction
Raster Netlist Extraction converts the Gerber image into a raster bitmap and uses that bitmap to create polygonal outlines of the image. The Raster Netlist Extraction routine defines elements that are inside a single polygon to be in the same net. The advantage of Raster vs. Vector DRC is that raster accepts merged layers; Pos/ Neg or Paint/ scratch merged layers as well as handling split ground planes directly. In addition, Raster only needs outer layers and soldermask drawn pads to be converted to flash.

· Power and ground splits not required for Raster Netlist
· Automatic power and ground short identification · Buried and Blind Vias

The Raster Netlist generates a variety of netlist information that is added to loaded job database and can be used to export:

· Lavenir Format 2 Netlist (IPC-D-356) · Lavenir Format 4 Netlist (IPC-D-356 with Trace Data)

The Raster Netlist also generates:

· Net Count Report
· Short Circuit Report · Adjacency data for moving probe testers
· Phase difference data for moving probe testers

Contour-Based Netlist Extraction
Contour DRC has all of the advantages of Raster plus being resolution independent. This is useful for boards with tight geometries. Contour Netlist Extraction converts the Gerber image into polygonal outlines of the image. The Contour Netlist Extraction routine uses the size and shape of polygonal outlines to determine if the elements intersect. The Contour Netlist Extraction routine defines polygonal outlines that intersect to be a part of the same net.

· Power and ground splits not required for Contour Netlist
· Automatic power and ground short identification · Buried and Blind Vias

The Contour Netlist generates a variety of netlist information that is added to loaded job database and can be used to export:

· Lavenir Format 2 Netlist (IPC-D-356)
· IPC-D-356A · Lavenir Format 4 Netlist (IPC-D-356 with Trace Data)

The Contour Netlist also generates:

· Net Count Report
· Short Circuit Report · Adjacency data for moving probe testers
· Phase difference data for moving probe testers

Scripting Capabilities
CAM ActiveX Automation Object Library
The CAM Automation Object Library is a library of CAM ActiveX methods and properties that you can use to create scripts. Using these methods and properties (objects), you can easily insert and use CAM functions in your scripts, and you can also have your scripts get values from the currently loaded job file.

Macro Language
The Sax Basic Language provides the core language definition for scripting in Lavenir products. The Sax Basic Language is Visual Basic for Applications(TM)-compatible.

Macro Editor
The Sax Basic Editor is an editing and development environment for macros and scripts written in the Sax Basic Language. It has specialized tools for editing, running, and debugging Sax Basic scripts.

Macro Recorder
CAMMaster also has a macro recorder for capturing macros and recording them as Sax Basic scripts which can be saved, edited and executed.
CAMMaster has an interactive design environment for recording, developing, testing and executing scripts. You can program using variables, math and flow control. The CAMMaster script development system can also make use of the functions of other programs whose methods and properties are available to you as automation object libraries.

· Record a Macro
· Pause Macro Recording
· Load a Macro
· Unload a Macro · Run a Macro
· Stop a Macro
· Edit a Macro
· Save a Macro

RoutMaster
RoutMaster is a stand alone Graphical NC Drill and Rout solution to today’s PCB design challenges. RoutMaster automates the optimization of NC data for your drill and routing. For more information, please see the specifications for RoutMaster.

Current as of October, 2003 Specifications are subject to change without notice