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Merging PCBs in Orcad Layout 9.1

S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am trying to combine several small PCBs onto one panel.
Some of these were created with OrCad Layout and others with
Tango PCB+. The Tango files were imported successfully to OrCad Layout.

There are apparrently two ways to do this in OrCad - merge the .max
files or merge the Gerbers:

1. Merge the .max files.

Merging according to the OrCad help using Load command doesn't appear to
do anything useful. Either the second PCB doesn't show up or parts
on the open design change randomly. What's missing?

2. Merge the Gerber files.

This needs the aperture lists to match. What's the easiest way to to
this from different designs?

(2) seems like it would be better as the part numbering doesn't get
screwed up.

Or, can I go the other way - export OrCad .max to Tango PCB+ .pcb. All of
the designs are so simple that Tango would fully support everything.
Using OrCad Export requires the original Tango design to be present
which isn't terribly useful if the PCB was created in OrCad!

Any information appreciated.

And, no, changing to another layout package is not an option! :)

Thanks.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
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| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.
 
J

James Meyer

Jan 1, 1970
0
2. Merge the Gerber files.

This needs the aperture lists to match. What's the easiest way to to
this from different designs?

Gerber files are ASCII and look the same no matter which software
generates them. The apetures are embedded in the file in the most recent
versions. It may be as easy as concatenating the gerber files with a text
editor. Of course, the original gerbers should be generated with an offset so
that they don't plot on top of one another.

Try that and run the resulting file through a gerber viewer to see if it
does what you want. You may have to massage the concatenated file to get it to
work, but a good text editor should make that easy.

Jim
 
N

Nico Coesel

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sam Goldwasser said:
I am trying to combine several small PCBs onto one panel.
Some of these were created with OrCad Layout and others with
Tango PCB+. The Tango files were imported successfully to OrCad Layout.

Why not let the PCB manufacturor deal with it? They probably have the
ideal tools to do this because they already have to combine different
designs on 1 panel anyway.
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
Why not let the PCB manufacturor deal with it? They probably have the
ideal tools to do this because they already have to combine different
designs on 1 panel anyway.

That is a possibility. However, since this is basically for prototyping
and research, we have been going to companies Web based companies with
small minimums and basic services at low prices. Usually, they spec a
maximum board size or area and other design rules. When we merged
and panelized a set of boards, one company refused to deal with it
even though it met their specifications. I guess they make their money
on the simple designs!

Does anyone have a suggestion for a PCB company that would do this
for a small order?

Thanks.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
That is a possibility. However, since this is basically for prototyping
and research, we have been going to companies Web based companies with
small minimums and basic services at low prices. Usually, they spec a
maximum board size or area and other design rules. When we merged
and panelized a set of boards, one company refused to deal with it
even though it met their specifications. I guess they make their money
on the simple designs!

Does anyone have a suggestion for a PCB company that would do this
for a small order?
 
M

markp

Jan 1, 1970
0
You could also try Newbury Electronics in the UK (www.pcbtrain.com). These
use a pooling process where the tooling charges are shared out between many
customers - you don't end up with gerbers but it makes prototyping small
quantities economic. They also do 4 and 6 layer PCBs this way. You might
find it cheaper to place two separate orders with them, even considering the
postage. I think you'll need to panelise different designs onto one panel
yourself, although they will panelise the same design to your specs FOC.

Mark.
 
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