When using AD drawing board, how do you avoid conflicts with the shell?

littleshrimp

When using AD drawing board, how do you avoid conflicts with the shell? [Copy link]

 

I know that after the layout, I can export the 3D file to the structural side for confirmation, but I always feel that it is troublesome to import and adjust it back and forth. Does AD have a function that can import the 3D of the outer shell and directly check whether there is any conflict during the layout?

秦天qintian0303

I feel like the design order is wrong. I should have a high-resolution diagram of the structure first, and then draw the PCB.  

富贵闲人

Personal suggestion: limit the PCB size according to the structure, or negotiate with the structure to determine the PCB size, comprehensively consider the board thickness and device height, layout position, and prevent interference problems in advance

littleshrimp

Qintianqintian0303 posted on 2023-12-13 08:40 I feel that the design order is wrong. There should be a high-resolution image of the structure, and then the PCB should be designed and drawn

The structure has been designed. What does the height-enhancing diagram you mentioned look like and how should it be used?

秦天qintian0303

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 08:44 The structure has been designed. What does the height-enhancing graph you mentioned look like and how should it be used?

After the structure is out, you should also have a schematic diagram of your board. With this schematic diagram, you can draw a height limit diagram for the PCB, such as the shape and size of the board, and which part of the component cannot be higher than a certain height. You don't have to measure this yourself, the structural designer can easily derive it.

秦天qintian0303

Qintianqintian0303 Published on 2023-12-13 08:51 After the structure comes out, you should also have a schematic diagram of your board. With this schematic diagram, you can draw a height limit diagram of the PCB, such as the shape, size, and which part of the board...

In our application for drawing PCB, the height limit drawing is one of the requirements.

jobszheng5

We also communicate with the structural personnel first, and then the structural personnel produce an outer frame and screw holes and import them into the mechanical layer.

Then, the layout and routing of the device are carried out.

littleshrimp

Qintianqintian0303 Published on 2023-12-13 08:51 After the structure comes out, you should also have a schematic diagram of your board. With this schematic diagram, you can draw a height limit diagram of the PCB, such as the shape, size, and which part of the board...

Is this height limit diagram a two-dimensional diagram? Do I need to manually determine the height of the components I place during layout?

Is it possible to import a 3D image of a shell so that I can intuitively see if there are any conflicts when placing it?

I tried to import a 3D body onto the board, and the conflict was particularly obvious and visible to the naked eye, but there was no error message when doing a DRC check.

In the picture below, if the USB socket is a shell, it will conflict with the battery holder. If the shell is very thin, you can see the ultra-high 3D body of the device "penetrating the mold".

秦天qintian0303

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 09:08 Is this height limit diagram a 2D diagram? Do I need to manually determine the height of the components I place during layout? Is it possible to import a 3D diagram of a housing, ...

We usually import 2D drawings from dxf. There will be marks for the key positions. You can only put them there.

秦天qintian0303

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 09:08 Is this height limit diagram a 2D diagram? Do I need to manually determine the height of the components I place during layout? Is it possible to import a 3D diagram of a housing, ...

Moreover, what kind of socket you use, this kind of device that will affect the structure will be determined at the beginning, and then the structural design opening will also be based on this design

damiaa

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 09:08 Is this height limit diagram a 2D diagram? Do I need to manually determine the height of the components I place during layout? Is it possible to import a 3D diagram of a housing, ...

3D diagrams can also help you find problems, but you should also look at the structural drawings and put them together.

You can also communicate with the structure to discover and pre-detect problems in a timely manner.

In addition, we need to find some problems based on past experience in production, such as whether the jack is easy to break, whether it is more durable to insert directly or to use a patch, whether welding is convenient, whether the size of the designed device is reasonable, etc.

There are also various details such as whether the internal layout is conducive to maintenance.

In short, there is no definite answer, but you should pay attention to it. After all, it is very cheap to make a board. The main thing is time.

littleshrimp

Qintianqintian0303 posted on 2023-12-13 09:48 Moreover, what kind of socket you use, the device that will affect the structure will be determined at the beginning, and the structural design opening will also be designed according to this

The interface is usually fixed, but this time the button battery holder can be placed on its own, which easily conflicts with the outer shell.

秦天qintian0303

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 11:07 The interface is fixed, but this time I encountered a button battery holder that can be placed by itself, which is easy to conflict with the shell.

If it is easy to conflict with the shell, it cannot be placed freely. The specific height of single-sided devices needs to be given by the structure. For example, if the height limit of the whole surface is 10mm, some devices cannot be placed.

littleshrimp

Qintianqintian0303 posted on 2023-12-13 11:39 If it is easy to conflict with the shell, it cannot be placed freely. For single-sided devices, the specific height can be given by the structure, for example, the height limit of the whole surface is 10mm...

The outer shell has some other structures, some high, some low, and some inclined like the one below, and the gaps in different positions are different.

秦天qintian0303

littleshrimp posted on 2023-12-13 11:45 The shell has some other structures, some high and some low, and some inclined like the one below, and the gaps in different positions are different.

This will give you a schematic diagram, just like yours, what is the highest and lowest

littleshrimp

Qintianqintian0303 posted on 2023-12-13 11:49 In this way, a schematic diagram will be given, just like yours, what is the highest and what is the lowest

This parameter is available, but it is troublesome and error-prone to always calculate the height of the corresponding position when actually drawing.

I later directly imported part of the 3D body of the shell to judge. For example, if the distance between the device and the shell is greater than 2mm, I will move the shell 2mm towards the device. If the device "penetrates" the shell, it means that the requirement is not met. However, this requires visual judgment, and AD DRC will not directly report an error.

Nubility

AD has the functions and rules of 3D multi-board assembly, and it is a strong point. You can search for information

qwqwqw2088

If you are familiar with Solidworks software, you can install the PCB plug-in, which is provided by Altium

It can simulate the structure of the circuit board, such as length, width and height in 3D

qwqwqw2088

Many of AD's more complex 3D package libraries are drawn using Solidworks

qwqwqw2088

Solidworks itself is used to draw the 3D shell of structural products, etc. AD draws circuit boards and uses 3D package libraries. The circuit board is a structural component in SW and is assembled directly in SW.

Solidworks is easier to use than other 3D. Find a video tutorial. If you have a basic understanding of mechanical structure, such as understanding three-view drawing, you can complete the assembly of this software in a week.