[PCB_FORUM] Re: ODB++

  • From: <george.h.patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 12:33:13 -0700

Valor has a relationship with Cadence, but are their own company (out of
Israel),

The ODB++ _is_ a "bolt-on", but Cadence advertises that ODB++ is
available from Allegro, so they should support it or at least tell us
that we have to bitch at Valor when it doesn't instead of just throwing
the request in the waste basket :)

Our library is extensive and set-up for negative planes.  I don't see
anyone having the time to go through and changing everything now just so
we can files that are more error-prone and larger than what we are
already producing.

(IMHO)

-- 
George Patrick
Tektronix, Inc.
Central Engineering, Engineering Design Services
P.O. Box 500, M/S 39-512
Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
* 503-627-5272 (voice)     * 503-627-5587 (fax)
http://www.tektronix.com    http://www.pcb-designer.com
 
"Off-Grid and Proud of it!"


-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Greig
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 12:24
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: ODB++


Hi George,

I've also found some issues with ODB output and translation. Funny that
ODB++ export was claimed on the marketing glossies a few
years back! Was Valor an offshoot from Cadence (or something like that)?
Not sure how independent Valor is, but seems as if ODB
database creation for Allegro is a Valor bolt-on rather than
intrinsically Cadence.

For positive planes have you considered setting the global dyn shape
params clearances tab to themal/anti for vias and pins?
This seems to work if thermal/antis are defined in each padstack (or
will short if not!) 


Best Regards
 
David Greig
______________________________
GigaDyne Ltd
Buchan House
Carnegie Campus
Dunfermline KY11 8PL
United Kingdom
t: +44 (0)1383 624 975
www.gigadyne.co.uk
______________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
george.h.patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 16 May 2006 19:51
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: ODB++


One benefit is that ODB++ is designed to be an interchange format not
only for manufacturers, but for assemblers as well.  It
captures placement as well as etch features.  This means you are
shipping the same file to your board fab as you are shipping to
your assembler, there is less time needed to generate the file than is
needed to generate all the separate artwork, drill,
placement, and netlist files needed otherwise.

Another benefit is that the fab and assembly vendors (or in-house
equivalents) save some front-end time as they have the capability (if
they chose to use it) to start processing off the ODB++
database immediately rather than being forced to import all the files
into the CAM tool and register them to each other.  Some
vendors will give a customer a financial discount for providing an ODB++
rather than separate files.  It can also save time and
reduce overhead, and can get boards back faster.

However, we have found a problem with the ODB inside package.  We use
negative planes because we don't want the extra clearances
generated for positive ones, and you MUST use wysiwyg mode in Allegro or
the aperture assignment is based on a separate
thermal_models file.  For many this is not an issue as the file is
autogenerated for simple thermals, but we use some very
complex thermal/antipad shapes at high frequencies and Valor has no way
to define them inside their thermal_models.  When we use
wysiwyg mode, the complex thermals will not generate properly when
exporting to ODB++.  

This is a MAJOR issue with our management, as we could be saving money
and turn time if ODB++ inside worked, but when we sent
the issue to Cadence it was assigned a minor priority and is currently
on backlog status, meaning Cadence is not going to do
anything about it (PCR 873522 if anyone is interested)  As far as we can
see, Cadence does NOT fully support ODB++, nor does it
ever plan on fully supporting it. You need to use caution if you are
using anything but basic thermal/antipad shapes.

--
George Patrick
Tektronix, Inc.
Central Engineering, Engineering Design Services P.O. Box 500, M/S
39-512 Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
* 503-627-5272 (voice)     * 503-627-5587 (fax)
http://www.tektronix.com    http://www.pcb-designer.com
 
"Off-Grid and Proud of it!"


-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mark Salberg
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 10:14
To: Cadence User Group
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] ODB++


Hello all,
I have Allegro V. 15.1 and just downloaded ODB++ inside from Valor.
Never used it before. Is it worth using. I know quite a few people use
it these days.
What advantages does it give over RS-274X?
Just starting to look around in the Valor Universal Free Viewer.

Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark



________________________________________________________________________
_____
Scanned by IBM Email Security Management Services powered by
MessageLabs. For more information please visit
http://www.ers.ibm.com
________________________________________________________________________
_____
-----------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe/unsubscribe: 
Send a message to icu-pcb-forum-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with a subject of subscribe or unsubscribe

To view the archives of this list go to
//www.freelists.org/archives/icu-pcb-forum/

Problems or Questions:
Send an email to icu-pcb-forum-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe/unsubscribe: 
Send a message to icu-pcb-forum-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with a subject of subscribe or unsubscribe

To view the archives of this list go to
//www.freelists.org/archives/icu-pcb-forum/

Problems or Questions:
Send an email to icu-pcb-forum-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------
--
Virus scanned by Lumison.


-----------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe/unsubscribe: 
Send a message to icu-pcb-forum-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with a subject of subscribe or unsubscribe

To view the archives of this list go to
//www.freelists.org/archives/icu-pcb-forum/

Problems or Questions:
Send an email to icu-pcb-forum-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe/unsubscribe: 
Send a message to icu-pcb-forum-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with a subject of subscribe or unsubscribe

To view the archives of this list go to 
//www.freelists.org/archives/icu-pcb-forum/

Problems or Questions:
Send an email to icu-pcb-forum-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------

Other related posts: