[PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
- From: Jean Bratton <jean.bratton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 13:11:09 -0700
Thanks to folks with better memory than I, the company that can read a print
and generate gerber data is
Scancad International in Denver, CO
www.scancad.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Jean Bratton
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 1:02 PM
To: 'icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
Remember under Logic > NetLogic there's a netlist editor you can make use
of. You can create a netlist on the fly once you've read in the gerbers and
figure out what pins are connected to what other pins. As for a schematic,
though, I don't think there's any good way on that one. We used to do this
regularly, and george pretty much describes what we did.
On the ones you just have .pdf files for, there used to be a company (maybe
someone else remembers?) that could scan film/drawings/whatever and create
gerbers from them. Might be worth a try unless it's a really uncomplicated
board. Good luck!
-----Original Message-----
From: J Wages [mailto:jwages@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 12:19 PM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
George,
Good idea! I'm beginning to have more hope that I can perform most of
this process within Allegro without having to purchase the CAM350 tool.
Thanx
Jim S. Wages / Independent SR. PCB Layout Designer:
(919) 484-2963
-----Original Message-----
From: george.h.patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:george.h.patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:15 AM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
You can create the symbols in Allegro by clipboarding the pads, silk,
etc.
and then reading it into a .DRA file. You have to create the padstacks
manually, but you should be able to figure that out from the pads.
Drills
should be converted to gerber from excellon to make it easier to align
padstacks and to give you a visual representation for the drill size in
the
padstack.
Not an easy (or quick) process, your customer is going to be shocked by
the
bill :)
The process isn't hard, or really that complex. It is just time
consuming
and boring.
--
George Patrick
Tektronix, Inc.
Central Engineering, PCB Design Group
P.O. Box 500, M/S 39-512
Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
Phone: 503-627-5272 Fax: 503-627-5587
http://www.tektronix.com http://www.pcb-designer.com
It's my opinion, not Tektronix'
-----Original Message-----
From: Wolferd, Arthur J (US SSA) [mailto:Arthur.Wolferd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 08:59
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
Jim,
Years ago I used to do what you are going to try.
I used software from the folks that created Pantheon.
You inported gerber, created symbols from the pads and
silkscreen, placed those symbols around the board and
extracted a netlist/ some sort of bom. This was then
converted to a mentor database and read in. Time consuming
but it worked.
I thought you could do something similar with CAM350
to at least get you a netlist, not sure though.
It can be done if you have the time/money to invest.
Have fun
Artie Wolferd, C.I.D+
BAE SYSTEMS
CNIR Group
450 Pulaski Road
Greenlawn NY 11740
Voice:631-261-7000 x3558
Email:arthur.wolferd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Never Forget 9/11
-----Original Message-----
From: J Wages [mailto:jwages@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:42 AM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
Mitch,
Good points concerning whether any electrical connectivity is even
necessary. At this point I am just trying to determine what I can I can
actually perform with each design. I'm pretty sure that the customer
would
probably be happy if I can just create reproducible fabrication and
assembly
deliverables.
I appreciate the input.
Jim S. Wages / Independent SR. PCB Layout Designer:
(919) 484-2963
-----Original Message-----
From: Mitch S. Morey [mailto:cadpro2k@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 10:20 AM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Reverse engineering using CAM 350 tool
Hi Jim,
You've got a problem if you're intending to go as far as the schematic
for a
netlist. That you'll be building from scratch, and you'll be spending
the
extra time trying to 'sync' it to the layout. That will probably account
for
70-80% of your time if you go that route. I'd done plenty of reverse (or
inverse) engineering of layout. Never wanted to go for schematic
connectivity, and as never asked for it. If you've got the gerbers and a
'generic, "was" built BOM' you're set. The gerbers will transfer into
Allegro fairly easy (might take a little trial and error to determine
the
settings), and cleanup is all that's required past that. Cleanup most
likely
will involve that plane layers, but that's what gerbers give you.
As for connectivity, I don't see the need unless you're being paid the
extra
cash to make it happen, and I do hope this is a moonlighting job.
Good day.
Mitch
>
> Hey folks,
> I reviewing a large opportunity to reverse engineer a few hundred
> obsolete PCB layout designs. Each design has different available data
> files. Some only have a pdf drawing of the etch and board dimensions.
> Others have unkown originated gerber files and apertures lists. I have
> downloaded the CAM350 tool and am currently undergoing learning that
> tools processes and capabilities. I was wondering if any of you out
> there have much experience with reverse engineering, the CAM 350 tool
or
> could recommend alternative tools. The idea output would be to reverse
> engineer to create a Cadence Concept HDL schematic, BOM, full netlist,
> and layout the board for availability for fabrication and assembly.
> Any input would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.
>
> Jim S. Wages / SR. PCB Layout Designer
> (919) 484-2963
-----------------------------------------
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