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. 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