Desktop EDA: SolidWorks Modeler for Altium Designer

The SolidWorks® Modeler allows Altium users to create a SolidWorks assembly of a printed circuit board (PCB) directly from the Altium application. This enables designers to check for assembly problems such as misalignment of mounting holes or mechanical interference. It also provides a means of visualizing the PCB assembly. The product that your printed circuit board is part of can be "virtually assembled" in SolidWorks, eliminating the need for prototyping. The interface enables the detection of design errors very early in the design process thus reducing the cost of error correction. The Protel/SolidWorks Interface is a COM Automation client created using the SolidWorks API. It launches SolidWorks from Protel and builds up the PCB assembly by calling SolidWorks commands from inside Protel. As the interface runs, it checks the 3D library for corresponding parts. If there is no part in the 3D library, it automatically creates a "cuboid" SolidWorks part. It uses component height information stored in the Protel component.

Key Features:

• Places SolidWorks PCB parts into the assembly
• Creates a cuboid part for parts not in the 3D library
• Supports top and bottom placed components
• Supports arcs in board outline and cutouts
• Exports mounting holes
• Allows for the export of selected components or the whole PCB
• Includes a library of 3D electronic components
• Free support