Desktop EDA: SolidWorks IDF Modeler

The SolidWorks® IDF Modeler is a bi-directional translator between SolidWorks and the intermediate data format (IDF). This is an electronics industry standard that allows the exchange of PCB design data between ECAD and MCAD systems via ASCII data. It enables you to create SolidWorks assemblies from your printed circuit board (PCB) designs. You can also modify the SolidWorks PCB assembly and send the changes back to the PCB design system.

This product is fully integrated into the SolidWorks application. You invoke the product commands from the SolidWorks File menu. The assembly that it creates is an editable SolidWorks assembly. Each electronic component is a SolidWorks part placed in the assembly.

Once you have created the assembly of your PCB, you can then place this into your product assembly and check mechanical interference or other mechanical design errors. If you detect any errors, you can correct them in the PCB assembly. You can change part locations, move mounting holes, or edit the PCB shape. You then send the changes back to the PCB design system by creating IDF data from your assembly.

This approach provides an error-free means of communicating design information between the mechanical and electronic design environments. The product has been tested with Altium, Cadence, Mentor, OrCAD, P-CAD, PADS, Protel and other PCB design packages.