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ECAD vs MCAD Origins

Question asked by Dan Markoff on Jan 5, 2010
Latest reply on Jul 23, 2010 by Marc England

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Has anyone had any luck in having parts modeled in solidworks use different origins than that used in the ECAD software? The help files for circuitworks state that if you put a lone sketch point in the component outline of the 3d model, that circuitworks should use that origin. I have added the sketch point to the 3d model of the part and circuitworks appear to recognize that the part "moved", but then that change is not applied to the solidworks assembly when I build the model.

What am I missing?

Any advice would be appreciated...thanks!

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Dan Markoff Jan 8, 2010 3:30 PM
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After working with my local support rep, it appears as this is not a supported feature at this time.

The work around is to use the move/copy body to match up the part model with the ECAD origin. The only thing I don't really like about this is that if you have any sketches visible in the part, they are not moved with the part. Any one know a way around that?

Thanks-
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- Mark Larson @ Dan Markoff on Mar 11, 2010 10:49 AM
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  why not use the offset available in CircuitWorks Component Library?
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  - Harry Stone @ Mark Larson on Jul 7, 2010 10:22 AM
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    Our company is just getting started with using Circuitworks. I am on the ECAD side and create my decals with origins as follows:
    Surface mount part - center of component.
    Through hole parts - center of pin #1.
    This may change as we get into using Circuitworks/Solidworks more. So, my question is how do you assign your origins for your 3d models in SW with the origins of the decals coming from pads layout and how do you change the origin of a 3d model which was downloaded from a manufactures site. Our mechanical guys told me they do not change or even care what the origin is. I know this very critical now that we going to using circuitworks.
    Thanks
    Harry
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    - Kelvin Lamport @ Harry Stone on Jul 7, 2010 1:14 PM
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      Set new Coordinate System
      http://help.solidworks.com/2010/English/solidworks/sldworks/legacyhelp/sldworks/ref_geom/coordinate_system.htm
      
      Save as Parasolid with the Option to use the new Coordinate system.
      Re-importing to SW will adopt new Coordinate system as default.
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      - Harry Stone @ Kelvin Lamport on Jul 7, 2010 1:31 PM
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        Thanks for the information. I do have a question, how does changing the coordinate system help with creating the origins for 3d parts to align with my origins in the pads layout decal?
        thanks
        again.
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        Kelvin Lamport @ Harry Stone on Jul 7, 2010 7:14 PM
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        My reply was in response to your question;
        how do you change the origin of a 3d model which was downloaded from a manufactures site
        The model will be re-oriiented wrt to the origin and coordinate system you chose. The re-imported part can then be mated however you wish.
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        Harry Stone @ Kelvin Lamport on Jul 20, 2010 12:58 PM
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        I have been able to correctly change the coordinate system in SW to align with my ECAD decal. What would be the next step in the SW process. Would you need to mate the parts to the board outline? How do you move the parts on the board outline so they are still seated properly onto the pcb outline? Not sure where to go from here.
        thanks
        HS
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        Kelvin Lamport @ Harry Stone on Jul 20, 2010 1:41 PM
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        You should now be able to mate the part using its ref planes or features, to the ref planes or features of the PCB ... just like any other assy.
        
        If you have not created an assy before, I suggest you work through the Tutorials in the SW Help section.
        Also check out the Online Help files. Mating Parts
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        Marc England @ Harry Stone on Jul 21, 2010 3:31 AM
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        The best way of alining your model to your footprint is to use move body /copy to set the models origin to match the footprints origin. Then when you run an IDF from your ECAD system through CircuitWorks; CircuitWorks will place the model in the correct place and orientation on your model. Circuit works handles the placement of all component models, it is recommended to have CircuitWorks fix the models as they can be easily moved unintentionaly if not.
        The models x and y origins directly corelate to you components x and y position on the PCB, the z co-ordinate of the model origin is always placed on the boards surface, depending on which side of the board the components are mounted. If you mount components on the reverse side of the board check the rotations, and if incorrect there is an option in the CircuitWorks options, IDF import to alter this for a variety of ECAD packages. Ascreen shot of this is in the attached file.
        Marc
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        CW-OPTIONS.jpg53.3 KB
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        Dan Markoff @ Marc England on Jul 22, 2010 9:48 AM
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        Marc,
        I tried playing around with having circuitworks fix the components, the trouble came when you tried to update the assembly with new idf information. If the components have moved in the new IDF, solidworks cannot move them to the new location because they are fixed.
        
        Dan
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        Marc England @ Dan Markoff on Jul 23, 2010 7:35 AM
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        Hi Dan,
        we always tend to re-build from scratch, so for us that isn't a problem. From looking at the assemblies built by CircuitWorks there are no mates, so to avoid accidental movement we prefer the components to be fixed.
        Marc
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Marc England Jul 9, 2010 6:28 AM
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The origin set up you use for your ECAD library is the same as 99% of all ECAD libraries.
When doing the 3D models for SolidWorks Always create the model with the same origin as your ECAD part. I would not recomend using any offsets, keep things simple.
Usualy if we have downloaded a model we use Move/Copy body to get the origin correct.
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