Mentor / PADS file format issue.
I am having problems importing the PCB footprints from your database when represented in the MENTOR/PADS format.
The specific issue relates to rectangular finger pads, type 'RF' in the PADS format.
Looking at the .d file for the 'DM1AASFPEJ21' part, I can see RF records like this:
PAD 16 3 P 0
1 43.31 RF 0 90 78.74 0
21 43.31 RF 0 90 78.74 0
23 43.31 RF 0 90 78.74 0
The question relates to the first '0' after the RF. From the PADS 9.0 (or 9.5) spec we have, for a layer line:
level size shape idia finori finlength finoffset corner drill [plated] [slotori slotlength slotoffset]
So that '0' would be the inner diameter and the 90s are orientations. However, the spec also says:
idia Inner diameter of an annular pad. If the pad is not annular, this field is
omitted.
Since RF is not an annual pad type, this number should not be there.
Is this a bug in your PADS output formatter?
Added 7 years, 10 months ago.
3 Answers
Hi there, thanks for letting us know about this. One of our engineers will investigate and give you an update later today.
Answered 7 years, 10 months ago.
We looked into this issue and you're absolutely correct. It seems that on VX.0 and up, that PADS just ignores this value and the part still imports correctly, which is why we had not caught this in testing.
We'll be updating this next week in our exporter. In the meantime, would it be helpful if we provided you an edited file, or were you already able to get the file imported yourself? Let us know!
Answered 7 years, 10 months ago.
Brilliant and prompt technical response, thank you.
I'm actually working on an importer for Proteus - the CAD suite developed by Labcenter Electronics, so will await the update from your side before continuing our testing.
Answered 7 years, 10 months ago.