Layer Table and Defining Layers - LAB

Use the Tables pull down menu or the “y” hotkey to access the Layer Table. 


Refer to the layer definitions in the Readme text file in the Gerber file directory for the correct layer Types.


Assign Draw and Flash colors. Then exit the menu.




Experiment

• Can you figure out what the file types are by looking at the layers?

• What happens to the colors in the Layer Bar?

• Can you change the layer names?

• Turn off all but two layers. Set one of the layers to Ref using the status button. 

           What happens when you redraw the display? 

• What happens if you try to select an object on the REF layer? 

           (Use Edit/Move or Copy as a selection device).

Layer Table and Defining Layers - Video

Here is a demonstration of the Layer Table setup procedure:

Layer Table and Defining Layers

Use the Tables pull down menu or the “y” hotkey to access the Layer Table.

The layer table is used to set the layer Type, and assign Draw and Flash colors. 
It can also be used to set the Active layer (the layer that remains on when all others are turned off) and the Top layer (the layer that redraws last and therefore appears “on top” in the screen display). 


The Data column indicates whether or not the layer contains any data.


(Note that the layer numbers correspond to the numbers in the layer bar.)

Layer types are selected from a pull down menu that is accessed from a cell in Type

column of the layer’s row.

Select the appropriate layer definition from the available options.

Note: 

Whether a plane is positive or negative has nothing to do with its electrical characteristics

but with whether the photo file represents a positive or negative image. “Positive Plane”

layers are processed the same as “Internal” layers

Colors are selected from a chart that pops up by clicking the Draw or Flash cells. 

Color selection is purely a matter of user choice. Try to select familiar draw colors that will help you recognize layers on sight. Choose a different (preferably dark) color for flashes.

In addition to the ability to turn layers On and Off the Layer Table can set a layer to “Ref”

(for reference). In this condition objects on a layer can be viewed but can not be selected.

A video demonstrating Layer Table and Defining Layers will be posted on the next blog post.

Ordering Layers - LAB

From the Edit pull down menu, select Layers/Reorder.

(Note the layer order as it appears in the Active Layer pulldown window.)

On the Reorder Layers popup menu, click on a line item and drag it to a new location in the layer order.

When all layers have been placed in the desired order, click on the Renumber button.

Exit by clicking on the OK button with the LMB.

(Note the layer order as it now appears in the Active Layer pulldown
window.)

Ordering Layers - Video

Here's how ordering layers is done in CAM350:

Ordering Layers

Each Gerber file that has been imported represents a “Layer” of the design. 


If we could see a cross section of the design we would see that each of these layers occupies a unique physical space from top to bottom. Putting the layers in a specific order is more of a user choice issue than an operational requirement. In fact, the order means nothing. It’s simply conducive to the sanity of the user.


From the Edit pull down menu, select Layers/Reorder.

When the Reorder Layers popup menu appears, 

click on a line item and drag it to a new location in the layer order.

Before Reorder

After Reorder

When all layers have been placed in the desired order, click on the Renumber button.

This will assign a new layer number that corresponds to the numbers on the layer bar.

Exit this menu by clicking on the OK button with the LMB.

The next blog will show a demonstration of the Layer Reordering procedure.

Importing Gerber and Drill Data - LAB

Use File/New to begin a new CAM350 session.

Select File/Import/Auto Import and set a path to the PCB2CAM350/

Gerber directory.

Set the button for Metric, then select Finish. 

Cam350 will automatically select and load the Gerber and NC drill files.

During the loading process a message will pop up warning of “Unassigned Tools. 

This concerns drill sizes which have not yet been set and is normalbehavior.

Note: Because this demonstration board has Blind and Buried vias the

             message pops up 3 times. Once for each drill set.

Experiments:

• What happens when you load the files with set the button set to English?

• What happens when you select Next instead of Finish?

Make sure the Gerber and Drill files are loaded correctly before proceeding.

Use the Settings/Units pull down menu and select Metric.

Use the File/Save As command at this point to open a new CAM350 database for this design. Set the path to your practice area and assign the file a unique name (i.e. don’t use the same name as the Demo files).

Use the CAM_Demo_Offset.CAM file as a reference if you have any questions.

Note: the dot “CAM” file extension denotes a native CAM350 formatted file.

            CAM350 files are Opened using File/Open.