New release includes customer requested enhancements and overall product quality and stability improvements
Marlborough, Mass – September 25, 2007 – DownStream Technologies, LLC today announced BluePrint for
PCBs™ Version 1.8 – the latest version of DownStream’s revolutionary software solution that creates the documentation which
drives PCB fabrication, assembly and inspection. This release delivers a new ODB++ based interface to Altium® Designer, as
well as numerous enhancements and quality improvements to increase the product’s usability and stability.
“In Version 1.8 we have added the new interface to Altium Designer,” said Rick Almeida, one of DownStream’s
Founders. “This now means BluePrint for PCBs has interfaces to all the major PCB CAD systems and completes our strategy of
ensuring complete market reach,” he added. Version 1.8 also extends DownStream’s concept of “rolling releases” by which
the company provides its customers a continuous stream of enhancements and improvements.
BluePrint for PCBs Version 1.8 Highlights
Version 1.8 includes new functionality and enhancements including:
- Altium Designer Interface - Advanced visibility controls for Components, Pins, Nets, Drills, Ref Des’s,
Part Names, and Attributes. BluePrint’s visibility function allows customer to fine tune each PCB View display to
better articulate manufacturing instructions.
- Extended Drill Support - Allows component drills to be displayed and dimensioned so that just the drill
hole may appear on a drawing. Drill display may be done on a per instance or global basis.
- Side View Modifications - Users may now specify the side view projection angle. In addition the PCB
width is also displayed in the side view.
- CAD Style Grid Support - Ability to set absolute grid spacings similar to CAD programs have been added
to BluePrint’s document grid function.
- Explode and Side View Modifications - Users may now control Exploded views with the same formatting
precision as PCB Views. Users may also select and snap to explode view objects.
- Usability Enhancements - Numerous improvements have been made to BluePrint’s user interface to
provide easy access to commonly used commands. New context sensitive toolbars as well as right mouse button
(RMB) menu items have been added to flatten the BluePrint menu structure. In addition key drafting enhancements
have been made to provide better precision when drawing custom details.
- Software Corrections - Numerous software corrections have been implemented across the entire product
based on customer input.
Availability and Pricing
Version 1.8 is available immediately as a free download to all customers with a
valid maintenance contract. Pricing for BluePrint Foundations starts at $2,750 and BluePrint PCB begins at $7,500.
For more information log onto
www.downstreamtech.com, e-mail
sales@downstreamtech.com or contact one of DownStream’s
local Value Added Resellers (VARs).
About DownStream Technologies
DownStream Technologies, LLC is a progressive software company focused on helping engineering organizations automate
the PCB Release Process. Our tools redefine how engineering professionals post-process PCB designs to create and distribute all the
deliverables required for a complete PCB assembly release package. CAM350™ provides verification, optimization and output generation
to efficiently drive PCB fabrication. BluePrint for Printed Circuit Boards™ works with CAM350 and PCB CAD systems to help users
quickly produce comprehensive electronic drawings to drive PCB fabrication, assembly, and inspection processes. More information
about DownStream can be found at www.downstreamtech.com.
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© 2007 DownStream Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. CAM350® is a registered
trademark and BluePrint for Printed Circuit Boards™ is trademark of DownStream Technologies, LLC. All other registered trademarks
and trademarks contained within this document are the property of their respective owners.
