Release 9
Release 8
Release 7.6
Version 7.6 is the follow-on update to Versions 7.0 and 7.5.
Version 7.6 introduces the new Fast Array Module option allowing
for both the PCB Fabricator and the PCB Designer to access standard
panelization tools. Version 7.6 also updates the PCAD 2001 and PCAD 2002 CAD interface.
Version 7.6 allows you to automate your sub-panel process
with the Fast Array Module. You can create panel templates, which can be
used and stored for reuse. You can populate panels in either an automatic
stepping mode or use spreadsheet mode for total control. With the Fast Array Module in automatic mode, you pick the
assembly panel size, and we populate with best utilization based on your
spacing requirements. You can also use the spreadsheet mode, which allows
placing and rotation of individual boards to meet your specific sub-panel
requirements.
Release 7.5
With Version 7.5 from DownStream Technologies, the FabFactory
product line and the CAM350 product line were merged back into a single
product line which will retain the CAM350 name. The focus of DownStream
Technologies remains to provide leading edge CAM tools to both the PCB
Design and PCB Fabrication markets. However, this merger of the two
product lines provides all customers with access to powerful modules
previously only available in the high-end FabFactory product line. This
allows both the PCB Fabricator and the PCB Designer to access tools for
DFF analysis, MRC and Quote Agents, Advanced Panel and NC Editors, ODB++
Input and Output, and many other features. Version 7.5 also contains a
number of software corrections made since the release of Version 7.0.
Release 7.0
Version 7.0 was the first major release of CAM350
with special focus specifically to the Printed Circuit Board Fabricators.
The ODB++ Interface and Panelization Editor are the most
significant fabrication technologies to be applied within 7.x. However,
Version 7.0 was focused on more than just the PCB Fabricators. The Latium
architecture, representing a significant technological breakthrough in EDA
system architecture, was integrated into this release. Through Latium all
users benefit from 10 times, to as much as 100 times, performance
improvement in critical design and manufacturing analysis areas. Acid trap
detection processes that use to take minutes now take seconds. Sliver
detections that took hours now run in seconds as well. Latium was also
applied to some of the key data optimization functions, like Netlist
Extraction, in order to help increase throughput and reduce overall
processing times. A secondary benefit to migrating to the Latium
architecture is accuracy. Prior to using Latium the DFF Audits where
processed using a “Raster” technique, which meant that the user had to
define a resolution. Ultimately the accuracy of the test that was being
performed was then bound by the resolution the user picked – if they
didn’t choose a tight enough resolution the check would fail to find all
the problems that might exist on the PCB. Since Latium is a “Contour”
based environment it has eliminated the need for any raster processing and
has improved the accuracy by as much as 50 times, since we now have an
exact edge representation of all the objects within a PCB.
