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CAM350 Advisories

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Advisory: How to Create a Panel Template

 

For users of CAM350 Version 5.0 and 6.0: Conversion of Legacy Templates
to CAM350 8.5

Definition: A legacy template is a saved CAM350 database (.PCB or .CAM) used with the Merge Panel PCB feature.

  1. Convert CAM350 database to Gerber and Excellon data

    FILE | NEW
    FILE | OPEN
    Select your CAM350 database
    FILE | EXPORT
    Export all layers to Gerber, mill and drill files as appropriate.

  2. Importing Gerber and Excellon data to Panel

    FILE | NEW
    TOOLS | PANEL EDITOR
    FILE | IMPORT | GERBER DATA

  3. Repeat process step #2 above for MILL DATA and DRILL DATA as needed

  4. Set Panel Info

    Panelization | Setup
    Any info set here will be retained with the saved as part of this process.
    Panel Size is very important.
    Border Spacing and Minimum Image Spacing are also useful.

  5. Create Panel Template

    File | Save as

  6. Using a Panel Template

    Load and process Gerber data normally.
    Tools | Panel Editor
    File | Merge Panel

Creating a Panel Template from Scratch

  1. Getting Started

    First create the artwork
    FILE | NEW
    TOOLS | PANEL EDITOR

  2. Artwork Creation: importing data

    To bring in pre-done art use FILE | IMPORT (GERBER DATA, MILL DATA or DRILL DATA.). If you have artwork that is in a different format, go back to the CAM editor and use one of the imports in there to bring the data in and then export to one of the 3 supported formats).

  3. Use EDIT options to modify data if needed

  4. Artwork Creation: Adding data

    It is helpful to select SETUP (Panelization | Setup) and define your film area first. Then select VIEW | FILMBOX. Now you can see the film area on screen.

  5. Use EDIT options to place data as needed inside the Filmbox area. Make sure to get the origin to the lower left corner of the data.

  6. Set Panel Info

    Panelization | Setup
    Any info set here will be retained with the saved as part of this process.
    Panel Size is very important.
    Border Spacing and Minimum Image Spacing are also useful.

  7. Create Panel Template

    File | Save as

  8. Using a Panel Template

    Load and process Gerber data normally.
    Tools | Panel Editor
    File | Merge Panel

 

 

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