New release expands integration to include Mentor Graphics’ Boardstation® and Expedition® as well as Zuken’s Visula® and CADStar® PCB Layout Tools.
Marlborough, Mass – October 11, 2006 – DownStream Technologies, LLC today announced BluePrint for PCBs™ Version 1.5.
This release includes a variety of updates and functionality enhancements including full integration to Mentor’s Boardstation®, and
Expedition®, as well as Zuken’s Visula® and CADStar® PCB layout tools. This release is the latest version of DownStream’s revolutionary
software solution that creates the documentation which drives PCB fabrication, assembly and inspection. Version 1.5 continues DownStream’s
vision to provide comprehensive solutions for all deliverables associated with releasing a PCB to manufacturing.
Version 1.5 further illustrates DownStream’s strategy for releasing BluePrint. “Until now, BluePrint integrated only to
Cadence’s products Allegro® and OrCAD® plus Mentor’s PADS Layout®,” said Rick Almeida, one of DownStream’s founders. “We did this to ensure
the product’s stability and acceptance in the mainstream market before we committed to expanding the integration. With this new release, the
product now integrates with all of the most widely used PCB layout tools on the market and allows them access to a solution that was designed
specifically to address the unique issues associated with creating PCB fabrication and assembly documentation,” added Almeida.
This new integration is merely the first of several phases designed to expand the market for BluePrint. The company plans on making
additional announcements in Q4 2006.
BluePrint for PCBs – A New Paradigm in PCB Documentation
Until now, PCB Engineering groups have faced undesirable choices when it came to producing PCB documentation –
use highly-skilled, highly-compensated PCB designers and increase the PCB layout cycle dramatically (up to 50%) or increase
manufacturing risk by providing minimal fabrication and assembly instructions.
In contrast, BluePrint uses the available PCB design intelligence to automatically create and link unlimited
PCB views and details resulting in a more detailed and accurate documentation package in a much shorter timeframe. Documentation
packages created with BluePrint contain all the data necessary to build, view and archive the final product anywhere, anytime.
Customers using BluePrint can expect to save as much as 60%-80% off the PCB documentation creation process — even more when
engineering change orders (ECOs) are required.
BluePrint for PCBs Version 1.5 Highlights
Version 1.5 includes new functionality and enhancements including:
Mentor Boardstation/Expedition Interface - Based on the ODB++ standard, users can now import complete
CAD files directly from Mentor’s two premium PCB Layout tools. Drills, pins, components, traces, drill pairs, nets, variants, etc
can all be imported into BluePrint to quickly create complex PCB documentation.
Zuken Visula/CADStar Interface - Based on the ODB++ standard, users can now import complete CAD files
directly from Zuken’s two PCB Layout tools. Drills, pins, components, traces, drill pairs, nets, variants, etc can all be imported
into BluePrint to quickly create complex PCB documentation.
Improved ECO Support - BluePrint now retains PCB View formatting, ref des placement, user defined process
steps, user defined variants, drill chart formatting and other template table formatting upon the re-import of a CAD design file ECO.
New Auto-Sequencing Text Box Tool - The new Auto-Sequencing Text Box tool can be used to quickly place
procedural text box nomenclature used for wire bond ordering or cut and jumper re-work instructions.
Add a Suffix to a Measurement and Dual Dimensions - BluePrint now displays a measurement suffix (mm, in, mil, etc)
as well as dual dimensions.
Create new Drill Symbols - BluePrint now allows users to create their own drill symbols using BluePrint’s
drafting tools or by importing the new symbol(s) through DXF.
AutoSave - BluePrint now includes an AutoSave feature which allows the user to recover documents if
BluePrint or the system on which BluePrint is running exits ungracefully.
Search - Users are now able to search and find any text in a document and locate any component in
a document by searching by part name or reference designator.
Drill Chart Automatic Tolerancing and Tool Type Definition - Users can now define a Tool Type for drill charts
by grouping drill attributes imported with CAD design data. BluePrint also allows the user to set up tolerances to be automatically
applied to plated, non-plated holes and vias.
Improved Keyboard Bindings - A new assortment of commands are now available for keyboard binding,
including drafting and dimensioning tools.
Software corrections have been made to previously existing functionality, further improving upon BluePrint’s
quality, stability and reliability have also been implemented.
Availability, Pricing and Special Promotions
BluePrint for PCBs Version 1.5 is available immediately. In addition, DownStream is offering 13 months of free
maintenance for any purchase before December 31, 2006.
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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© 2006 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.
