Updated for Cam350 R14
Unaligned layers are a problem for many Cam350 processes. It makes the data difficult to view properly. Unaligned data will not produce a good netlist extract and many checks will have problems because of it.
The source of alignment problems is always the Cad Source. Cam350 imports the data as is. So, one option is fixing an alignment problem in the Cad system that produced the file.
We have a few articles that discuss how to prevent this problem.
PADS: http://www.downstreamtech.com/CAM-techtips/CAM-tips-pads-prep-editing.php
Allegro: http://www.downstreamtech.com/CAM-techtips/CAM-tips-allegro-prep-editing.php
Command Sequences in this article are valid for Cam350 version 14 and later. The first command in the sequence is always the ribbon. So Home | Align Layer refers to the Align Layer button found on the Home ribbon. Tools | Explode | Net refers to the net option under the Explode button found on the Tools ribbon. In some cases part of the command sequence will be in brackets, to note a sub section of a bar. For example Home | (commands) | Align Layer is also valid.
Fixing in Cam350
To align data in Cam350 select the button HOME | (commands) | ALIGN LAYER. The align function works by selecting an “Alignment Point” and then one or more “Objects to align” to the Alignment object. Usable objects are Flashed PADS, vertexes of lines, endpoints of lines and drills. Polygons are not usable for align.
Before starting the alignment process, look at the data and find the easiest data to use. Use INFO | QUERY | ALL (or the Q hotkey) to determine artwork type if there is any doubt. Different types of artwork have different numbers of “points” that can be used for alignment. Here are some examples:
Type is Flash. A Flash has one point which is in the center of the Flash.
Type is Line. A Line has 2 or more points. There is a point at each end of the line and a point at each vertex.
Type is Polygon. Polygons have no points. Polygons are not usable for Align.
Type is Drill Hole. Just like a Flash, a Drill Hole has one point in the center. In the example from the start of the article the best item to use for alignment is the line used for the border.
To start the alignment process, select HOME | ALIGN LAYER. Make sure that Object snap is on and that grid snap is off. You can see and adjust this by using these controls at the bottom of the screen.
This is wrong. Object snap is off and grid snap is on.
This is correct. Object snap is on, grid snap is off.
Also, in the lower left corner of CAM350 is info on what step you are in. Use these hints to know what Cam350 wants you to do next.
“Select alignment point, Right Button to commit” means that you are at the step of selecting the Alignment point. The Alignment point is the point that is already in the correct location. Left click on it to select it. If you happen to click on the wrong thing, you can just keep on left clicking until you get what you wanted to select. The item selected as Alignment point will have an X over it. The X looks just line the one used for the origin, which can lead to confusion.
Here we have selected an Alignment Point (X) on the red line’s vertex.
Once you have the Alignment Point you want, right click. The right click is just a confirmation; you are not selecting anything on screen. So the right click can be done anywhere. Text at bottom left will change.
Now we need to select the object to Align. Selection process is the same as it was for the Alignment point. Left click to select the Object to align. You can left click multiple times until you get what you want to select. When selected it will be highlighted and there will be an X over the point selected.
Right click to commit. If this is your first time doing an alignment process, it is recommended you stop here and right click (anywhere) twice to complete the process. But you could go to another layer and select another “object to align” to the “alignment point”.
At this point a text box appears
The process cannot be undone using EDIT | UNDO. Click OK and the process is complete.