Importing Three-Dimensional Cells

Importing 3-dimensional (3D) cells enables you to view all the component packages that are included in the design.

Once a 3D model has been registered to a package, the .e3d file and the MCAD file can be stored in a common location. Thereafter, loading the .e3d file provides a 3D model that has already been registered to the cell.

Importing a 3D Cell

When you import a 3D cell, you also need to translate (or align it) to the primary design in order to achieve a useful design view. To import a 3D cell file, do the following:

In the 3D PCB Viewer window, select File> 3D Cell Import from the menubar. This opens the 3D Cell Import dialog box, shown in Figure 4-1 and described in Table 4-1.


	Tip: If a component is selected when the 3D Cell Import dialog box opens, that cell’s name and path are automatically filled in.

Figure 4-1. 3D Cell Import Dialog Box

Table 4-1. 3D Cell Import Controls

Area	Option	Description
Cell Name	<filename>	The Cell Name field allows you to choose a 3D cell from a list of all the 3D cells in the design.
3D File	<path>	The 3D File field specifies the full path to the cell to be imported. You can either enter the file name, or you can click the icon to use the browser to select the file path. Note: You cannot import PCB design files.
Scale	<n>	The fields in the Scale area allow you to change the relative size of the cell so that its size matches up with that of the primary design.
	Units Conversion	Use the Units Conversion field to select the units of measure that you want to convert between. For example, one of the selections is “in to mm”, which converts inches to millimeters. Selections made in this field are reflected in the Scale Factor and Size Ratio fields.
	Scale Factor	Use the Scale Factor field to enter a numeric value by which to scale the cell data. Applying a Scale Factor changes the selection in the Units Conversation to custom.
	Size Ratio	The Size Ratio field displays the current ratio between the cell file and the primary design. To change this ratio, you can either type a number into the Scale Factor field or you can select a scaling factor from the Units Conversion drop-down list.
Rotate		The icons and fields in the Rotate area allow you to rotate the cell around the x-, y-, and z-axis so as to correctly orient the imported cell to the primary design. To rotate by 90°, click one of the two icons located alongside the appropriate axis. To rotate by any other degree, enter the numeric value in the adjacent field.
Offset		The icons and fields in the Offset area allow you to align the cell to the primary design. To move the cell a specified distance along a particular axis, enter the distance in the adjacent field. If you want to constrain the movement of the cell during alignment so that it cannot move in a particular direction, then click the lock icon alongside the appropriate axis. The three Align icons enable you to pick a point on the cell and a point on the primary design, and then automatically align the two points.
Redo and Undo buttons		Undo: Cancels the last action you have performed. Redo: Performs the last canceled action again.
View buttons		Alongside the display of the cell is a row of buttons that you can use to quickly change the angle of view. You can view the cell from the top, front, or side. Click the Iso button to change to an isometric view. Click the Mirror button to view a mirror image of the cell.

Select the 3D cell to import by selecting a cell name from the drop-down list in the Cell Name field.

Click the (Browse) icon to open the Select Import File dialog box, select the 3D file, then click Open. The full path to the 3D cell’s file is displayed and an image of the cell is rendered.

Note
	If an existing 3d import is already loaded, and it's filename is altered, it will attempt to load on any loss of focus in the Aux File entry field. An invalid filename will color the field red and delete the current 3d file import if any.

In addition to the 3D cell, the cell view window displays a two-dimensional (2D) cell from the PCB design for reference. The 2D cell shows pins and placement outlines (see Figure 4-2).

The 3D PCB Viewer displays the coordinate axes of both the primary (xPCB) design and the 3D cell (MCAD) design. The xPCB design axes are an RGB triad where positive X is red, positive Y is green, and positive Z is blue. The MCAD design axes are a CYM triad where positive X is cyan, positive Y is yellow, and positive Z is magenta.If the cell origin does not coincide with that of the primary design, then the 3D PCB Viewer displays both sets of axes. When the axes are coincident, they are dithered so as to display both sets of dashes.


	Tip: When the cursor is in the cell display window, use the mouse to rotate, zoom, and pan just like in the main 3D PCB Viewer window (see Mouse Controls). You can also drag the edges and corners of the 3D Cell Import window to resize it so that you can enlarge the view as needed.

Figure 4-2. View of Imported 3D Cell Offset from 2D Reference Cell

The assembly outline identification of a registry pin will carry through into the 3D PCB Viewer. For example, note the circle in Figure 4-3 and the notch on the left of the part.

Figure 4-3. Registry Identification from the Assembly Outline

Set the scale so that the size of the imported cell is correct relative to the size of the primary PCB.

The Size Ratio field gives the ratio between the primary PCB and the imported cell. To change the ratio, you can either enter a custom scaling factor in the Scale Factor field or select a standard factor from the Units Conversion drop-down list.

Now that the imported object is the correct size relative to the PCB design, it needs to be rotated so as to be correctly aligned with the primary PCB.

There are three axes around which you can rotate the cell. The x- and y-axis are in the same plane as the PCB design. The z-axis is in the direction of the layer stackup.

Clicking the Rotate icons rotates the cell by ± 90 ⋯ degrees about the associated axis. You can also enter the number of degrees of rotation, but non-orthogonal rotations are rarely needed.

The final step in placing the 3D cell is to translate it so that it is correctly aligned.

Click the (From) icon, then click the from point on the 3D cell. The point is marked with a yellow X.

Click the (To) icon, then click the to point on the reference cell. This point is also marked by a yellow X.

Click the (Align) icon to translate the design so that the from point on the 3D cell is placed over the to point on the reference cell.


	Tip: If the 3D cell is rotated and positioned correctly, you can lock one or two of the axes to constrain the movement. This allows you to be less precise in your point selections.

When you are finished, click either Apply or OK to make the change permanent.

Caution
	You must click either Apply or OK to save a cell instance edit. When you select another instance without doing so, the edits on that current instance are discarded.