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Creating a board outline - where are the CAD tools

cpallan

I don't see a way to create a complex board outline in Circuit Studio. There are only freehand tools, no CAD type tools for outline / mounting holes. Are there tools - am I missing something?

 

Thanks,

Charlie

Parents
  • 0

    maybe you can use the 'free' autodesk cad tools.  i'm not familiar with those, but i expect you could get a board outline made.  I did my board outline using solidworks, exported a step file, imported that step as a library component in CS, placed that part on my PCB, then press '3' to activate 3D view mode, then you can 'create board outline from 3D shape'.  ultimately I got what i wanted, but like I say - solidworks is like at minimum a $4k software, and CS a pcb CAD tool ought to have some better polygon definition tools beyond the not so grid snappy, 45 degree imposing more or less free form box drawing tool.  it'd be good for a lot more than just PCB outlines.  a dimensioning tool similar to solidworks sketches would be just brilliant.

     

    as a side question, does altium designer have a better CAD sketching tool?

Reply
  • 0

    maybe you can use the 'free' autodesk cad tools.  i'm not familiar with those, but i expect you could get a board outline made.  I did my board outline using solidworks, exported a step file, imported that step as a library component in CS, placed that part on my PCB, then press '3' to activate 3D view mode, then you can 'create board outline from 3D shape'.  ultimately I got what i wanted, but like I say - solidworks is like at minimum a $4k software, and CS a pcb CAD tool ought to have some better polygon definition tools beyond the not so grid snappy, 45 degree imposing more or less free form box drawing tool.  it'd be good for a lot more than just PCB outlines.  a dimensioning tool similar to solidworks sketches would be just brilliant.

     

    as a side question, does altium designer have a better CAD sketching tool?

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  • 0 in reply to mflux_gamble

    Unless something has change in the latest AD release, what's in CS is the same as AD for mechanical CAD sketching (if you can even call it that.)

     

    I use Fusion360 as I qualify for their free licence as a startup. I find it does everything I need for enclosure design through to CAM, but I really only do 2.5D stuff.

  • 0 in reply to mflux_gamble

    Hi Mflux

    Are you able to provide more detail on how you import a step model?

    Ive modeled the enclosure and board in Fusion360, then exported the board as a step model,

    but just cant figure out how to import it into CS.

     

    Its probably really simple, Im just overlooking something