Zuken Launches Board Interchanger

By DE Editors

Zuken (Munich, Germany) partnered with Dassault Systemes (Paris, France) to launch Board Interchanger, an integrative add-on tool for true concurrent mechanical and PCB design. This offers MCAD engineers interactive access to Zuken’s board design data interface within Dassault Systemes’ CATIA V5 solutions for virtual design by linking to CR-5000 Board Designer, providing seamless integration with other workbenches.

This integration specifically allows the MCAD engineer to set mechanical space requirements before the layout process and provides speedy digital mockup of modeling for mechanical design reviews. This helps solve 3D design issues earlier in the design process and eliminates the need for any re-design.

Zuken’s objective with Board Interchanger was to enable MCAD engineers to get involved in the board layout process upfront and throughout the layout phase. Using 3D assembly models of boards generated with CATIA V5, the MCAD engineer can transfer this information directly into the CR-5000 Board Designer database as a mechanical constraint.

Board Interchanger also provides a speedy mockup facility for PCB modeling. By taking all the geometric data from CR-5000 Board Designer the new tool can translate this to 3D shapes within CATIA V5, maintaining the layer structure as defined by the layout engineer.

The seamlessly integrated tools within CR-5000 enable the interactive work flow required for a straightforward design process, and provide all the technologies required for an efficient and complete electronics development process in a single environment: system design and analysis, constraints management,  concurrent FPGA and PCB design, PCB layout and verification, high-speed and EMC analysis, and production preparation, all complemented by a sophisticated parts library manager, powerful documentation system, and an extensive internet-accessible components library. CR-5000 further supports co-design and co-verification with powerful widely used mechanical, electrical, and thermal design systems.

Board Interchanger is the product of Zuken’s established CAA Software Gold Partnership with Dassault Systemes. Revision 1.1 now available supports CATIA V5 R16SP4 and R17SP4.

For details, visit Zuken.

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.