This tutorial will assist you with all aspects of working with apertures.
Importing aperture lists
Adding an aperture
Editing an aperture
Deleting an aperture
Exporting aperture lists
If you are starting with 274-D Gerber data, you will have a separate Aperture List file that must be imported along with your Gerber data. (274-X files have aperture information that is embedded in the files, so no separate aperture file is needed. For a detailed explanation of what aperture lists are, see Gerber for Beginners.)
There is no "standard" format for aperture lists; each CAD/CAM system can use whichever format they desire. Because of this, when VisualCAM imports an aperture list, an Automatic Conversion Rule (ACR) file is necessary to interpret the aperture list. VisualCAM has an extensive library of aperture list converters that can be used for aperture lists from many different CAD/CAM systems. You simply select the appropriate ACR file when you use the File|Import|Aperture List command. If no appropriate ACR file exists, then you can interactively create your own.
If you do not import the aperture list files, you will be warned that your apertures are undefined. The VisualCAM aperture table will contain the D-code references from your Gerber file, but you will have to assign the shapes and sizes.
Regardless of the format of your database, when you have opened or imported your design data, all aperture information (if any) appears in the VisualCAM aperture table and in the Navigator. The following information will assist you in working in the aperture table that is accessed using the Setup|Apertures command. For a detailed explanation of the Aperture Setup dialog box, see the Setup|Apertures command topic.
The Apply button, under the shape tabs in the Aperture Setup dialog box, applies the currently defined values to the D-code selected in the aperture list. You can have the system automatically apply changes to selected D-codes by clicking the down-arrow button, and selecting the Auto Apply setting. For the sake of this tutorial, we will use the Apply button in its default state and not use the Auto Apply function.
There are three methods for adding apertures to your aperture list, represented by the three aperture list view tabs on the left side of the Aperture Setup dialog box. The method you use depends upon what best suits your needs. If you are creating apertures from scratch, the D-Code View or Shape View is recommended. If you have a hardcopy aperture list that you simply need to enter the information from, the Quick Add method is recommended.
In D-Code View
Click the Add D-Code button.
The next available D-code number appears in the New D-Code dialog box. Accept the number, or type in a different, unused D-code number. Click OK, and an undefined aperture appears in the list.
Tip: You can also add multiple new D-codes by using the following convention: n,n adds D-codes using the numbers you specify (12,14 adds D-codes 12 and 14), and n:n adds a range of D-codes (12:14 adds D-codes 12, 13, and 14).
Select your desired aperture shape by clicking on one of the shape tabs in the middle of the dialog box.
Define the parameters, as necessary. See the Setup|Apertures command topic for a detailed explanation of each aperture type.
Note that a representation of your aperture appears in a preview on the right side of the dialog box. Although it is not an exact representation of the size of the aperture, it shows you how the aperture shape will appear.
Custom apertures are defined using the Custom Aperture Editor. To create a new custom aperture, click the Custom Ap button, and select the New command from the menu. To use a pre-existing custom aperture from a library file, click the Custom Ap button, and select the Load From Lib command from the menu. Once you have created the custom aperture or loaded the library file, it appears in the Custom Aperture Name list. Select the custom aperture from that list to use it as a D-code.
When you are finished, click the Apply button. Your aperture is now defined.
If your D-code requires an angle of rotation, click on the Angle column for the D-code, and the Angle is immediately highlighted. Type in the new value.
To define an aperture's type (SMT, Thermal, or ThruHole), click on the Type column for the D-code, and select the desired type.
In Shape View
Right-click on the desired aperture shape, and select Add from the shortcut menu.
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Click on the desired aperture shape, and click the Add D-Code button.
The next available D-code number appears in the New D-Code dialog box. Accept the number, or type in a different, unused D-code number. Click OK, and an undefined aperture appears in the list.
Define the parameters, as necessary, under the shape tab in the middle of the dialog box. See the Setup|Apertures command topic for a detailed explanation of each aperture type.
Note that a representation of your aperture appears in a preview on the right side of the dialog box. Although it is not an exact representation of the size of the aperture, it shows you how the aperture shape will appear.
Custom apertures are defined using the Custom Aperture Editor. To create a new custom aperture, click the Custom Ap button, and select the New command from the menu. To use a pre-existing custom aperture from a library file, click the Custom Ap button, and select the Load From Lib command from the menu. Once you have created the custom aperture or loaded the library file, it appears in the Custom Aperture Name list. Select the custom aperture from that list to use it as a D-code.
When you are finished, click the Apply button. Your aperture is now defined.
If your D-code requires an angle of rotation, double-click on the D-code number to expand the tree view. If an angle of rotation can be applied to the D-code, a "0" appears underneath the D-code number. Right-click on the "0", and a shortcut menu appears. Select the Edit command, and type in the new value.
The aperture type also appears under the D-code number. To define an aperture's type (SMT, Thermal, or ThruHole), right-click on the existing type ("SMT", by default), and a shortcut menu appears. Select the desired type.
In Quick Add
The Quick Add function is used to create basic apertures. You should view your individual D-codes in the D-code or Shape view to verify that they are correct, and select the appropriate aperture type (SMT, Thermal, or ThruHole). Some apertures that can have complex definitions, such as Thermals and Moires, may need to be edited.
Custom apertures cannot be defined using the Quick Add command.
Type your aperture information, in the specified format, into the Quick Add text box. Place the information for each D-code on its own line.
When you are finished, click the Apply button under the text box. Your aperture information has been added to the table, and will appear in the Shape and D-code views.
All your aperture definitions can be edited in either the D-code or Shape views. If you need to change a D-code number, you must delete the existing D-code, and then add a new one with the correct number.
Tip: To revert back to the previously saved parameters at any time (even after the changes have been applied), click the Reset button.
In D-Code View
Select the desired aperture by clicking on it in the Properties column. The appropriate Shape tab, in the middle of the dialog box, is automatically brought into focus.
Change your aperture definitions, as necessary.
To change the angle of rotation for a D-code, click on the Angle column for the D-code, and the Angle is immediately highlighted. Type in the new value. To change an aperture's type (SMT, Thermal, or ThruHole), click on the Type column for the D-code, and select the desired type.
When you are finished, click the Apply button. The definitions are updated in your aperture list.
In Shape View
Expand the tree view by double-clicking on the desired aperture's shape category, and then on the desired D-code number. The appropriate Shape tab, in the middle of the dialog box, is automatically brought into focus.
Change your aperture definitions, as necessary, and click the Apply button.
To change the angle of rotation, right-click on the existing angle underneath the D-code number, and a shortcut menu appears. Select the Edit command, and type in the new value.
To define an aperture's type (SMT, Thermal, or ThruHole), right-click on the existing type, and a shortcut menu appears. Select the desired type.
Only unused D-codes can be deleted.
Tip: The Compact button removes unused and redundant apertures within an aperture list. Each layer then has its D-codes remapped accordingly.
In D-Code View
Right-click on the desired aperture in the Properties column.
Select the Delete D-code command from the shortcut menu. The D-code is immediately deleted.
In Shape View
To delete an individual D-code, expand the tree view for the desired aperture shape by double-clicking on it. Then double-click on the desired D-code size.
Right-click on the desired D-code number.
Select the Delete command from the shortcut menu. The D-code is immediately deleted.
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To delete all D-codes for a particular aperture definition (for example, all 4 mil Rounds), expand the tree view for the desired aperture shape. Right-click on the desired D-code size.
Select the Delete command from the shortcut menu. All the D-codes listed under that size are deleted.
The File|Export|Aperture List command exports an aperture list file in the VisualCAM .map format. Exporting this file is only necessary if you are exporting your design data in the Gerber 274-D format.
When you export your data in other file formats, or save a .vcam file, the aperture information is contained within those files. You do not have to save a separate aperture list file.