When importing Gerber or other "dumb" file formats, the only information that VisualCAM sees are draws and flashes on layers. The system can't determine on its own what is or isn't a component. In order for the system to correctly analyze or modify embedded passives in your database, you must "reverse engineer" your data. This tutorial explains the basic steps to reverse engineer embedded passives. For detailed explanations of the commands involved in this process, click on the links provided.
Tip: A VideoClip is available for this tutorial. (Internet access required.)
Import all of your embedded passive data.
Use the Setup|Layers command to organize and tag your layers.
Select one of the Tools|Convert|Drawn Pads commands and convert all drawn pads on your conductive layers to flashes. If this is not done, the system will not be able to properly build your embedded passives.
Select the Tools|Embedded Passives|Find command. Here, you provide information about your embedded passive and conductive layers, which the system uses to automatically "build" the embedded passives.
Every flash that is tagged as a resistor on the passive layer is marked with an Ohms symbol.
Every embedded passive that has been built is highlighted with an outline.
A list of all your embedded passives appears in the Valid Embedded Passives list in the Navigator, by reference designator. You can view information about each embedded passive, and perform a variety of tasks. See the Embedded Passives topic for details.
If you have flashes that are marked as resistors, but do not belong to a valid embedded passive, the termination bars fell outside your defined tolerance. They are listed in the Invalid Embedded Passives list in the Navigator, and you will need to manually construct the embedded passive using either the Construct Embedded Passive command in the Navigator's right-click menu, or the Tools|Embedded Passives|Build Embedded Passive command.
Select the Analysis|DRC/MRC command, and run the Embedded Passive checks on your data. This ensures that your data are properly aligned, sized, etc.
If you are using etched/subtractive technology to create your embedded passives, use the Tools|Embedded Passives|Etch Compensation command to factor in any necessary manufacturing tolerances.
You may now export your data in your desired file format. If you use the File|Save command to save the data as a VisualCAM .vcam database file, all of your embedded passive "intelligence" will be saved as well.