If you’re a SOLIDWORKS user, you’re probably used to having total control over mechanical design. From assembling complicated products to designing detailed plastic parts, SOLIDWORKS CAD makes complex projects manageable.
But when a design involves printed circuit boards (PCBs), collaboration with electrical teams can quickly become challenging. Misaligned workflows, endless file exchanges, and late-stage surprises often derail timelines and add unnecessary stress. This is where OrCAD X — a modern PCB design tool — changes the game.
OrCAD X packs powerful PCB layout capabilities in a modernized user interface built for collaboration with mechanical design tools like SOLIDWORKS, so you can tackle complex projects with fewer headaches and better results.
Let’s explore how these tools enhance and streamline your design process.
A Seamless Connection Between SOLIDWORKS and OrCAD X
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The connection between OrCAD X and SOLIDWORKS is possible through recent enhancements to CircuitWorks, the SOLIDWORKS add-in built for handling ECAD data like circuit board layouts.
CircuitWorks allows you to import PCB designs into SOLIDWORKS via the modern .IDX format, generate a complete solid model, and make modifications that flow back to the electrical design team.
When paired with OrCAD X, CircuitWorks enables a highly efficient, bidirectional workflow that keeps both teams on the same page. Best of all, if your company is taking advantage of Cloud Services (included with your SOLIDWORKS subscription), this two-way connection between OrCAD and SOLIDWORKS will soon be possible via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform — without the need to manage files or shared folders.
How Does It Work
Imagine you’re designing an electronic device where the PCB must fit into a tightly constrained enclosure. You start by defining the board outline, mounting holes, and keep-out zones in SOLIDWORKS.
CircuitWorks lets you export these mechanical constraints to OrCAD X, where the electrical team can design the PCB within the exact boundaries you’ve set.
If they make changes such as shifting a connector or adjusting component placement, those updates flow back into SOLIDWORKS incrementally, so you’re always working with the latest design date.
After the board is laid out in OrCAD X, details like through holes, copper traces, and vias can now be exported back to SOLIDWORKS, ensuring both teams have the information they need to make informed decisions.
Notes and comments are included along with the proposed changes so that designers on both teams can decide to accept or reject.
Advanced Capabilities in OrCAD X
While CircuitWorks powers ECAD and MCAD, OrCAD X brings a wealth of remarkable features, specifically geared for PCB design. These capabilities address common pain points and allow for better collaboration between mechanical and electrical teams.
Real-Time Design Rule Checking
OrCAD X includes real-time design rule checking (DRC) that helps engineers avoid mistakes early in the process.
As components are placed on the board, OrCAD X automatically flags issues like violations of height restrictions, inadequate clearances, or misaligned placements. This instant feedback prevents costly redesigns and ensures the PCB aligns with the mechanical assembly from the outset.
Simulate PCB in Real-World Conditions
One of OrCAD X’s standout features is its built-in 3D visualization engine. This allows engineers to view the PCB in physical space, including how it interacts with the enclosure or other mechanical components.
For example, you can use the 3D engine to check for clearance issues between PCB-mounted connectors and the device housing or simulate bends and folds for flexible PCBs.
Beyond visualization, OrCAD X supports 3D-specific design rules, such as component-to-component clearances. These rules can be defined and enforced automatically, ensuring that the PCB design remains functional and manufacturable as changes are made.
OrCAD X excels at integrating simulation into the design process. Engineers can utilize advanced SPICE analysis to check signal and power integrity right from the board schematic, allowing the electrical team to verify that the PCB will function as intended under real-world conditions.
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Precise Component Placement
With OrCAD X, component placement is intuitive and precise. Features like cluster placement allow engineers to group related components and position them on the board efficiently.
For parts that need to align with mechanical features such as mounting points or cutouts, OrCAD X’s properties panel makes it easy to fine-tune their placement using exact X and Y coordinates.
Components can also be locked in place to prevent accidental shifts during the design process.
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With OrCAD X’s intelligent placement tools and real-time design checks, they ensure components fit within the constraints you’ve set.
If they encounter issues like a connector interfering with the housing, they use OrCAD X’s 3D visualization tools to identify the problem and propose a solution.
Once the PCB is complete, updates flow back through CircuitWorks into SOLIDWORKS, letting you validate the entire assembly and catch any potential conflicts before prototyping.
How EMA and Hawk Ridge Systems Experts Help You
OrCAD X and SOLIDWORKS integration wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership between EMA Design Automation and Hawk Ridge Systems.
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EMA brings decades of expertise in PCB design and electronic solutions, while Hawk Ridge Systems is a trusted leader in SOLIDWORKS training and support. Together, we’ve created a unified approach to ECAD-MCAD workflows, ensuring that engineers can fully leverage the power of OrCAD X and CircuitWorks.
Through training, support, and tailored services, this partnership makes it easier for design teams to adopt these tools and use them effectively.
Whether you’re working in consumer electronics, medical devices, or industrial equipment, EMA and Hawk Ridge Systems provide the resources you need to streamline your workflow and improve collaboration.
The Final Note
For SOLIDWORKS users, integrating OrCAD X into your workflow offers a new level of precision and collaboration. CircuitWorks simplifies the exchange of design data, while OrCAD X’s advanced capabilities ensure that every aspect of the PCB design process is optimized.
Together, these tools eliminate many of the common frustrations of ECAD-MCAD integration, allowing you to focus on delivering innovative, high-quality products.
With ongoing innovations from Cadence, Dassault Systems, EMA, and Hawk Ridge Systems, the future of ECAD-MCAD collaboration looks brighter than ever.
If you’ve been searching for a solution to cross the bridge into the world of electrical design, OrCAD X might just be the tool you’ve been waiting for. Connect with us to learn more or if you have questions.
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