Accelerating the Creation of Custom Land Patterns: Using NI Ultiboard and IPC-Compliant LP Wizard
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This article showcases the integration between the board layout of NI Ultiboard, and the easy land pattern (or footprint) generation of IPC-7351A LP Wizard.
As you embark upon the creation of custom designs, such as modules, accesories and daughter cards for devices such as NI CompactRIO, the IPC-7351A LP Wizard can help you to rapidly define land patterns for connectors and other devices.
NI Ultiboard is a layout and routing application. With flexible features to employ manual and automatic design techniques, Ultiboard is suited to the rapid prototype of projects such as small to medium printed circuit boards (PCBs), custom I/O modules, accessories, DAQ breakout boards, and CompactRIO modules.
Table of Contents
Introduction
When designing a PCB, it is essential that the land patterns used for layout are accurate to ensure proper solder joint connections when the board is manufactured. Furthermore, many PCB manufacturers and assembly houses use industry standard specifications to automate the board manufacturing process, and require land patterns to meet strict specifications. The designer can either conform to these specifications, or run the risk of producing faulty boards.
As a result, the electronics industry has widely adopted the IPC-7351 Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard, a standard that provides guidelines for the land pattern geometry of surface mount technology (SMT) devices. Conforming to this standard manually, however, is time consuming and error prone.
The purpose of this article is to outline the process for creating IPC-compliant land patterns in NI Ultiboard using the IPC-7351A LP Wizard. With this software, developed by PCB Matrix, designers can quickly and easily generate IPC-compliant land patterns by simply entering package dimensions directly from the datasheet.
The IPC-7351A LP wizard offers seamless compatibility with Ultiboard by generating land patterns that can be directly imported into the Ultiboard component database, thus increasing the efficiency of the PCB design process, and giving designers confidence that their layouts conform to the most widely accepted standard for surface mount design.
IPC-7351A Standard
The IPC-7351A Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard provides guidelines for the land pattern geometry of surface mount technology (SMT) components. The standard is based upon well-researched mathematical formulae that account for fabrication, assembly, and component tolerance.
The IPC-7351A is the successor to the IPC-7351 and IPC-SMT-782 standards; the new standard improves upon previous versions by offering a 3-tiered density system, zero component rotation specifications, solder joint analysis specifications, and a unique land pattern naming convention.
IPC-7351A LP Wizard by PCB Matrix
The IPC-7351A LP Wizard consists of a land pattern calculator, viewer, library system, and wizard. To create a land pattern, the designer simply enters package dimensions from a datasheet and the software automatically creates IPC-compliant land patterns that can be easily imported into Ultiboard.
The calculator was developed in collaboration with the IPC; therefore, the calculations it uses for land pattern dimensions are based entirely on the IPC-7351A specification.
The IPC-7351A LP wizard supports more than 55 types of component packages and offers tiered-density capability (most. nominal, and least). The software also performs solder joint analysis calculations. The user has the choice to either use preset operating environments or to define their own goals for toe, heel, and side protrusions.
The software includes free library documentation provided by the IPC, which consists of component dimensional data for more than 2700 standard SMT components.
The IPC-7351A LP Wizard for Ultiboard is available for purchase on the PCB Matrix Web site. Site licenses are also available.
Learn more about the IPC-7351A LP Wizard.
IPC-7351 LP Wizard Features
- Viewer: Easily search the library for the land patterns you need. You also have the ability to view PDF and Web-linked datasheets and onscreen graphic display for most standard SMD components
- Calculator: Design PCB land patterns by simply entering the manufacturer’s component data; see the results of your design immediately in the Viewer window and evaluate Solder Joint Analysis
- Librarian: In addition to features of calculator, you can save, store, and reference component data to eliminate redundant work
- Wizard: With export features in addition to the Librarian features, you can export to Ultiboard
The Design Flow: Importing a Land Pattern into Ultiboard
The design flow consists of two steps: generating a land pattern using the IPC-7351A LP Wizard, followed by importing into your Ultiboard database. To demonstrate this procedure, we will create a land pattern for a small-outline integrated circuit (SOIC) with the following dimensions:
Step 1: Generating Land Patterns Using the IPC-7351A LP Wizard
- Open the PCB Matrix IPC-7351A LP Wizard.
- Select SMD to invoke the SMD (Surface Mount Device) Calculator.
- Select the appropriate component family. In this case, the Small Outline IC (SOIC) family. Click OK.
- In the Component tab, enter package dimensions as shown in Figure 1. Click OK.
- The land pattern dimensions, including courtyard and silkscreen information, are now available under the Land Pattern & Statistics tab.
Now that we have generated the land pattern data, it is time to export the land pattern, including assembly, silkscreen, and courtyard layers for use in Ultiboard.
- Select the Wizard button.
- Under CAD Output, select NI Ultiboard.
- Under File Attributes, choose the Library Directory by selecting Browse. Select a location to save the .XML data. Click OK.
- Select Create and Close.
Step 2: Importing Land Patterns into Ultiboard
Now that you have generated the land pattern in Step 1, it is time to import it into Ultiboard for use in your PCB layouts.
- Open Ultiboard.
- Open a new file by going to File > Open. Change Files of type to All Files (*.*). Navigate to the location of your .XML data and select Open.
- Open the Database Manager (Tools > Database > Database Manager) and click on the + icon (Add parts from the design to the database) located at the top left of the dialog.
- Choose Complete design contents and make sure the part is checked off. Click OK.
The land pattern has now been added to your database and is ready to be used for layout.
Ultiboard Files for Import
To view the XML export of the LP Wizard, you can download a database of Ultiboard ready land patterns and footprints from the PCB Matrix Web page.
Conclusion
The IPC-7351A LP Wizard increases the efficiency of the PCB design process by automatically generating land patterns from package dimensions. By importing these land patterns into Ultiboard, you can be confident that your layouts conform to IPC-specifications, while at the same time reducing the amount of time spent on land pattern creation.
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