Cadence Tools OrCAD Capture & Allegro

Cadence OrCAD Allegro Environment Preferences & Downloadable Files

Cadence OrCAD Allegro Gerber Generation

• General Parameters:

  • Gerber RS274X

  • Integer Places = 3

  • Decimal Places = 5

• Define Layers / Films

  • Top | Bottom | Inner Layers | TopSilk | BotSilk | TopMask | BotMask | TopPaste | BotPaste

  • Every inner layer / film need to include the board outline.

  • Add related subclasses to each film as necessary.

  • (BONUS) Each film will be accessible in the views menu and can help in the design process if set up early on.

• Create Artwork generates the Gerber files for each of the defined films.

• NC Drill

  • Parameters:

    • Integer Places = 3

    • Decimal Places = 5

  • Select Drill to output drill files.

• Zip together the drill file and the artwork files to submit to board house / manufacturer. Include a readme file for any notes that you want to deliver to the board house / manufacturer.

Creating New Footprints Cadence OrCAD Allegro

• When creating a new footprint in OrCAD Allegro, the following layers are necessary for a functional symbol.

  • Pads, Solder Mask, and Solder Paste. Collectively these are built within the Pad Stack.

  • Include a Pin 1 marking.

  • Include silkscreen for the part boundaries and reference designator.

  • Include a place bound and datum for easier part placement during layout.

• When loading a new footprint from SnapEDA or similar, three main files are needed to be copied into the footprint library.

  • .PSM

  • .DRA

  • .PAD

    • (There may be multiple .PAD files and all will need to be copied)