From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools.
Component DB
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Component DB.
The Edit Component DB dialog opens.
Metal Mask Manager has the function to save standard metal mask
shape into database file. So, if components are having same padstacks and they are
classified into different type, you can register different standard metal masks for
them.
Metal Mask Manager’s database file,
*.mmdb can detect component through component
classification file, *.txt. Because of this reason, you need to
prepare well-equipped component classification file data structure.
Classification
In the Edit Component DB, the Classification tab contains the
following sections:
Add: Upon clicking
Add, you can see the file searching window. Select
component database file or create new component database file. Figure 1.
Naming: Using component name, you can make classification. Name matching
components will be added into component database. Figure 2.
Component Name Selection Filter: Using this filter, you can set the filter
type to be used to select components among part name, package name,
footprint name, or reference name.
Add: Upon double-clicking naming field, tool shows the Select
Component From List dialog. From the list in Not Selected
List, select components and add components into upper list as selected
component list.
Remove: After selecting components in selected component list, click
Remove to remove item from the list. Removed item
will be moved to Not Selected List.
Filter: For the purpose to classify component using special characters, you can
use the filter. Upon searching certain characters in component name, matched name
components will be added into certain component database. Figure 3.
Upon selecting Filter section, you can see the filter setup dialog. In the
filter setup dialog, there are two sections, for string
filter setup and for exception string setup.
Component Filter: Users can set the filter type to be used to select
components among part name, package name, footprint name, device name and
reference name.
String Filter: Add string to be included into component classification
database.
Affix Filter: For string added in the String Filter, select its usage type
among prefix string, middle string, or suffix string in component name.
Prefix: Component name should be started with given string.
Mid-String: Given strings should be in component name.
Suffix: Component name should be ended with given string.
Add String: With conditions in String Filter and Affix Filter, make a filter
and add it into list.
Add And Combination: For set filtering conditions, add conditions
combination for String Filter and Affix Filter, with And combination. For
example, if users want to select components which name starts with SMD
character string and end with IC character string, use the following ways.
After input SMD in string filter, select Prefix and press Add String button.
Then, input IC in string filter, select Suffix for affix filter and press
Add And Combination button.
Except String Filter: For the filer conditions generated by String Filter ~
Add And Combination sections, input character string which users want to
exclude.
Affix Filter: For character string in Except String Filter, select its usage
among Prefix, Mid-String or Suffix.
Prefix: Component name should be started with given string.
Mid-String: Given strings should be in component name.
Suffix: Component name should be ended with given string.
Add String: Add filer conditions into list for filtering condition, set in
Except String Filter and Affix Filter.
Comment: Function to classify components with components’ properties
(attributes). Figure 4.
At comment sections, launch properties selection window by double-clicking.
v: Column for checking component properties will be used.
List Select: Setting method by selecting properties list defined in
design.
Filter: Setting method by using string filter to set components
which have matched properties.
Range: Setting method by specifying the range when the property
value is numeric.
Contents: Upon double-clicking the contents column,
depending on selection type in Select Type column, tool will launch Comment
Select, String Filter, or Range Setting window.
List Select: You can set design’s component properties in Select
Comment window. Using method is same as Naming. Figure 5.
Filter: Method to set component group with components’ property
value. Using method is same as Filter. Figure 6.
Range: You can specify the parts within the numerical range when the
property value is numeric. Figure 7.
Connected: Field to set condition is OR or AND combination. Figure 8.
OR: In case of set property is matching with one of component
properties.
AND: In case of set property is matching with component properties
in OR field and with component properties in AND field. For example,
OR(A1, A2, A3), OR(B1, B2) means (A1 ∪ A2 ∪ A3) ∩ (B1 ∪ B2).
Property
At property window, tool shows design’s component properties (Comments) and values
(Contents) lists. You can check components having certain property values (Contents)
are belong to which database. Figure 9.
Title Display Window: You can check component property (Comment) title.
Contents: Upon selecting each property title, you can see components
property values.
DB File: You can verify component DB file having selected component property
value (Content). Upon double-clicking certain line, Property Content window
will be shown.
Property Content Window: You can check component DB list created in
classification. Using component DB file, you can register property values
(Contents).
Standard of Mask Design
Metal Mask Manager support standard metal mask database and
can manage pad size of padstack. From the menu bar, click Tools > Standard of Mask Design. The Standard of Mask Design dialog
opens.
Package Metal Mask DB: Shows the path of current opened metal mask database
file, *.mmdb.
Open: Open metal mask database file, *.mmdb. Figure 10.
Merge: Use this menu to merge another metal mask database into current
Database.
Create New Package DB: Create new metal mask database,
*.mmdb.
Lists of metal mask database
The parts marked in blue are set with the standard Metal Mask set
differently from the CAD data.
Search: Search a component.
Exception Component: Upon setting exceptional component database, you can
exclude them from generating standard metal mask database.
Generate Standard Mask Data: Generate standard metal mask using design’s
mask data.
Part List: Linking with part viewer in PollEx PCB,
you can review part information. Figure 11.
Select DB: Multiple component DB could be used for making metal mask
database. To select component DB, use this menu.
Check DB: Check whether used components are in metal mask database,
*.mmdb and whether those components pads’ standard
metal masks are existing or not. After checking, you can see the result in
table-driven format.
Part: Component’s part name.
Package: Component’s package name.
Pad Stack: Padstack’s name which is not in standard metal mask.
DB: Shows whether component database is registered or not in metal
mask database, *.mmdb.
Standard Mask: Shows whether standard metal mask is registered or
not in metal mask database, *.mmdb.
Pins: Pin number not registered in standard metal mask shape.
Edit: You can edit selected component in component list.
Export To: Export component list to MS/Excel.
Generate Metal Mask Shape from ECAD Design: Among components in
design, users can generate and register standard metal mask shape
and component DB for components which are not registered in metal
mask database, *.mmdb.
Component DB Path: Specify component DB file path. Figure 12.
New: To register new component DB and components’ standard metal mask, tool
launch new metal mask DB setting window (Refer to section Metal Mask
Registration Method).
Edit: Change components’ standard metal mask which are selected in the Lists
of metal mask database. After pressing this menu button, tool launch new
metal mask DB setting window (Refer to section Metal Mask Registration
Method).
Delete: Remove selected component group from the Lists of metal mask
database. Selected component DB will not be removed in file system.
Change Component DB Directory: Change component DB file path registered in
metal mask DB.
BOM Setting: For used components in design, if they are not in BOM, tool
will not make standard metal mask shape. To do this purpose, use BOM Setting
option.
BOM Path: Select MS Excel formatted BOM file.
Env Path: Set MS Excel file reading environment file,
*.ebi. Making EBI file is only available in
PollEx BOM.
Exception Part Name: Set exceptional component DB for validation
check.
Acceptable fail type of non-existing Reference Name: Set allowable
component DB in validation checking if they are not in BOM.
Contraction (%): Set contraction ratio when creating the Metal Mask through
the Generate Standard Mask Data menu.
Layer: Specify the layer to reflect the contraction.
Direction: Select one of 9 points for contraction rate.
Horizontal(X): Set the horizontal axis contraction rate.
Vertical(Y): Set the vertical axis contraction rate.
Metal Mask Registration Method
Click New in the Standard of Mask Design
dialog. The Metal Mask DB Setting dialog opens.
Footprint Name: Denotes footprint name. Same name as defined in the Component DB
File.
Component DB File: Set DB file, *.txt which you want to register. Upon reading component DB file,
*.txt, padstack list
matching used components in design with component DB will appear.
Pad Stack Name: Padstack name.
Metal Mask: You can check user-defined standard metal mask.
Width: Padstack’s width.
Length: Padstack’s length.
Import Metal Mask Shape from Other Package: Import the Standard Metal Mask shape
registered in Padstack with the same name from other parts.
Create Metal Mask for Undefined Sharp from CAD Data: In case of padstacks which
are not having standard metal mask shape, you can automatically register
standard metal mask shape with design’s metal masks. Figure 13.
Pad Stack Dimension: You can review padstack’s dimension. Figure 14.
Pad: Measure the size of pads.
Metal Mask: Measure the size of metal mask used in the design.
Gerber: Measure the size of Gerber file’s metal mask. To use this
function, refer to Gerber Export to calibrate Gerber and design file.
Standard Metal Mask: Measure the size of standard metal mask.
Lead: Input lead’s shape property for selected pad.
Lead Type: Specify the type of lead.
Width: Specify the width of lead.
Length: Specify the length of lead.
Metal Mask: After selecting shape and size, you can register metal mask
shape.
Edit: After selecting padstack, click Edit to
edit it.
Select Metal Mask: Upon selecting this menu, the Metal Mask
Type dialog opens. Figure 15.
Tool provides selected metal mask shape’s size and offset (X/Y)
value. Figure 16.
Shape Editor: Complex shapes that do not exist in the Metal Mask Type
can be drawn directly through the Shape Editor.
Standard Padstack: Using the pads’ name and size (width/height), you can
check whether design’s mask data are following the standard rule or
not. Figure 17.
Add: Register standard pads. After clicking Add,
specify padstack name, pad’s width, and length. Figure 18.
In case of editing properties, click Edit. Figure 19.
Apply: Using this menu, you can check the metal mask shapes in package
DB. Figure 20.
OK: Upon clicking OK, tool
saves current properties and launch Package Data Information window. At this
window, you can add comments of changing history. To manage changing history,
click History > Package DB History from the menu bar. Figure 21.
Validation Check
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Validation Check.
The Validation Check dialog opens.
Clearance Check Input
The Validation Check dialog contains the following
sections.
Among design’s metal mask, metal mask in metal mask DB, *.mmdb
and Gerber file’s metal mask, Metal Mask Manager can
compare and find the difference.
Select Gerber files for compare with Metal Mask: Set the layer top or bottom
metal mask for Gerber file’s data. Before launching Metal Mask Manager, you should import Gerber file in
PollEx PCB.
Select for TOP Metal Mask: Select Gerber file for top metal mask
layer.
Select for Bottom Metal Mask: Select Gerber file for bottom metal mask
layer.
BOM Setting
BOM: Select MS Excel formatted BOM file path.
Env: To automatically read MS Excel formatted file, tool needs
environment file, *.ebi. Making EBI file is only
available in PollEx BOM.
Exception Part: Set component DB file which will be excluded in
validation checking.
Acceptable fail type of non-existing Reference Name: Set component DB
which will be allowable in validation check even if those components are
not in BOM.
Select Check Type: Set checking composition.
Gerber vs Standard of Mask Design: Use this option to compare Gerber’s
metal mask and metal mask in metal mask DB,
*.mmdb.
Gerber vs CAD: Use this option to compare Gerber’s metal mask and
design’s metal mask.
CAD vs Standard of Mask Design: Use this option to compare design’s
metal mask and metal mask in metal mask DB,
*.mmdb.
Property
Tolerance: Set allowable error tolerance in validation checking.
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Clearance Check.
The Clearance Check dialog opens.
This function is to check the clearance between Metal Mask, Solder Mask, and Via
generated by Generate Standard Mask Design of Metal Mask Manager.
Clearance Check Input
The
Clearance Check dialog contains the following sections:
Clearance between Standard of Masks in same Component: Checking clearance
between Metal Mask shapes corresponding to the pins in the same
component.
Clearance between Standard of Mask and other Component’s Standard Mask:
Checking clearance between Metal Mask Shape and other components.
Except checking for overlapped pads: Option to exclude Metal Mask of
overlapped pins when designed overlapped pads.
Clearance between Standard of Mask and Board Figure Metal Mask (CAD):
Checking clearance between generated Metal Mask and Board Figure Metal Mask
on CAD data.
Clearance between Standard of Mask and Solder Mask: Checking clearance
between generated Metal Mask and Solder Mask on CAD data.
Clearance between Standard of Mask and Via: Checking clearance between
generated Metal Mask and Via.
Clearance Check Result
When completed the Clearance Check, the results are displayed in list at the bottom
of Metal Mask Manager window. You can save the result as an Excel file by clicking
Export Excel.
Figure 22.
Gerber Export
Metal Mask Manager can export metal mask file into Gerber
using standard metal mask DB, *.mmdb.
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Export Gerber. The Gerber Export Option dialog opens.
The Gerber Export Option dialog contains the following
options:
Include Board Outline: Select whether to include Board Outline on Gerber export.
Board Outline Width: Specify the width of Board Outline on Gerber
export.
Generate Metal Mask Gerber
Generate Metal Mask Gerber from Cad Data: Export Metal Mask shape of CAD
data to Gerber.
Generate Metal Mask Gerber from Standard of Mask Design: Export to Gerber
using Metal Mask Shape registered in the Standard of Mask Design DB.
Include Board Figure Metal Mask from Cad Data: Include Metal Mask
designed as Board Figure properties on CAD data.
Include Component Figure Metal Mask from Cad Data where not existing
Standard of Mask Design: Include the Component Figure Metal Mask
shape on CAD data, not registered in Standard of Mask Design
DB.
Include Metal Mask from Cad Data for undefined Standard of Mask
Design: Include Metal Mask shape on CAD data for the pad not
registered in the Standard of Mask Design DB.
Path to Save Gerber Files
Design File Folder: Generate Gerber file in the path where CAD data
exists.
User Defined Folder: Generate Gerber file in the user defined path.
Standard Padstack Size
This is the feature to check size between design’s pad and standard metal mask data
pad.
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Standard Padstack Size. The Standard Padstack Size dialog opens. Using
the user-definable tolerance value, you can check between two different pads.
Standard Pin Pitch
This is the feature to check pin pitches between stand pin pitch in metal mask DB,
*.mmdb and design’s pin pitch.
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Standard Pin Pitch. The Standard Pin Pitch dialog opens.
Using the user-definable tolerance value, you can check between two different pins
pitches.
From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Measure.
The Dimension dialog opens. The Dimension
dialog contains the following sections:
Object: Measure by the radius, diameter, horizontal/vertical size.
Object to Object: Measure the distance between objects.
Edge: Measure based on the edge of the selected objects.
Center: Measure based on the center of the selected objects.
Minimum Distance: Measure the minimum distance of the selected
objects.
Delta X: Measure the distance by fixing the horizontal axis.
Delta Y: Measure the distance by fixing the vertical axis.
Use Same Type: Apply the same measures to the Second Type as
selected from the Fist Type.
Point to Point: Measure the distance between user selected points.
Dimension Display
Keep: Keep the results of measurement until the window is
closed.
Text Scale: Change the text scale to display either smaller or
larger.
Compare with BOM
Using design and BOM, you can check whether Gerber’s metal mask data constructed or
not.
Before checking it, reading Gerber file will reduce time. From the menu bar of Metal Mask Manager, click Tools > Compare with BOM. The Compare with BOM dialog
opens.
The Compare with BOM dialog contains the following sections:
Select Metal Mask layer from Gerber files.
Select Top Metal Mask Layer: Specify top metal mask Gerber layer.
Select Bottom Metal Mask Layer: Specify bottom metal mask Gerber
layer.
Select Option
Exception Part Name: Specify component DB to set components which will
be excluded from checking.
Acceptable fail type of non-existing Reference Name on BOM: Specify
component DB to set components which will be allowable, even if they are
not in BOM.
Exception
None: No exception.
IC Visual Mark: Option to exclude IC Visual Mark from checking.
Standard Metal Mask DB: Option to exclude metal masks in design using
metal mask database file, *.mmdb.
Line Width on Gerber: Exclude Gerber data line having specified
width.
BOM Setting
BOM Path: Specify the BOM file path.
Env Path: Specify the file path of BOM reading environment,
*.ebi.
Comparison Result
Comparison Result: Shows checking result. Error types will be metal mask,
BOM and part.
METAL MASK: In case of components exist in design and BOM, but metal
mask data are missing in design.
BOM: In case of components in design having matching mask in Gerber,
but components are not in BOM.
PART: In case of components in design do not have matching metal
mask in Gerber.
Export to: Export checking result to MS Excel file.
