BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial DownStream Technologies, LLC

Learn the User Interface ............................................................................................................ 3

Start BluePrint-PCB ................................................................................................................... 4
Import CAD Design Data............................................................................................................ 4
Create a Panel Drawing ............................................................................................................. 5
Add a Drill Panel ........................................................................................................................ 5
Selecting Objects ....................................................................................................................... 5
Format the Drill Panel ................................................................................................................ 5
Setting PCB Image Array ........................................................................................................... 7
Calculate Board Image Copies ................................................................................................... 7
Calculate Panel Size .................................................................................................................. 8
Add Pinning Holes to Panel........................................................................................................ 9
Add Fiducials to Panel ............................................................................................................... 9
Edit the Panel ...........................................................................................................................11
Set Panel Colors .......................................................................................................................11
Add a Web Route......................................................................................................................12
Add Mill Tabs ............................................................................................................................13
Associate Mill Tabs ...................................................................................................................14
Apply Web Route Pattern to all Board Images ..........................................................................15
Merge Web Routes ...................................................................................................................16
Set Dimension Snap Filtering ....................................................................................................17
Add Panel Dimensions ..............................................................................................................18
Place Panel Drill Chart ..............................................................................................................20
Place Mill Tab Detail .................................................................................................................20
Place Panel Drawing Notes.......................................................................................................21
Save the File .............................................................................................................................21
BluePrint-PCB’s Documentation Hierarchy ...............................................................................22
What else can BluePrint-PCB do?.............................................................................................22

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BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial DownStream Technologies, LLC

BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial

This tutorial is intended to help you create PCB panel documentation with BluePrint-PCB. The
tutorial includes demonstration files to be used for creating PCB panel documentation.
We cover the basics here. For more in-depth information on BluePrint-PCB functionality, please
refer to BluePrint-PCB’s Help content or contact us at sales@[Link].

Note: You may find it easier to print this document rather than switch back and
forth between this document and BluePrint-PCB as you follow the instructions.

About the Demonstration Files

The demonstration files used for the tutorial are located in the BluePrint-PCB installation folder
under a sub-folder named “Demo Files”. The location of the installation folder varies dependent
upon your source of the BluePrint-PCB installation.
If you are using licensed BluePrint-PCB:
The default installation folder is:
C:\DownStreamTech\BluePrint-PCB x.x.
If you are using the Demonstration (unlicensed) version of BluePrint-PCB:
The default installation folder is appended with Demo. For example:
C:\DownStreamTech\BluePrint-PCB x.x Demo.
Where x.x is the version of BluePrint-PCB you are currently using. For example, if you are using
Version 6.0 of BluePrint, x.x would be 6.0. Since you may have chosen another location for the
installation we refer to the installation folder as “Your BluePrint-PCB Installation Folder”.

Overview/Philosophy
BluePrint-PCB expedites the PCB documentation process. The process begins with extracting
design data from your PCB tool and importing it into BluePrint-PCB.
BluePrint-PCB automates the creation of drill drawings with drill charts, layer stack-up details,
via stack up details. BluePrint-PCB automates the creation of assembly drawings with detail
views, bottom and topside assembly views, parts lists, and other such PCB documentation.
Documents can be customized to meet your specific documentation requirements. Simply start
a document, drag and drop documentation elements onto your drawing sheets and create your
documentation.
Before you Begin
Before you start the first exercise of this tutorial, take a moment to review the elements of the
user interface presented on the next page.

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Learn the User Interface

BluePrint-PCB’s user interface is similar to that of other Windows based applications.

Ribbon

Document
Viewing Windows

Drawing Element

Tool Palette RMB pop up menu

Tasks Pane
View Modes
Screen Splitter

BluePrint-PCB’s Graphical User Interface

Ribbons: Ribbons are located across the top of the application. They provide access to nearly
every command available in BluePrint-PCB. Many ribbons are context sensitive and appear only
when you select objects in the drawing. Several commands located on ribbons are also
replicated in the pop up menu presented when you click the right mouse button (RMB).
Workspace: The main workspace is where you edit and preview your documents. You select a
tab (or mode) to create or edit a document, preview a document or view and query design data.
Tool Palettes: On the left side of the application are Tool Palettes. Tool Palettes contain
drawing elements you drag and drop onto your documents and are organized by drawing types.
Drawing elements for use on any type of document such as a title block and drawing border are
added from the Common palette. Drawing elements for use on a Fabrication drawing, such as a
drill chart, drill pattern and a layer stack-up are added from the Fabrication Drawing palette.
Similar groupings of drawing elements are added from the Assembly Drawing palette. View and
select sheets in your document set from the Content palette. View and work with your BluePrint-
PCB library from the Element Gallery palette.
Tasks Pane: On the right side of the application is the Tasks Pane. Use this pane to search for
and find objects in the drawings. Review files you have imported into BluePrint-PCB such as
image files, Word processor documents, Gerber files, etc. Use Step and Repeat to duplicate
objects in an array pattern.

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Start BluePrint-PCB
1. If not already started, start BluePrint-PCB. BluePrint-PCB’s welcome screen is
presented with links to help you start a release package, access this tutorial, access the
help system and other activities.
2. Select the Inches [Link] file and click OK to apply the Start-Up file.

Import CAD Design Data

1. Most release packages are initiated by importing design data from a CAD system. For
this tutorial, you will import a sample design in ODB++ format. Select Ribbon: Home >
New From Import > Mentor > Expedition ODB++ .
2. Browse to and select the [Link] file from <Your BluePrint-PCB Installation
Folder>/Demo Files folder.

Product Highlight: BluePrint-PCB is compatible with several PCB

design systems including BoardStation, Expedition, PADS,
Allegro, OrCAD, Visula, CADStar, CR5000, and Altium. BluePrint-
PCB also offers file import or export between Mechanical CAD
Systems via Design Exchange File format or DXF. Image files can
be imported from almost any file format including PDF, bmp, jpeg,
and gif just to name a few.

Imported CAD Design View

1. At the bottom of the document viewing window, click the Design tab. The imported
design is presented.
2. Locate your cursor over traces, vias, pins and other design elements and BluePrint-PCB
displays tooltips with detailed information for the element.

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Create a Panel Drawing

1. Select Ribbon: Home > New Drawing and choose Panel Drawing . The View
mode changes to Edit mode and a new blank sheet appears.
2. If the new drawing has a sheet border and title block, skip to “Add a Drill Panel”.

3. If it is not open, click the Common Tool Palette .

4. On the Common Tool Palette, locate your cursor over the Sheet Border element.
Press and hold left mouse button, move your mouse over the blank sheet and release
the mouse button to drop a sheet border element onto the sheet. Note how the sheet
border is automatically positioned in the proper location.

5. Repeat the drag and drop process to add Title Block and Revision Block
elements to the sheet. Note how the elements are also properly positioned on the sheet.

Add a Drill Panel

1. Select the Panel Tool Palette .

2. Drag and Drop a Drill Panel element onto the sheet. BluePrint-PCB automatically
adds a 4 image (2 x 2) PCB panel array with board outline and drill symbols.

Selecting Objects
Selection of objects in BluePrint-PCB is dependent upon what is under the cursor at the time of
selection, or click of the left mouse button. When the cursor is not over an object in a view or
sheet, the cursor appears normal and nothing is selectable. When the cursor is over
selectable or editable objects, the cursor changes to a different presentation .
1. Move the cursor around the Drill Pattern and note how it changes as it passes over
selectable objects.

Format the Drill Panel

The Drill Panel is a detailed drill pattern view of the assembly panel design. Drills are
represented by various symbols such as plus, cross, diamond, square and so on. The
presentation of the Panel design view can be modified via the Format Panel View dialog.

1. Select the Drill Pattern and choose Ribbon: View > Fit Selection to fit the Drill
Pattern into the view.

2. With the cursor over a selectable object in the view (cursor presentation ), RMB and
choose Format Panel from the pop-up menu. The Format Panel View dialog appears.
Use this dialog to set panel size, number of PCB images, locate fiducials and pinning
holes, drill symbol data and other panel parameters.

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Select Format Panel from Pop-up Menu

Panel Format Dialog

Product Highlight: The format panel dialog presents a preview of the

calculated panel image in real-time. This allows you to maximize
the panel array and size while minimizing material waste.

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Setting PCB Image Array

BluePrint-PCB offers two methods for defining the PCB image array for the panel.

Step and Repeat Options

Auto-calculated - BluePrint-PCB calculates the PCB image array based on user defined
values. For example, set image spacing, number of horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) images, and
BluePrint-PCB calculates panel size to accommodate the array. Alternatively, set panel size,
number of images and BluePrint-PCB calculates image spacing.
Spreadsheet – BluePrint-PCB calculates the PCB image array based on user defined image
locations.
For this tutorial, the PCB image array will be calculated for an 8.500 x 11.000 inch panel with
0.200 inch border spacing.

Calculate Board Image Copies

1. Click Compute adjacent to the Board image copies values. The number of images will
be calculated based on other defined parameters.
2. In the Panel size area, set Width to 8.500 inch and Height to 11.000 inch.
3. Set all Border Spacing and Border Image spacing values as 0.200 inch.
4. Board image copies are auto-calculated as a 2 x 6 array.

Format Panel settings for a 2 x 6 Array

5. Click Preview. The drill panel is updated in the drawing.
6. Set all Border Spacing values to 0.500 inch to accommodate the addition of pinning
holes and fiducials. BluePrint-PCB now calculates a 2 x 5 array (or 10 images).
7. Decrease Board image spacing to 0.100 inch in both X and Y.

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8. Click Preview to preview the Drill Panel on the drawing.

Format Panel With Larger Border Spacing.

9. Set Board image rotation to 90 degrees. BluePrint-PCB calculates a 4 x 2 array (8
images). A 0 degree rotation is clearly a better use of space. Set the rotation back to 0
degrees.

Calculate Panel Size

1. Click Compute adjacent to Panel Size. BluePrint-PCB now auto-calculates an 8.300 x
9.400 inch panel instead of the 8.500 x 11.000 inch panel to support the new
parameters.

Calculated Panel Size

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Add Pinning Holes to Panel

1. Click the Pinning Holes tab.
2. Click Add. The Add Pinning Hole dialog appears.
3. Select Pinning Hole x125 and click OK to add it. In the preview, note its appearance in
the upper left corner of the panel. It needs to be relocated.
4. In the Position area, click Relative.
5. Set the position options to Left at a location of 0.200 inch and Top to 0.200 inch.
6. Add a second Pinning Hole x125 at Relative Right 0.200 inch and Top 0.200 inch.
7. Add a third Pinning Hole x125 at Relative Left 0.200 inch and Bottom 0.200 inch.

Pinning Hole Additions

Add Fiducials to Panel

1. Select the Fiducials tab.
2. Click Add. The Add Fiducial dialog appears.
3. Select Fiducial x40. Click OK to add it. In the preview, note its appearance in the upper
left corner of the panel. It needs to be relocated.
4. In the Position area, click Relative.
5. Set the position options to Left at a location of 0.200 inch and Top to 0.600 inch.
6. Add a second Fiducial x40 at Relative Right 0.200 inch and Top 0.600 inch.
7. Add a third Fiducial x40 at Relative Left 0.200 inch and Bottom 0.600 inch.

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Fiducial Additions
8. Click the Drill Symbols Table tab on the Format Panel Drawing dialog. The drill
symbols assigned to drills in the PCB image and the Pinning Hole are presented. Note
the assignment of +A as the symbol for the Pinning Hole.

Drill Symbols Table

9. Click Lock Panel Boards in the lower left part of the dialog. This freezes the Drill Panel
view with the current settings.

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10. Click OK to accept the settings and view the updated panel.

Locked Panel Array

Edit the Panel

1. With the panel selected, choose Ribbon: Design > Enable Editing . This enables
panel editing and applies panel color settings to the panel.
Note: After entering Edit Panel mode, clicking outside of the panel will unselect the
panel and abort Edit Panel mode. If this occurs, just re-select the panel and enable
panel editing mode again.

Set Panel Colors

1. Use Panel Colors as a visual aid for panel editing activities. Choose Ribbon: Design >

Panel Colors . The Panel Colors dialog appears.

2. Choose the Panel Form Factor color and assign it a Light Grey color.

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Assign Panel Colors

3. Click OK to apply the colors and close the dialog.

Add a Web Route

1. Select the PCB image in the lower left corner of the Drill Panel and choose Ribbon: View

> Fit Selection to fit the selection into the view.

2. With the PCB image selected, choose Ribbon: Panel PCB View > Add .A
routing pattern, or web route, is added around the entire perimeter of the PCB image.

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Web Route Added to PCB Image

Add Mill Tabs

1. Click the outer edge of the web route to select it.
2. Choose Add Mill Tab from the pop-up menu.

Format Mill Tab Dialog - Position

3. On the Position tab of the Format Mill Tab dialog, set position as Panel Origin and set X
to 0.450 inch and Y to 1.300 inch.
4. Click the Style tab. Choose Perforated Break style.

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Format Mill Tab - Style
5. Click OK to apply the settings and add the Mill Tab.

Mill Tab Added

6. With the Web Route selected, from the Panel Tool Palette drag a new Mill Tab
add place it at any location along the arced route segment on the right side of the PCB
image.

Associate Mill Tabs

1. Selecting a Mill Tab requires you to click in a very specific location. The image below
highlights the milling arcs in bold, the best location for selecting a Mill Tab. When it is
properly selected, it is highlighted in yellow as shown on the right.

Select a Mill Tab

2. Select the first (left) Mill Tab added in the previous steps. With the cursor over the Mill
Tab, RMB and choose Associate Mill Tab from the pop-up menu.

Associate Mill Tab

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3. The cursor presentation changes to . Select the right Mill Tab to associate the Mill
Tab pair. The right Mill Tab adjusts its location (if not previously aligned) to be
horizontally aligned with the left Mill Tab.
4. Click OK to accept the Mill Tab Association.
5. Press Esc to exit Mill Tab Associate mode.
6. Add two more Perforated Break style Mill Tabs at the following locations:
a) X 1.300 Y .450
b) X 2.700 Y .450
7. Add and associate two more Perforated Break style Mill Tabs at the following locations:
a) X 1.300 Y 2.150
b) X 2.700 Y 2.150
8. Your board image should now look like the image below:

Web Route with Mill Tabs

Apply Web Route Pattern to all Board Images

1. Zoom out to view the entire panel. Make sure the Panel is in Edit Panel mode.
2. Select the Web Route and RMB. Select Apply Parameters to All Images from the pop-
up menu.

Apply Parameters to all PCB Images

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The web route pattern is copied to all PCB images.

Web Routes Copied to all Board Images

Merge Web Routes

1. Locate the cursor over a blank area (no PCB image) of the panel, RMB and choose
Merge Web Routes from the pop-up menu.

Merge Web Routes

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The panel updates to shown the actual material cavities that would result once the
milling operation is completed.

Web Routes Merged

2. Click on the drawing sheet in an area outside of the panel to exit Edit Panel mode.

Set Dimension Snap Filtering

1. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Snap to Filter . The Dimension Snapping Filter dialog
appears.

Dimension Snapping Filter

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2. Choose Select Filter Mode.
3. Disable (uncheck) Panel Mill Tab Center Points, Panel Mill Tab End Points, Panel
Mill Tab Perforations, and Panel Web Routes.

Configured Dimension Snapping Filter

4. Click OK to Apply the Filter Settings and close the dialog.

Add Panel Dimensions

1. Zoom into the lower left corner of the Panel.
2. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Place Origin > Horizontal Coordinate Origin. An origin
dimension is attached to the cursor.

Horizontal Coordinate Origin

3. Position the origin end point over to the lower left corner of the panel and note how it
snaps to the panel outline. Snapping is indicated by the appearance of a yellow circle
and a snapping graphic on the cursor.

Snapping Graphic
4. Click to place the origin on the corner. A new origin element is attached to the cursor.
Press Esc to cancel adding additional origins.

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5. Choose Ribbon: Draw > Add Datum > Horizontal Coordinate Dimension.

Horizontal Dimension
6. Move the cursor horizontally along the panel snapping and adding a dimension at each
of the following:
a) Fiducials
b) Pinning Holes
c) Center of Mill Tabs
d) Left (or Lower) Most Board Edges
e) Panel Edges
7. Repeat the above using Vertical Dimensions vertically along the left side of the panel.

Panel with Dimensions

Note: It may be necessary to adjust the dimension appearance after all

dimensions have been added.

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Place Panel Drill Chart

1. Choose Ribbon: Home > Fit Sheet (or Press F2) to view the entire sheet.
2. Move the Panel to the left to make room on the sheet for a Drill Chart.

3. From the Panel Tool Palette, drag and drop a Drill Chart element onto the sheet
to the right of the panel above the Title Block. A Drill Table with totals for all PCB
images, Pinning Holes and Mill Tab drills is added.

Panel Drill Chart

Place Mill Tab Detail

1. Drag and drop a Mill Tab Detail from the Panel Tool Palette onto the sheet
below the Panel. The Mill Tab Detail Wizard dialog appears.
2. Set the Mill Tab Name to Perforated Break, click OK. The Mill Tab Detail is on your
cursor. Move the detail below the panel and simply click to place it on the sheet.

Mill Tab Wizard Dialog

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Place Panel Drawing Notes

1. From the Fabrication Tool Palette , drag and drop Fabrication Notes

and locate them above the Drill Table.

Completed Panel Drawing

Save the File

1. Select Menu: File > Save.
2. Choose a destination folder and enter My Panel as the file name.

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BluePrint-PCB’s Documentation Hierarchy

A BluePrint-PCB file is a PCB release package. A release package contains several drawings
and other files required to document the fabrication and assembly of a printed circuit board.
Release drawings can include a fabrication drawing, an assembly drawing or a custom drawing.
Each drawing can be one or many sheets. Each sheet can have one or many drawing elements.
Use the Contents Palette to view the hierarchy of drawings, sheets and elements.

Documentation Hierarchy

What else can BluePrint-PCB do?

Much more! Contact us at 800 535 3226 or sales@[Link]
 Parts List Management and display
 Variant definition and display
 Manufacturing Process Step definition and display
 Component Coordinate List by one-up PCB, Panel, Variant, and Process Step
 Create document templates that can be reused for every design
 Create a single Release Package depository for all product creation files
 Full 2D drafting and dimensioning tools
 3D display
 Stackup Visualization
 Customize the User Interface
 Create Assembly Panels
 And more….

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BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial DownStream Technologies, LLC

BluePrint-PCB Panel Array Tutorial 09/15/2018

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