When you export a SOLIDWORKS model to CircuitWorks, the CircuitWorks software automatically recognizes and maps the SOLIDWORKS sketch or extrude features that are named according to the following naming scheme. Similarly, when you import a CircuitWorks model into SOLIDWORKS, the SOLIDWORKS software specifies the default feature names according to the following scheme.
When a sketch or extrude name includes the mapping substring listed in the left column of the following table, and you export the model to CircuitWorks, the CircuitWorks software maps the SOLIDWORKS feature to the feature listed in the right column. For example, you can name a SOLIDWORKS extrude feature for a plated hole 4PTH or PTH 4 and the corresponding CircuitWorks feature is interpreted as a plated hole.
The feature name substring mapping is not case sensitive.
SOLIDWORKS Feature Name Substring |
CircuitWorks ECAD Board Feature |
Board_Outline |
Board |
Conductive_Layer |
Conductive Layer |
Dielectric_Layer |
Dielectric Layer |
Panel_Outline |
Panel |
Component_Outline |
Electrical Component |
Mechanical_Outline |
Mechanical Component |
PTH |
Plated Hole |
NPTH |
Nonplated Hole |
Pads |
Pad |
Trace |
Trace |
Filled_Area |
Filled Area |
Via |
Via |
Annotations |
Text |
Pin |
Pin |
Other_Outline |
Other Outline Area |
Route_Outline |
Routing Keep-in Area |
Place_Outline |
Component Keep-in Area |
Route_Keepout |
Routing Keep-out Area |
Place_Keepout |
Component Keep-out area |
Via_Keepout |
Via Keep-out area |
Trace_Keepout |
Trace Keep-out area |
Testpoint_Keepout |
Testpoint Keep-out area |
Silk_Keepout |
Silkscreen Keep-out Area |
Hole_Keepout |
Hole Keep-out Area |
Place_Region |
Placement Group Area |
Outlines are sketches in SOLIDWORKS. You can have only one Component_Outline sketch per component. The Component_Outline sketch must be parallel to the board. The sketch must define a continuous boundary with holes.