Integrating mechanical computer-aided engineering tools into the printed wiring board design cycle

Some of the driving factors in the highly competitive electronics industry are the need to reduce cost, shorten design cycle length and increase the quality and reliability of electronic modules and products. To achieve these goals, design engineers are increasingly using mechanical and electrical computer-aided engineering (MCAE and ECAE) tools to help them replace or reduce current build-test-rebuild-retest cycles. These computer simulation tools are expected to be used to screen designs, identify potential areas of concern, provide design guidance and help engineers select the best option from several proposed designs. However, for these tools to be fully effective, they must be tightly and seamlessly integrated with current CAD programs and be an integral part of the product development cycle. They also must be easy to use and able to produce reliable results without violating the demanding time constraints of fast-paced design cycles. While describing a proposed approach to integrate MCAE tools into the PWB design cycle, this paper discusses some of the problems and issues that result from trying to implement such an integration. It is evident that one of the weakest points in this area is software interfacing. This article demonstrates the need for and potential benefits of closer interaction between software suppliers and end users during the development and implementation of software interfaces. Also, it clearly shows the necessity to achieve a successful level of seamless integration in electronic design and analysis tools and the need for developers of those tools to work together towards that goal.