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Documentation Altium NEXUS Documentation ... Dialog Reference G to L

IPC Compliant Footprints Batch Generator

Created: November 08, 2018 | Updated: February 08, 2019 | Applies to versions: 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 4 and 5

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This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

 

The IPC ® Footprints Batch generator dialogThe IPC ® Footprints Batch generator dialog

Summary

This dialog allows you to generate footprint packages in PCB library files (*.PcbLib) from input files that can be Excel workbooks or comma delimited files.  

For more information about creating a component Footprint, see the Creating the PCB Footprint page.

This dialog is compliant with Revision B of the IPC standard 7351 - Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard. IPC-7351B was released in 2010 and supersedes IPC-7351A (which was released in 2007).

Access

The IPC® Footprints Batch generator dialog is accessed by clicking Tools » IPC Compliant Footprints Batch generator from a PCB Library file (*.PcbLib).

The dialog can only be accessed if the IPC Footprint Generator extension is installed as part of your Altium NEXUS installation. This extension is installed by default, but if it is inadvertently uninstalled, the extension can be found on the Purchased tab of the Extensions & Updates page. 

Hover over the icon and click  to download the extension. Altium NEXUS must be restarted to complete installation. 

If at any time you want to uninstall the extension, find the extension on the Installed tab of the Extensions & Updates page and click the  icon to uninstall. Altium NEXUS must be restarted to complete the uninstall process. 

Options/Controls

  • Text Box - a list of files to be processed.
  • Open Template - click to open the Open Template dialog then choose a template type from the drop-down. Click OK to open the underlying Excel template for the current data sets.
You also can use the down arrow to access a list of all available template types. Select from the list the desired template type to open the underlying Excel template. 
Templates for each package type can be found at \ProgramData\Altium\Altium NEXUS <Globally Unique Identifier>\Extensions\IPC Footprint Generator\Templates. The Data tab of each template contains the package specifications. Use the Legend - Package tab to see descriptions of package data fields that are used on the Data tab of the template. Use the Legend - Footprint tab to see descriptions of footprint specification fields that are used on the Data tab of the template.
  • Help On - click to open the Help On dialog then choose the template type to access reference information or use the drop-down to select the desired package type.
  • Add Files - click to select package input files to add input package type files to the text box.
  • Remove Files - click to remove the selected file(s) in the text box.
  • Output Folder - use the browse button to search for and set the desired output location.
  • Produce STEP model - enable to generate a STEP model.
    • Model Folder - use the browse button to search for and choose the location of the desired model.
  • Generate all footprints in - enable to generate all footprints in the current PCB Library.
  • Generate single PcbLib files per input file - check to generate a PCB Library file in the output folder with the same name as the input file being processed. The footprints from this file will be added to the PCB Library.
  • Generate single PcbLib files per footprint name - check to generate a PCB Library file in the output folder for every package in the input files.
  • Generate report on completion - check to generate a report upon completion.
    • Open generated report - check to open the generated report. This option is only available if Generate report on completion is checked.
Where pad trimming is applied, a warning is displayed in the generated report.
  • Open generated PcbLib files on completion - check to open the generated PCB Library files upon completion. This option is only accessible if Generate single PcbLib files per input file is checked.
  • Processing - an incremental bar that shows the progress of the batch generation process.
  • Start/Stop - click Start to launch the batch generation. Once the Start button is used, it then changes to Stop; click Stop to stop the batch process. 
  • Close - click to stop the batch process and close the dialog.

Tips

  • Paste masks are split into small fills for packages with a large thermal pad (sized 2.1mm x 1.6mm, or larger).
  • For packages involving gullwing leads, pads are trimmed to prevent them from otherwise extending under the package's body.
  • For small packages having a large central thermal pad (PQFP, QFN, SOIC, and SOP), the peripheral pads are trimmed to ensure required clearance between the pads in accordance with the IPC Standard.
  • IPC footprints are always generated in metric units.

 

 

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