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TM
NI Ultiboard
User Manual
NI Ultiboard User Manual
May 2008
374488C-01
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Support Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information ni.com National Instruments Corporate Headquarters 11500 North Mopac Expressway Austin, Texas 78759-3504 USA Tel: 512 683 0100 Worldwide Offices Australia 1800 300 800, Austria 43 662 457990-0, Belgium 32 (0) 2 757 0020, Brazil 55 11 3262 3599, Canada 800 433 3488, China 86 21 5050 9800, Czech Republic 420 224 235 774, Denmark 45 45 76 26 00, Finland 358 (0) 9 725 72511, France 01 57 66 24 24, Germany 49 89 7413130, India 91 80 411900
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Important Information Warranty The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty per
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WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS (1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN ANY LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO A HUMAN. (2) IN ANY APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, RELIABILITY OF OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS CAN BE IMPAIRED BY ADVERSE FACTORS
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Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: » The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options from the last dialog box. This icon denotes a tip, which alerts you to advisory information. This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information. This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of prec
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Contents Chapter 1 User Interface Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface ..........................................................................1-1 Toolbars .........................................................................................................................1-1 Standard Toolbar .............................................................................................1-1 View Toolbar........................................................................................
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Contents Spreadsheet View: SMT Pads Tab.................................................................. 1-39 Spreadsheet View: THT Pads Tab .................................................................. 1-40 Spreadsheet View: Vias Tab ........................................................................... 1-42 Spreadsheet View: Copper Areas Tab ............................................................ 1-43 Spreadsheet View: Keep-ins/Keep-outs Tab ....................................
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Contents Working with the Board Outline ...................................................................................3-5 Using the Drawing Tools to Create a Board Outline ......................................3-5 Importing a DXF File ......................................................................................3-6 Using a Pre-Defined Board Outline ................................................................3-6 Using the Board Wizard .............................................
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Contents Placing Other Elements ................................................................................................. 4-20 Placing Mounting Holes and Connectors........................................................ 4-21 Placing Holes .................................................................................................. 4-21 Placing Shapes and Graphics .......................................................................... 4-21 Working with Jumpers ...................
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Contents Placing a Bus ...................................................................................................5-5 Working with Density Bars.............................................................................5-6 Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas...........................................................5-7 Placing Keep-in/Keep-out Areas ......................................................5-7 Viewing and Editing Keep-in/Keep-out Properties ..........................5-7 Equ
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Contents Chapter 6 PCB Calculators PCB Transmission Line Calculator............................................................................... 6-1 Microstrip Trace Calculations......................................................................... 6-2 Embedded Microstrip Trace Calculations....................................................... 6-3 Centered Stripline Trace Calculations ............................................................ 6-4 Asymmetric Stripline Trace Calculations .
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Contents Chapter 8 Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly Placing and Editing Text................................................................................................8-1 Capturing Screen Area...................................................................................................8-2 Placing a Comment........................................................................................................8-3 Renumbering Parts......................................................
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Contents Setting Mechanical CAD Colors..................................................................... 10-3 Controlling Workspace Elements for Mechanical CAD................................. 10-4 Setting Paths for Mechanical CAD................................................................. 10-5 Setting Mechanical CAD Dimensions ........................................................... 10-5 Appendix A Menus and Commands File Menu..........................................................
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Contents Edit»Selection Filter........................................................................................A-6 Edit»Orientation ..............................................................................................A-6 Edit»Align .......................................................................................................A-6 Edit»Vertex......................................................................................................A-7 Edit»In-Place Part Edit.....
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Contents Place»Jumper .................................................................................................. A-13 Place»Net Bridge ............................................................................................ A-13 Place»Hole ...................................................................................................... A-13 Place»Automatic Test Points .......................................................................... A-14 Place»Unplace Parts.............
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Contents Tools»View 3D Position .................................................................................A-19 Tools»Show or Hide Height............................................................................A-19 Options Menu ................................................................................................................A-20 Options»Global Preferences............................................................................A-20 Options»PCB Properties.................
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1 User Interface The following sections explain the basic components of the Ultiboard Graphical User Interface (GUI) and show how to set up user preferences and PCB properties. Some of the described features may not be available in your edition of Ultiboard. Refer to the NI Circuit Design Suite Release Notes for a list of the features in your edition. Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface Ultiboard is the PCB layout application of National Instruments Circuit Design Suite, a suite of
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Chapter 1 User Interface Button Description New File button. Creates a new project (if none are currently open) or a new design if a project is currently open. Refer to the Creating a Project and Creating a Design sections of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information. Open File button. Opens an existing project. Refer to the Opening an Existing File section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information. Open Sample button. Opens the samples folder. Save File button
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Chapter 1 User Interface View Toolbar The View toolbar contains buttons for modifying the way the screen is displayed, and appears by default when you run Ultiboard. The View toolbar buttons are explained in the table below. Button Description Redraw the Screen button. Redraws the currently active design workspace. Refer to the Refreshing the Design section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information. Toggle Full Screen button. Adjusts the size of the workspace so it display
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Chapter 1 User Interface Main Toolbar The Main toolbar contains buttons for common board design functions. Its buttons are described in the table below. Button Description Select button. De-activates any selected mode (for example, for placing traces) and allows you to select an element on the board. Show or Hide Design Toolbox button. Shows or hides the Design Toolbox. Refer to the Design Toolbox section for more information. Show or Hide Spreadsheet button. Shows or hides the Sprea
