IBM Corp’s computer-aided design and manufacturing software subsidiary in Burbank, California, Cadam Inc, has announced version 6.0 of its P-CAD Master Designer printed circuit board design package. The new release features a new interface with icons, pop-up windows, and pull-down menus. Prevue, the system framework, enables the user to work through the design cycle without having to use operating system commands. It has a design manager to ensure consistency between the schematic and the printed circuit board layout – this automatically updates the circuit board and provides auto forward and backward annotation between the schematic and the layout. A 32-bit database operates with 80386 code for unlimited design capacity, with 0.01 mil resolution enabling for fine line design and mixed Imperial-metric packages without round-off error. It is now also possible to have up to 5,000 pins per component and 1,000 different pin types. The auto-dimensioning feature supports simple to complex geometries including point-to-point, datum, leader, centre, diameter, radius and angular dimensionsing. The style, precision, and spacing are all user-controlled, enabling easy creation of fabrication and assembly drawings. A flexible auto-resequence feature gives the user control over grid/band sizes, as well as a choice of X-Y style grid sequencing or conventional sequential numbering. A software display list processor has been incorporated for faster re-draws, and an expert mode now provides the user with 20% more drawing area on the screen. The Master Router 6.0 option provides enchanced speed, completion rates, and manufacturability: boards can be completed 30% to 50% faster than with the previous Router. Router 6.0 also produces 20% to 30% less vias and copper, increasing manufacturability and reducing cost. Additionally, blind and buried vias can be placed under SMD land patterns which increases completion rates in dense designs. The new Real-time Trace Length Display feature keeps users informed of exact wire length at all times during the layout process. Master Designer 6.0 is DPMI-compatible for Microsoft Windows and offers a VESA driver to support most super VGA display cards. The system runs on Intel 80386 and 80486-based machines. Its database and libraries are compatible with P-CAD’s Premier PCB, running on the Sparcstation and the RS/6000. Master Designer 6.0 ships at the end of July. A complete schematic capture and board layout package costs $8,500; optional auto router $6,000. Cadam claims over 200,000 users operating 80,000 computer terminals in production worldwide. The firm, which IBM acquired early in 1990, develops CAD/CAM/CAE software for mechanical, electrical and AEC applications to run on mainframes, workstations and personal computers, selling products via value-added resellers.
