Mar 12, 2003 CAM350 Release 8 features a variety of updates including a radically new, yet uncomplicated graphical user interface (GUI), performance speed and quality improvements and powerful new usability and productivity functions - all designed to deliver a highly effective solution that meets the needs of today's design and fabrication challenges.
CAM350 is the acknowledged price/performance leader in delivering powerful fabrication software solutions to both the PCB design and fabrication industries, and this is the first major release of the product since purchasing it from Innoveda (now Mentor Graphics).
"We have been extremely pleased with the direction that DownStream has taken with CAM350", said Ken Cubbedge of Everett Charles Technologies.
"Release 8 is a marked improvement over previous versions of the software.
They've done an excellent job in delivering the right balance of new features and quality improvements to the product which will help us all to get our jobs done more efficiently and effectively", he added.
Release 8 contains a new look and feel utilising the latest Microsoft style guides.
The GUI features customisable and dockable toolbars, standard and user created icons, context sensitive menus, enhanced mouse support, shortcut bars and new pan and zooming functions.
With the new GUI, users can customise the environment to meet their specific needs, allowing common procedures to be simplified.
Potential errors are diagnosed faster using new toolbars that pinpoint problems and new graphical comparisons allow the user to see the problem, not just read it in a text report.
Since netlist comparison has become the key verification process between design and fabrication, Release 8 contains an enhanced netlist comparison process which allows users to view errors graphically instead of by producing text reports, reducing verification time.
Release 8 allows the user to create a sortable error report that is linked to the graphical display.
Users can view multiple errors or sort by feature type, feature size or error size, quickly verifying the results of any DRC or analysis function.
Design for fabrication (DFF) errors are now quickly identified and automatically repaired without user intervention.
Barco import and polygon pour processes that are historically slow in CAM tools have been improved 5 to 10x.
Release 8 enhancements identify potential connectivity errors such as isolated thermals, even when not completely cleared from copper as in the case of a manufacturer's etching process, by simulating the etch process.
IPC-D-356A, the standard netlist format for design verification and electrical test, is now fully supported.
The filtering function now supports the board outline as a filter and usability enhancements for Dcode selection.
Macros are now available for all panelisation functions, as well as sample scripts and transition documents for legacy scripts.
Report sorting allows users to sort reports for print output into assembly equipment and MRP systems.
The draw to flash function now supports any angle and contains soldermask control.
A new measure net to net feature allows users to measure the distance between any two nets or highlight two nets and view at the same time, allowing them to troubleshoot problems such as crosstalk, impedance failures and board failures within CAM350.
CAM350 Release 8 is expected to ship in the Spring of 2003.
There will be no charge for this update for all DownStream customers under current maintenance agreements.
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