Placing Components

You can place components on a flexible board to create an engineering connection between the board and the components. You can place both, the old and new component data models.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  • Instantiate your flexible board under a product. If you open the flexible board alone and try to place components, an error message appears.
  • To work with the new component data models, select the Use the physical component data model check box available under Me > Preferences > 3D Modeling > Electrical and Electronic Systems > Circuit Board Design > Board Assembly > Component data model.

    For more information about new physical component data model, see

    Note: The component must have a package and package wrap, and an axis system under the wrap.
See Also
Creating a Flexible Board
Removing Components
Folding/Unfolding Flexible Circuit Boards

Place Components with an Axis System

You can create an axis system and use it to position components.

  1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Axis to create an axis system on the flexible board.

    Note: For more information about creating an axis system, see Part Design User's Guide: Using Miscellaneous Tools: Defining an Axis System.



  2. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
    The Component Placement dialog box appears.
  3. Select an axis system:
    1. Under Position, select the Axis option.
    2. Under Constraint Mode, select one of the following modes:

      • Direct
        Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the component.
      • Use intermediate product
        Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the subproduct.

        For more information, see Place Components within an Intermediate Product below.

    3. In the tree, select an axis system.
      The name of the selected axis system is displayed in the axis box.
      Important:
      • The axis system must be compliant with the following rules:
        • The center point must be on a plane of the top or bottom board or on the surface of the top or bottom board.
        • The axis system must be direct.
        • The plane defined by X axis and Y axis must be on the top or bottom face.
        • The Z axis must be normal to the top or bottom face.
        • The Z direction should be opposite to the material direction (extrusion).
        • The axis system must not be placed on a hole or cutout.
      • If the selection of the axis system is not compliant with the rules described above, the selection is not forbidden but the following message appears:

        Axis System is not compatible for placing component.

        If there is an ambiguity to find the face on which the component should be placed, you must select the face manually.

    4. Optional: If the component does not have an axis system, select the Add Axis System check box under Component.
      An axis system is automatically created and published at the origin of the component.
  4. To select a component, do one of the following:
    • In the work area, select a component.
    • Under Component, click Browse to search and select a component in the database.
      Note: For more information about searching, see Native Apps Common Services: Search: Using the Content Chooser.
    The name of the selected component appears in the Selection box.
    Important: An error message is displayed if:
    • No axis system is defined and if the Add Axis System check box is not selected.
    • The Use axis system for placement option is set to No and if the axis system is not at the center of the component's representation. For more information, see Native Apps Preferences Guide: Electrical and Electronic Systems : Circuit Board Design: Board Assembly
    Tips:
    • To modify your selection, you can select another component in the work area or click Browse .
    • To cancel your selection, click in the Selection box.
  5. Click OK.
    The selected component is placed on the flexible board.

    In the tree, the component is instantiated under the root board assembly with publications and connections.

  6. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Fold/Unfold .
    The added component keeps its position during the Fold/Unfold process.

  7. To create an instance of an added component:
    1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
      The Component Placement dialog box appears.
    2. Select a component already placed on the board.
      The name of the selected component appears in the Selection box.
    3. Under Component, select the New Instance check box.
    4. Click OK to validate.
      An instance of the first placed component is added on the flexible board.

    Warning:
    • If the component selected for instantiation is in read-only mode, this mask is displayed on the component icon in the tree and a warning message appears.
    • If the component instance is already placed or constrained by an engineering connection, an error message is displayed and you must destroy the engineering connection manually and relaunch the command.

Place Components with the Robot

You can place components on a flexible board using the Robot.

  1. Place the Robot on the flexible board.
    The Robot position is used as origin for the added component placement.

  2. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
    The Component Placement dialog box appears.
  3. Under Position, select the Robot option.
  4. Under Constraint Mode, select one of the following modes:

    • Direct
      Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the component.
    • Use intermediate product
      Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the subproduct.

      For more information, see Place Components within an Intermediate Product below.

  5. To select a component, do one of the following:
    • In the work area, select a component.
    • Under Component, click Browse to search and select a component in the database.
      Note: For more information about searching, see Native Apps Common Services: Search: Using the Content Chooser.
    The name of the selected component appears in the Selection box.
    Tips:
    • To modify your selection, you can select another component in the work area or click Browse .
    • To cancel your selection, click in the Selection box.
  6. Click Apply.
    The component automatically takes the same position as the Robot.

    In the tree, the component is instantiated under the root board assembly with publications and connections.

  7. Click OK to validate.
  8. To move the component:
    1. Select the component, and then click Place and Move Component .
      The Component Placement dialog box appears.
    2. Under Position, select the Compass option, and then move the Robot.


  9. Click Apply.
    The component automatically moves to the Robot position.

  10. Click OK to validate.

Place Components with Current Instance Position

You can place components on a flexible board by taking into account the current position of a component without constraint.

  1. Place the Robot on the flexible board.
  2. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
    The Component Placement dialog box appears.
  3. Under Position, select the Current Instance Position option.
  4. Under Constraint Mode, select one of the following modes:

    • Direct
      Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the component.
    • Use intermediate product
      Note: With this mode, constraints are created on the subproduct.

      For more information, see Place Components within an Intermediate Product below.

  5. To select a component, do one of the following:
    • In the work area, select a component.
    • Under Component, click Browse to search and select a component in the database.
      Note: For more information about searching, see Native Apps Common Services: Search: Using the Content Chooser.
    The name of the selected component appears in the Selection box.
    Tips:
    • To modify your selection, you can select another component in the work area or click Browse .
    • To cancel your selection, click in the Selection box.
  6. Click Apply.
    The current instance position of the selected component is used as origin for the added component placement.
  7. Optional: To move the component, check the Add Axis System check box, and then click Apply.
    Another axis system is created. It is used for the component during the Fold/Unfold process.
    Warning: The position of the axis system must not be in an empty space (hole, pocket, ...) otherwise you cannot fold/unfold the flexible circuit board and a warning or a tooltip message appears.
  8. Click OK to validate.

Place Components within an Intermediate Product

Placing components on a flexible board creates a large amount of data in the product structure. This process can be improved using the Use intermediate product constraint mode.

This mode groups components under a subproduct containing the publications and engineering connections of the components within it. Therefore, it enhances:

  • The moving of components.
  • The deletion of components data.
  • The Fold/Unfold process as it creates a constraint per face instead of a constraint per component. Therefore, it is CPU time-saving.

Note: This mode cannot work on the flexible section of the board and it is available only for a new component instance. A component already instantiated cannot be moved in a intermediate product.

  1. Place the Robot on the flexible board.


  2. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
    The Component Placement dialog box appears.
  3. Under Position, select the Robot option.
  4. Under Constraint Mode, select Use intermediate product.
  5. To select a component, do one of the following:
    • In the work area, select a component.
    • Under Component, click Browse to search and select a component in the database.
      Note: For more information about searching, see Native Apps Common Services: Search: Using the Content Chooser.

    Tips:
    • To modify your selection, you can select another component in the work area or click Browse .
    • To cancel your selection, click in the Selection box.

  6. Click OK.
    • The component automatically takes the same position as the Robot.
    • In the tree, a new product is created containing the component, its publications and connections.

  7. To move a component under the subproduct:
    1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Place and Move Component .
      The Component Placement dialog box appears.
    2. Select a component already placed on the board.
      The name of the selected component appears in the Selection box.
    3. Under Position, select the Robot option.
    4. Under Constraint Mode, select Use intermediate product.
  8. Click OK to validate.
    In the tree, the component is moved under the intermediate product.

Notes:
  • If you unplace a component moved under a subproduct, the component does not follow the flexible board during the Fold/Unfold process.
  • If you update a board assembly with an IDF file and add new components, you can choose Use intermediate product as the default constraint mode by selecting the Board Assembly in Me > Preferences > Equipment > Circuit Board Design > Board Assembly.