IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator for PADS

IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator
Contributed by Jack Olson, CID+

IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator for PADS
Contributed by Tim Boyer, CID+

The PADS basic scripts were written to decrease the design time in making Test Fixtures for PCBA's. Most Test Fixtures have a probe plate that contains the pogo-pins and the board clamp.

Rather than wiring the fixture with free hanging wires. I used a pogo-pin board to solder too or if using double-sided pogo-pins SMT pads are used to make electrical connections to the bottom of the pins. This ensures repeatability between fixtures and improves the reliability and reduces assembly and repair time.

Using the Scrip’s reduces the design time to about 30 minutes from 8 hours of manually placing the contacts to match the board.

The scripts can also be used to document the Test Point locations.

The scripts used together can extract the test point locations from your design. After adding the Land pattern names for each location the second script will then place the test points defined in your library and automatically place them at the proper coordinates. You only need to sit back and watch it do the work for you. Afterwards any other components required can be loaded into your design and finally the netlist.

The “Select Test Point” from Excel.BAS provides functionality not available from the PADS GUI interface. It allows you to search for and jump from one test point to the next.

The 3 scripts are:
1.    Input Test Point Data from Excel.BAS
2.    Output test point Data to Excel.BAS
3.    Select test points from Excel.BAS

Test Point data to from Excel.DOC is the operating instructions for the scripts.

Also included are an Excel spreadsheet and a PADS basic script for IPC-2152.

I have taken multiple sources and combined them into one spreadsheet.

Since I normally work with high voltage and current it is an invaluable combination of tools for trace design.

The Excel Spreadsheet along with its script allows you to click on any trace in your design and it will give you the trace current and voltage drop per IPC-2152 and other sources.

The Excel spreadsheet can also be used independently.

The voltage drops have been validated in our lab testing but like with all tools each Company is responsible to validate the use of any tools for their own applications.

The 2 files are:
1.    IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator.xls
2.    IPC-2152 TRACE WIDTH TO EXCEL.BAS

The PDF files contains the operating instructions for their use.

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gbmhunter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New User Joined: 29 Mar 2016 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote gbmhunter Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator for PADS Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 7:24pm
	Thanks for the Excel spreadsheet! (I don't use PADS but the spreadsheet used as a standalone tool has been helpful). If anyone is interested using IPC-2152 for working out PCB track current capability (in a standalone fashion, not integrated with any CAD package), there is an engineering calculator app called NinjaCalc (disclaimer: I am the author) which does the calculations for you.



Nick B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1970	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nick B Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 May 2012 at 3:03pm
	IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator Contributed by Jack Olson, CID+ IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator for PADS Contributed by Tim Boyer, CID+ The PADS basic scripts were written to decrease the design time in making Test Fixtures for PCBA's. Most Test Fixtures have a probe plate that contains the pogo-pins and the board clamp. Rather than wiring the fixture with free hanging wires. I used a pogo-pin board to solder too or if using double-sided pogo-pins SMT pads are used to make electrical connections to the bottom of the pins. This ensures repeatability between fixtures and improves the reliability and reduces assembly and repair time. Using the Scrip’s reduces the design time to about 30 minutes from 8 hours of manually placing the contacts to match the board. The scripts can also be used to document the Test Point locations. The scripts used together can extract the test point locations from your design. After adding the Land pattern names for each location the second script will then place the test points defined in your library and automatically place them at the proper coordinates. You only need to sit back and watch it do the work for you. Afterwards any other components required can be loaded into your design and finally the netlist. The “Select Test Point” from Excel.BAS provides functionality not available from the PADS GUI interface. It allows you to search for and jump from one test point to the next. The 3 scripts are: 1. Input Test Point Data from Excel.BAS 2. Output test point Data to Excel.BAS 3. Select test points from Excel.BAS Test Point data to from Excel.DOC is the operating instructions for the scripts. Also included are an Excel spreadsheet and a PADS basic script for IPC-2152. I have taken multiple sources and combined them into one spreadsheet. Since I normally work with high voltage and current it is an invaluable combination of tools for trace design. The Excel Spreadsheet along with its script allows you to click on any trace in your design and it will give you the trace current and voltage drop per IPC-2152 and other sources. The Excel spreadsheet can also be used independently. The voltage drops have been validated in our lab testing but like with all tools each Company is responsible to validate the use of any tools for their own applications. The 2 files are: 1. IPC-2152 Trace Width Calculator.xls 2. IPC-2152 TRACE WIDTH TO EXCEL.BAS The PDF files contains the operating instructions for their use.
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