Send sketches in drawing to their own layer

[rfus]

I have have a PBC assembly with a hundred parts. Each part has a footprint sketch in it. I have an in-context part in this assembly with 101 converted entity sketches (the 100 footprints + PCB outline). Each sketch is named by its reference designator and a CircuitWorks nomenclature for IDF export. Sometimes I work with PCB layout guys who only go from a dxf.

To create the dxf I create a drawing from this part consisting only of sketches. I would like to find an easy way to get each sketch in its own layer for dxf export and also have the layer take on the name of the sketch. Right now I have to create the layer, name it, and use convert entities with the skech selected. This can be time consuming and I can think of a macro to handle this, but I thought one of you macro guru's may have tackled this. Any tips?

Thanks,

RFUS

 

[ctopher]

I don't know of a way to attach layers within a dwg to a part's sketch.
I use to do this and would make configs of the PCB showing components or without.
If you are trying to send the DXF for manufacturing, I suggest not sending the DXF because it is not very accurate. I suggest using the software the PCB was created from.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[rfus]

Thanks for the reply chris. I create the PCB with all of the footprints, locating holes, board outlines, and designators right in SW. Solidworks is great at creating components, component assemblies, sketching footprints, and generating layouts. With the CircuitWorks IDF export the layout guys hit the ground running and start running traces and vias. They get perfect geometry similar to IGES sketches from the IDF and creating footprints and basic layouts is actually quicker for me in SW than it is for them in say, Allegro. After the layout is done I can bring it back and use the sketches to re-mate my parts if things have changed. I am not using the dxf for manufacturing, SW tessalation is not very high resolution (and I would not take this to a photo etching process when I have 3/3 mil stuff, but even the gerbers are just tessalated raster or vector formats). Some 'shops' still only work with dxf and they start from scratch recreating all my tessalated hard work to squeeze all the electro/mechanical stuff into a tight space. I find if they at least get each component in its own layer it is easy for them to use the centermarks to position and recreate each component footprint.

I grit my teeth and just finished creating all 100 custom named and colored layers for my dxf export. Isn't mindless work great. When they get this dxf or idf layout with a schematic, bom and datasheets my quotes look better because all the work is done, that is if I didn't screw up and lay the pads out backwards cause I'd already done a 10 hour day. Its ok though, that one was only a $3500 mistake.

RFUS