February 1st, 2005 - Bristol, UK - Zuken is now offering a unique solution for applications that require advanced PCB design with 3D functionality - 'CADSTAR Platinum 3D'. The first package of its kind to be launched into the global marketplace combines leading edge desktop PCB design capabilities, while ensuring industry leading integration via MCAD standards including ACIS, STL, SAT, STEP AP203 & AP214.

This package is a combination of CADSTAR Platinum, the company's most popular Windows based solution that includes the industry leading interactive routing solution P.R.Editor XR 2000 and verification tool CADSTAR 3D. Incorporating features such as un-limited components and layers, with a 3D environment, allows the user to view the board as a whole, while adhering to both electrical and mechanical design rules without having to access the parent design system.

The enhanced version of the desktop design suite, that forms the basis of CADSTAR Platinum, combines a complete tool set required for PCB design. Including library tools on CD and online, along with schematic capture that allows easy up-front design capabilities working hand-in-hand with other functions of the design suite.

Also included is the P.R.Editor XR2000 place and route editing tool, created to meet the most demanding design requirements of today. As the leading routing solution currently in the marketplace, it provides ultimate control over component placing and routing processes with the options of fully automatic or easy-to-use interactivity. Additional benefits include, push aside of components and tracks, automatic copper pouring, track necking and fattening to automatically produce the maximum possible copper widths on specified nets, and true error free single track and auto-completing interactive routing achieved using Activ-45, the latest 45 degree routing algorithms.

CADSTAR 3D bridges the gap between the PCB designer's requirements and mechanical constraints on product design. It has the ability to allow the user to place, rotate and swap components in a 3D environment, while simplifying design processes with direct importing and exporting functionality. This allows board outline changes coming from MCAD to be automatically transferred back to the PCB layout. In the case of complex board outlines, an IDF or DXF file is no longer required as design rule checks within the tool identify potential collisions between objects on the PCB and between the PCB and enclosures. Integration and compatibility with other design environments provides highly effective checking and visualization, removing the need for physical prototypes and design iterations at the mechanical stage. This is achieved through combined validation of electrical and mechanical designs, eliminating mechanical clashes early in the design process, therefore reducing time required to achieve an optimum end product.

Users of this package can also benefit from upgrades recently made to the 3D solution - CADSTAR 3D 4.4. The increase in Window's style functions, performance advancements such as 100 times faster STL file importing, and the reduction of design file sizes by approximately 10 per cent has enhanced both functionality and performance. Advancements have also been made in versatility and simplicity, with custom views, new commands for grouping and ungrouping geometrical objects, and automatic selection of entities for DRC and collision check functions. Adding to these benefits, Keepout volumes can now be viewed in a semi-transparent format.

Tight integration and intelligent data flow between ECAD and MCAD of the 3D facility, combined with the advanced design capabilities of the Platinum solution provides the ultimate package for PCB design.

For more information, please contact your local CADSTAR distributor of for more information about CADSTAR please visit www.cadstarworld.com/platinum3d

**This bundle is available for European customers only.**

Further Information

• About CADSTAR
  CADSTAR is a Windows-based solution for PCB design that spans schematic capture, placement, routing, library creation and management, signal integrity, EMC analysis, and production of manufacturing data. CADSTAR also features internet-accessible libraries of over 100,000 components, a 3D design tool, automatic and high-speed routing, variant management, and signal integrity management and verification. It provides users with a competitively priced, scalable solution for designing simple or complex, multilayer PCBs.