ToolsHomebase

Applied Parameters: CommandMode=CAM

Summary

This command is used to convert a pair of flashed pads to a homebase pad. Homebase pads are used for improving the area of paste (per pad) deposited with an SMT stencil.

Access

This command is accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by choosing the Tools » SMT Stencil » Homebase Pad Conversion command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a small square and you will enter conversion mode. The procedure involves the following sequence of actions:

1. Select the initial pair of flashed pads to be converted. Simply position the cursor above each pad in the pair and click.
2. Right-click to access the Flash - Homebase Conversion dialog. Use this dialog to:
   • Define the homebase pad in terms of the direction and extent of beveling that is applied to each of the pads in the pair.
   • Choose to have the resulting homebase pads drawn on the same layer, a new layer or any one of the existing layers in the current document.
   • Various other conversion options are available from the dialog, including the ability to set a flash tolerance - when searching pad-pairs for a match with the initial selected pad-pair - and whether to keep old pads or delete them completely.
3. After defining the options as required, clicking OK will return you to the main design window and you will be prompted to select the entire area to be considered for conversion. Simply drag a selection box around the whole design and then right click once the area has become selected. The selected objects will be compared against the initial selected pad-pair and all matches found will be converted to homebase pads.
4. Continue converting further flashed pad-pairs to homebase pads, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The initial pair of flashed pads can be dissimilar in shape and/or size. The smaller of the two will be used in calculating the size of the homebase pad.
2. After conversion, each homebase pad is treated as a single object.