Applied Parameters: None
Summary
This command is used in 3D Layout Mode to toggle a board that has flexible areas between its flattened state (no Bending Line settings applied), and its folded state (all Bending Line settings applied). This 'folding' is made possible through the placement of one or more Bending Lines within the flex region(s) of the board. The Bending Line defines where on the surface of the flex region that the bend is to take place. The Bending Line also defines the angle and radius of the bend, and the width of the strip of board surface that is being bent.
Access
This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor, when in 3D Layout Mode, by:
- Choosing the View » Fold/Unfold command, from the main menus.
- Using the 5 keyboard shortcut.
Use
First ensure that the PCB Editor is placed in 3D Layout Mode. This can be done by choosing the View » 3D Layout Mode command, from the main menus, or by using the 3 keyboard shortcut.
After launching the command, the board will either be folded or flattened, depending on whether it is currently in the flattened state or not. Folding is performed along defined Bending Lines, and in accordance with any specified bending sequence.
The Bending Lines defined for a particular stackup region of the board, and their sequence, can be seen and managed from the
Bending Lines region of the
PCB panel, when configured in
Layer Stack Regions mode. Double-click a Bending Line entry to access the
Bending Line dialog, from where its properties can be set. This includes being able to define the fold sequence through use of the
Fold Index option. Sequence values (Fold Index values) that are the same, are applied at the same time during folding.
Tips
- To be able to interrogate the folding of your board in greater detail, with the ability to effectively fold in slow-motion and pause folding, use the Fold State slider control, located beneath the Bending Lines region of the PCB panel, when configured in Layer Stack Regions mode. Note that one board region must have its Lock 3D Position option enabled (in the Stackup Regions region of the panel). This option can also be enabled in the Board Region dialog, where it is presented as the 3D Locked option. This is required to define the physical ground reference for the 3D display mode (where Z = 0). If this is not done, bends will not be applied when you move the Fold State slider.
- A Bending Line can only be placed on a region that is configured as a Flex region in the Layer Stack Manager dialog. When a board region is set to use a Flex layer stack, a Bending Line is automatically added, vertically down its geometric center. Remove, or reposition and configure this Bending Line as required.
