KB: MCAD CoDesigner Troubleshooting Guide

Solution Details

KB: MCAD CoDesigner Troubleshooting Guide

Installation and Configuration

Verify the Installation and Configuration Compatibility:
Please check the below compatibility matrix:
ECAD-MCAD VERSION COMPATIBILITY MATRIX

MCAD CoDesigner Plugin:
Ensure the correct CoDesigner PlugIn version for MCAD is installed according to the above matrix. If not, download the compatible version here:
ALTIUM DOWNLOADS

MCAD CoDesigner Settings:
CoDesigner MCAD Settings Menu

MCAD CoDesigner User Permissions:
The admin of the Altium Designer workspace needs to add the MCAD user to the workspace. Please check the share options (specifically "can edit") for the project as shown in the following documentation:
Sharing Overview
Specifically Inviting an MCAD User

Then, in Altium Designer » Explorer Panel right, click on the Mechatronics 3D Models Folder » Properties » Share
Check the permissions on 3D models and the projects
Transferring Mechatronic 3D Models

MCAD Templates:
It is recommended to use default templates with MCAD CoDesigner; if you have recently installed a new version of MCAD, check that the template paths reference the correct location of the new installation. When using custom templates, you may get a warning if the planes are not correctly defined in the template; older versions will build the PCB assembly incorrectly. Avoid placing in negative co-ordinates in MCAD. Matching the precision settings in ECAD to that in MCAD is recommended. Please see:
PCB Origins During the ECAD-MCAD Exchange

Disable other conflicting Third-party MCAD plugins

If the Altium Designer Plugin is not working correctly and you have checked the above solutions then it is possible that another third -party plugin is interfering, Disable each Add In installed in the MCAD Software to locate the issue.

Fusion 360:
To disable a Fusion 360 add-in, go to Tools > Scripts and Add-Ins, select the add-in, click "Stop" to unload it, and uncheck "Run on Startup" to prevent it from loading in future sessions. To permanently remove an add-in, you will need to manually delete the add-in's folder from your computer's file system

Inventor:
To disable Inventor add-ins, open the Add-ins dialog box by going to the Tools tab > Options panel > Add-ins in the ribbon. In the dialog box, double-click the name of the add-in to switch its status between "Loaded" and "Unloaded," or "Startup/Loaded" and "Startup/Unloaded". You can also uncheck "Load Automatically" to stop it from starting with Inventor

SolidWorks:
To disable Solidworks add-ins, go to Tools > Add-Ins or click the arrow next to the gear icon in the Options flyout, and then clear the checkboxes under either the "Active Add-ins" or "Start Up" columns. You can also right-click on the Command Manager tabs and select the "SOLIDWORKS Add-Ins" tab, which allows you to manage them directly from there

PTC Creo:
To disable PTC Creo Addins, from the Creo+ toolbar, select Utilities > Auxiliary Applications. Choose the name of the application. Click Start.
Start—activates start method
Stop— activates stop method

Siemens NX:
Managing plugins in Siemens NX primarily involves installation/uninstallation via standard software procedures (Control Panel or dedicated installers) and configuration through the NX interface or configuration files usually located here: C:\Program Files\Siemens\NX<BuildNumber>\UGII

Linking Models

Linking ECAD and MCAD Design Components:
Linking ECAD and MCAD Design Components

Linking models with SOLIDWORKS PDM/Siemens Teamcenter PLM/PTC Windchill^® :
Working with an MCAD Data Management System
Linking from the ECAD Components to the MCAD Components

Workflow Guides and Tutorials

Recommended workflow:
Please check that the recommended workflow has been followed:
Recommended Collaboration Workflow

Starting the design in MCAD:
Starting the Design in your MCAD Software
Changes that will not be Transferred from MCAD to ECAD

Video Tutorials:
ECAD-MCAD Video Tutorials
MCAD CoDesigner Overview | ECAD and MCAD
MCAD CoDesigner Workshop
MCAD CoDesigner Onboarding Guide
MCAD CoDesigner Harness and Multi-Board Sync Webinar
MCAD CoDesigner Component Placement

Resolving Warnings and Error Messages

Broken Models:
Fixing Broken Component Models

AddALU_items failed:
The Admin of the workspace needs to give the user permissions.(See Permissions section above)

Micro-segments:
Please check the Health Check Monitor for any issues with microsegments:
PCB Health Check Monitor
Resolving Issues with the Board Contour in ECAD

If the automatic way cannot resolve this issue, you must do it manually.
See link: Manual Micro-Segment and Self-Intersection Removal

Board Part is missing, local design is invalid:
If the Local Design is invalid there is a problem with the existing Mechanical Assembly, Push the design again from ECAD then try pulling the design in MCAD to a new local folder.

Unable to import model of component XXX. The model is replaced with a bounding box.
Check the template paths in MCAD and pull the design into a new folder if this works overwrite the previous assembly that used the wrong templates. If this does not help it could be that the model is broken please see video:
How to Fix Broken Component Models in Altium Designer | ECAD and MCAD

For issues regarding SOLIDWORKS decals:
Please see the below documentation:
Decal Storage in SOLIDWORKS
If the decals do not display correctly, it may be a rendering issue in SOLIDWORKS. For more information on certified video cards and the latest video driver software updates, refer to SOLIDWORKS and SW Data Management System Requirements. Note that the page includes a link to Certified Cards and Drivers, where you may be able to download an update patch for your video card.

If the previous step does not resolve the display of decals, in SolidWorks navigate to System>Performance and enable "Enhanced Graphics Performance" and restart, if this is all ready enabled then please disable it and restart.

For some video cards, disabling this option will help, for other video cards enabling it will help.If this does not help, enable "Use software OpenGL"In SolidWorks, navigate to Settings>Document Properties tab > Model Display and check "Store appearance, decal and scene data in the model file" Close SolidWorks and do a fresh Pull of the assembly.

Please try one of our example projects to see if the issue is present here. For example Kame_FMU project in the workspace or the following C:\Users\Public\Documents\Altium\AD24\Examples\SpiritLevel-SL1

Creating a Support Case

If the problem still persists, please attach the following to your support case:

1. MCAD CoDesigner Logs: %localappdata%\Altium\Altium CoDesigner\
    a.  For the ECAD Side: AltiumDesignerExtension.log
    b.  For the MCAD Side : <MCAD>Addin.log

2. Please also confirm the versions of the following:
    a.  Altium Designer.
    b.  The Altium Designer - CoDesigner Extension version.
    c.  The Version of MCAD Installed.
    d.  The version of the MCAD CoDesigner Plug in installed.

3. List any other Applications used in your workflow, PLM systems/Addins/External Cloud Storage etc

4. Please attach a screenshot of the CoDesigner Settings in the workspace:  Controlling the Naming of Component Models

5. If the PCB will not push from ECAD please attach the *.PCBDoc.