DownStream Techonolgies - Solutions for Post Processing PCB Designs

Release HIghlights

In order to help you become more successful with our software, we have provided with you all our release highlights.  No matter which version you are currently running you can review the appropriate release highlights to see the new features contained within the release.  Feel free to browse the current release highlights to discover the new features and benefits in the current software. 

BluePrint Release Highlights

Release 3

Release 2

Release 1

 

CAM350 Release Highlights

Release 10

Release 9

Release 8

 

Release 7.6

Version 7.6 is the follow-on update to Versions 7.0 and 7.5. Version 7.6 introduces the new Fast Array Module option allowing for both the PCB Fabricator and the PCB Designer to access standard panelization tools. Version 7.6 also updates the PCAD 2001 and PCAD 2002 CAD interface.

Version 7.6 allows you to automate your sub-panel process with the Fast Array Module. You can create panel templates, which can be used and stored for reuse. You can populate panels in either an automatic stepping mode or use spreadsheet mode for total control. With the Fast Array Module in automatic mode, you pick the assembly panel size, and we populate with best utilization based on your spacing requirements. You can also use the spreadsheet mode, which allows placing and rotation of individual boards to meet your specific sub-panel requirements.

Release 7.5

With Version 7.5 from DownStream Technologies, the FabFactory product line and the CAM350 product line were merged back into a single product line which will retain the CAM350 name. The focus of DownStream Technologies remains to provide leading edge CAM tools to both the PCB Design and PCB Fabrication markets. However, this merger of the two product lines provides all customers with access to powerful modules previously only available in the high-end FabFactory product line. This allows both the PCB Fabricator and the PCB Designer to access tools for DFF analysis, MRC and Quote Agents, Advanced Panel and NC Editors, ODB++ Input and Output, and many other features. Version 7.5 also contains a number of software corrections made since the release of Version 7.0.

Release 7.0

Version 7.0 was the first major release of CAM350 with special focus specifically to the Printed Circuit Board Fabricators. The ODB++ Interface and Panelization Editor are the most significant fabrication technologies to be applied within 7.x. However, Version 7.0 was focused on more than just the PCB Fabricators. The Latium architecture, representing a significant technological breakthrough in EDA system architecture, was integrated into this release. Through Latium all users benefit from 10 times, to as much as 100 times, performance improvement in critical design and manufacturing analysis areas. Acid trap detection processes that use to take minutes now take seconds. Sliver detections that took hours now run in seconds as well. Latium was also applied to some of the key data optimization functions, like Netlist Extraction, in order to help increase throughput and reduce overall processing times. A secondary benefit to migrating to the Latium architecture is accuracy. Prior to using Latium the DFF Audits where processed using a “Raster” technique, which meant that the user had to define a resolution. Ultimately the accuracy of the test that was being performed was then bound by the resolution the user picked – if they didn’t choose a tight enough resolution the check would fail to find all the problems that might exist on the PCB. Since Latium is a “Contour” based environment it has eliminated the need for any raster processing and has improved the accuracy by as much as 50 times, since we now have an exact edge representation of all the objects within a PCB.