Issue link: https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/i/1180288
Allegro/OrCAD Rigid Flex Design Creation Best Practices _______________________________________________________________________ Learn more at Cadence Online Support - https://support.cadence.com Page 4 © 2016 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Rigid Flex Stack Design Creation In release 17.2, PCB Editor includes the ability to create a more accurate representation of a rigid flex design. New capabilities such as multiple stack up zones, bend areas, new masks layers, surface finishes, and zone-aware placement to name a few of the features, are now available to create the level of design data required for fabrication with minimal workarounds. Using the new functionality correctly during the design process will help to create more accurate results and take advantage of how the new features work together. This Best Practices document will guide the user to leverage the new features focusing on the new functionalities. Subclass Definitions The current layer structures of designs are represented by classes and subclasses in PCB Editor. Prior to 17.2, the variety of layers used to define rigid flex designs were represented by user-defined subclasses created in the BOARD GEOMETRY, MANUFACTURING, or other class. Two new classes, RIGID FLEX and SURFACE FINISHES are introduced in 17.2 specifically for rigid flex designs, but may also be referenced in rigid, flex, and in-lay designs. The RIGID FLEX class is intended to be used for the structure of flex and rigid-flex designs – Bend area, bend line, zones, stiffeners, and more. The SURFACE FINISHES subclass is added to provide a category for the finished materials used on a design such as tin plating, gold, Organic Solderabilty Preservative (OSP), and so on. Many of the materials used in stackup definition, including finishes can be managed in a new Mask Layer Site File. This file controls the material names, values, and classes, customized on a company's specific requirements, to be used in the stackup definition. The Mask Layer Site Files are discussed later in this document.