CAMtastic Introduction
Summary
Article
AR0119 (v1.1) July 01, 2005  This article introduces Altium Designer’s CAMtastic Editor and describes some editing modes and the CAMtastic
panel.
Altium Designer’s CAMtastic Editor offers a variety of tools, the most basic of which are for viewing and editing CAM data. Once image and drill files have been imported, the Editor can receive instructions determining layer types and stackup, at which point a netlist can be extracted and compared with an IPC netlist generated from the original PCB design software. These netlists will handle not just through-hole components, but blind and buried vias as well. The Editor also offers Design Rule Checking, panelization and NC-Routing (plus milling) tools.
Action before Selection
The way actions are performed within the CAMtastic Editor may seem backwards to new users, who are accustomed to selecting a group of objects before telling the program what to do to them. Like other CAM tools, the CAMtastic Editor reverses this process: first you choose the action, then you select the objects to act upon, finishing with an execute command.
If this is not the way you are used to working, then you can lean on a couple of crutches until you find your feet. First, look at the cursor. When it displays as a cross-hair target over the design workspace, that means it’s not in selection mode (a square pick-box cursor is displayed during selection mode). The fact that the selection buttons are all grayed-out can remind you that you haven’t picked an action yet—at least not one that calls for general selections.
Also, you should get used to looking down at the Status Bar, which will tell you what the Editor is waiting for. This is particularly helpful during multi-step processes, when you’re wondering why nothing is happening; the Status Bar will let you know when the CAMtastic Editor is wondering the same thing.
Right-Click Execution
So first, you choose a command, then you select a set of objects. Still, the
CAMtastic Editor waits an execution command. This gives you the
freedom to carefully construct your selection over various layers and
groups of objects. The basic way to send the execute command is by
right-clicking.
You may notice that, after you have executed a function, the cursor does
not return to its inactive state. Instead, the selection pickbox remains, and
CAMtastic Introduction
the Status Bar prompts you to start selecting again. This only happens when the Auto Repeat Functions option is enabled on the CAMtastic – General page of the Preferences dialog (File » Setup » General). Either turn this off, or get used to canceling function commands when you’re really finished.
The right-click button can sometimes be used to cancel current processes. This works when you have not completed a required step, such as selecting objects. The Esc key, however, is a safer button to press for cancellations in general.
Editing Modes
The CAMtastic Editor supports two editing modes: CAM and NC (Routing). The modes are enabled using the respective CAM Editor and NC Editor commands available from the main View menu. Alternatively, set the editing mode directly from the CAMtastic panel.
Essentially, these modes differ in how the data is displayed. The CAM Editor mode will show you images exactly as they will be drawn or flashed onto the photographic film which will be used in PCB manufacture. The NC Editor mode adds markers to drill holes and rout paths.
The CAMtastic Editor will always be in one of these two editing modes. While in CAM Editor mode, the
routing tools will be grayed-out in the menus. Likewise, when the NC Editor mode is active, the normal CAM editing tools are all disabled.
When the CAM Editor mode is active, the CAMtastic panel will give
you quick access to the DCodes defined in the Aperture List
through a drop-down list—but when the NC Editor mode is active,
this drop-down list shows the set of tools for drilling, routing and
milling instead.
Most importantly, the workspace will correspond with the current
editing mode. The NC Editor mode denotes drill points and routing
paths with special markers: each drill point is marked with an X,
while routing paths contain plunge and retract points and, when
necessary, with direction markers. These instruction markers are
invisible when working in CAM Editor mode.
For more information about working in the NC Editor mode, see the CAMtastic Panels for
Fabrication and Assembly article.
CAMtastic Introduction The CAMtastic Panel
This panel, available whenever a CAMtastic document is active,
editor barcontains the salient information for that CAM document, including t layers, the current D-code or tool bit, grid/unit settings and the
absolute location of the cursor within the workspace. You may also
alternate focus between the Info, DRC, Nets and Steps sections of
this panel for other design-specific
information. he
The Layers region shows all
created/imported layers and their visibility
status. The current layer will have a white
X through its associated color swatch and
is also reported at the top of the region.
Double-click on another layer’s name to
make it the current layer. Right-clicking anywhere in this section
gives you quick access to layer commands, including the ability to
lock, rename or add layers.
You may highlight any layer in this list, then use the Up Arrow  and
Down Arrow  keys to scroll through the CAM data in single-layer
mode. The Right Arrow  key will make all layers visible, while the
Left Arrow  key will isolate the highlighted layer. Multiple layers can
be selected by using the standard Shift +click and Ctrl +click
features, allowing you to show, hide or delete various layers at once.
Use the + and * keys on the numeric keypad to cycle through all
visible layers or only signal/plane layers, respectively.
Layers may be deleted from the panel, but doing so is an irreversible action. The Undo  command in the Edit  menu will not restore deleted layers.
You may toggle back and forth between the CAMtastic  panel and the active CAM document by using the Shift+F5 keyboard shortcut. The F4
key will toggle the visibility state of all floating panels.
For detailed information on the CAMtastic panel, press F1 while over the (focused) panel.
CAMtastic Introduction
Revision History
Date Version No.Revision
18-Dec-2003    1.0 New product release
01-Jul-2005    1.1 Updated for Altium Designer SP4
Software, hardware, documentation and related materials:
Copyright © 2005 Altium Limited.
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