Mechanical Object Organizer

The Mechanical Object Organizer allows you to import and configure 3D data that is created with a mechanical CAD or similar tool. You cannot launch this tool unless a system configuration file is open. On the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon, create a new file by clicking MCAD > MCAD > System Config, or open an existing file by clicking MCAD > MCAD > System Config (Specify Config File). Launch the Mechanical Object Organizer by clicking MCAD > MCAD > Mechanical Object Organizer on the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon.

 

 

Menu bar

Toolbars

Navigation panel

Assist menu

Canvas

Properties panel

Menu bar

File

Item		Description
New		Creates a new configuration file. If you have already opened a configuration file and edited its contents, you are prompted to save your changes.
Open		Opens an existing configuration file. If mechanical or design data has already been imported, its contents is displayed on the canvas. In the Open dialog, select the appropriate configuration file (*.psys) and click Open.
Save		Saves the open configuration file. If a new system configuration has been created, and a file path is not yet assigned, the Save As dialog is displayed. This allows you to set the path to the configuration file. A configuration file (*.psys) and a mechanical data file (*.mecsys) that contain 3D figure information are exported to the same directory as the .pdes design file.
Save As		Saves the open configuration file to another file. In the Save As dialog, set the path to the new configuration file. A configuration file (*.psys) and a mechanical data file (*.mecsys) that contain 3D figure information are exported to the same directory as the .pdes design file.
Import	MCAD	For the mechanical data that you created with a mechanical CAD or similar tool, this imports it to the system configuration file. In the Open dialog, specify the path to the mechanical data file to import. Multiple files can be imported, and displayed in the Mechanical structure tree. The following formats of mechanical data can be specified. Suffix Format of the Output system Version *.stp *.step STEP AP 203 AP 214 AP 242 *.CATProduct, *CATPart CATIA V5 R4 to V5_6R2013 *.asm *.prt Creo Elements/Pro 5.0 Parametric 2.0 *.prt NX Unigraphics V11.0 to NX 8 *.sldasm, *.sldprt SolidWorks Up to 2014 *.x_t Parasolid Up to v26.0 *.sat *.sab ACIS Up to V23
	Design	When Mechanical Object Organizer is run from the command line, selecting File > Import > Design allows you to import a design. This item is not available when Mechanical Object Organizer is accessed from the ribbon. The design data is imported to the system configuration file. In the Open dialog, specify the path to the design data file you want to import. When the design data is successfully imported, its name is added to the list of design data and the design is displayed on the canvas. If design data with the same name has already been imported, then Mechanical Object Organizer automatically appends "_number" to the end of the name. The number is an integer equal to or greater than 1.
Exit Mechanical Object Organizer		Closes the Mechanical Object Organizer. The open configuration file is not saved.

Edit

Item	Description
Undo	Reverses the effects of the last operation that you execute.
Redo	Re-executes the operation that was canceled by the Undo command.

View

Item		Description
View Mode	Shading	The mechanical data and PCB that are displayed on the canvas are filled in the specified color. If you point the cursor at an item of mechanical data or the PCB, then the associated wireframe is also displayed. You can select or preview them in the same way, regardless of whether Shading or Wireframe is selected in the View Mode option.
	Wireframe	The mechanical data and PCB are displayed as wireframes on the canvas. You can select or preview them in the same way, regardless of whether Shading or Wireframe is selected in the View Mode option.
Preset View	Top	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the top.
	Bottom	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the bottom.
	Front	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the front.
	Back	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the back.
	Left	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the left.
	Right	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the right.
	Isometric	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from an oblique angle, as shown illustrated below.
Display All Data		Change the display area to view all data.
Zoom In		Zoom in to the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.
Zoom out		Zoom out from the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.
Pan Up		Pans the view up by a fixed amount.
Pan Down		Pans the view down by a fixed amount.
Pan Left		Pans the view left by a fixed amount.
Pan Right		Pans the view right by a fixed amount.
Rotate Up		Rotates the view up by a fixed amount.
Rotate Down		Rotates the view down by a fixed amount.
Rotate Left		Rotates the view left by a fixed amount.
Rotate Right		Rotates the view right by a fixed amount.

Utility

Item	Description
Move	Moves the selected board data by specifying coordinates or distances. See: Mechanical Object Organizer (Move).
Align PCB	Displays the Align PCB dialog. This allows you to extract reference coordinates from the board and mechanical data, and move the board data to the coordinates to be matched. See: Mechanical Object Organizer (Align PCB).

Help

Item	Description
Help	Starts Help, and displays the Mechanical Object Organizer page.

Toolbars

Frequently-used commands are placed in the toolbar, and can be invoked with a single click.

File toolbar

Item	Description
New	Selects New in the File menu.
Open	Selects Open in the File menu.
Save	Selects Save in the File menu.
Import (MCAD)	Selects Import (MCAD) in the File menu.

Edit toolbar

Item	Description
Undo	Reverses the effects of the last operation that you execute.
Redo	Re-executes the operation that was canceled by the Undo command.

View toolbar

Item	Description
View Mode (Shading)	The mechanical data and PCB that are displayed on the canvas are filled in the specified color. If you point the cursor at an item of mechanical data or the PCB, then the associated wireframe is also displayed. You can select or preview them in the same way, regardless of whether Shading or Wireframe is selected in the View Mode option.
View Mode (Wireframe)	The mechanical data and PCB are displayed as wireframes on the canvas. You can select or preview them in the same way, regardless of whether Shading or Wireframe is selected in the View Mode option.
Preset View (Top)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the top.
Preset View (Bottom)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the bottom.
Preset View (Front)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the front.
Preset View (Back)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the back.
Preset View (Left)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the left.
Preset View (Right)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the right.
Preset View (Isometric)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from an oblique angle, as shown illustrated below.
Display All Data	Change the display area to view all data
Zoom In	Zoom in to the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.
Zoom out	Zoom out from the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.

Utility toolbar

Item	Description
Move	Moves the selected board data by specifying coordinates or distances. See Mechanical Object Organizer (Move).
Align PCB	Extracts reference coordinates from the board and mechanical data, and moves the board data to the coordinates to be matched. See: Mechanical Object Organizer (Align PCB).

Help toolbar

Item	Description
Help	Starts Help, and opens the Mechanical Object Organizer page.

Navigation panel

The Navigation panel shows the configurations of mechanical data imported using Mechanical Object Organizer. From the displayed configurations, you can select an item to save in a configuration file (*.psys).

Mechanical Structure tab

Item		Description
(Show all)		Clears the contents of the Filter box. All items in the imported mechanical data are displayed.
Filter box		Allows you to filter the items of mechanical data that are displayed on the canvas. If you enter a value in the Filter box, then only items in the  mechanical data that contain the specified characters are displayed. Values that you enter are saved, and can be selected by pointing the cursor at this box, and clicking .
Mechanical structure tree		Allows you to specify the components of the imported mechanical data that are displayed on the canvas. The mechanical data are listed in hierarchical order using the icons shown below. Selecting an item displays it on the canvas. Deselecting an item removes it from the canvas. The settings that you specify are saved in the configuration file when you save the mechanical data. You can select multiple items by dragging the cursor in the Mechanical structure tree, and then clicking a check box for a selected item. Multiple mechanical data files can be imported, and displayed in the Mechanical structure tree.
		Assembly
		Part
		Body
		Axis

Assist menu

The following items can be selected in the Navigation panel by right-clicking the mouse.

Item	Description
Delete	Deletes data displayed in the tree view of the navigation panel. Place the cursor on the item to be deleted, and select Delete from the assist menu. When the selected item has child hierarchy levels, items belonging to those levels are automatically deleted.
Expand	When Mechanical System is displayed in the navigation panel, all child items are displayed that are hidden under the selected item in the tree view. Place the cursor on the item to be expanded and select Expand from the assist menu.
Collapse	When Mechanical System is displayed in the navigation panel, all child items are hidden that are displayed under the selected item in the tree view. Place the cursor on the item to be collapsed and select Collapse from the assist menu.

Canvas

The canvas provides 3D views of design and mechanical data that has been imported with Mechanical Object Organizer. Items are hidden whose check box is deselected in the Navigation panel.

Switching view modes

View

Allows you to reduce the number of items displayed on the canvas.

View	Description
All items	Shows items whose check box is selected in the Navigation panel.
Selected tree items	Shows selected items, and those items in the hierarchies below it in the Navigation panel. Items are hidden whose check box is deselected.

Available commands

Shortcut

Shortcut keys can be used that are defined in the Shortcut Key Setting dialog. The following commands are supported.

Command name	Description
Preset View (Top)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the top.
Preset View (Bottom)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the bottom.
Preset View (Front)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the front.
Preset View (Left)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the left.
Preset View (Right)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from the right.
Preset View (Isometric)	The mechanical data and PCB on the canvas are displayed from an oblique angle.
Display All	Change the display area to view all data.
Display All Data	Change the display area to view all data.
Zoom In	Zoom in to the cursor position by a fixed amount.
Zoom Out	Zoom out from the cursor position by a fixed amount.
Zoom In	Zoom in to the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.
Zoom Out	Zoom out from the center of the canvas by a fixed amount.
Pan Up	Pan up in the canvas view area.
Pan Down	Pan down in the canvas view area.
Pan Left	Pan left in the canvas view area.
Pan Right	Pan right in the canvas view area.
Pan/Rotate Upper	Execute Rotate (Up).
Pan/Rotate Lower	Execute Rotate (Down).
Pan/Rotate Left	Execute Rotate (Left).
Pan/Rotate Right	Execute Rotate (Right).
Rotate (Up)	Elevate the front side.
Rotate (Down)	Lower the front side.
Rotate (Left)	Rotate the whole board to the left.
Rotate (Right)	Rotate the whole board to the right.
Rotate (Clockwise)	Rotate the entire board clockwise.
Rotate (Counterclockwise)	Rotate the entire board counter-clockwise.

Properties panel

Shows the attributes of the item that you select on the canvas or in the Navigation panel. If you select a .pdes design on the canvas, then the following attributes are displayed in the Properties panel.

Attribute	Description
PCB name	Displays the design data name. This is retrieved from the name of the design data file (*.pdes).
File path	Displays the path to the design data file.
Coordinates (X, Y, Z)	The coordinates of the design data are displayed. These coordinates are related to the global origin.
Angles (X, Y, Z)	Displays the angles associated with the design data. These angles are related to the axis of the global origin.

 

If you select an item in the Mechanical Structure tree, then the following attributes are displayed in the Properties panel.

Attribute	Description
Name	Displays the name of the mechanical data. Double-clicking the Value column allows you to enter a different name.
Original name	Displays the name retrieved from the imported mechanical data. This is the same value as the one in the Name column, unless you make a change after the export.
Original path	This is a string that represents a tree hierarchy. The hierarchies are separated with a slash (/).
Material name	A string that represents the material of mechanical data. Double-clicking the Value column allows you to enter any name. By default, it is empty. This attribute is displayed only when the hierarchy of the selected mechanical data is Body.
Comment	You can append a comment to the selected mechanical data. Double-clicking the Value column allows you to enter any string. By default, it is empty.