Assembly Drawing

[JohnsonMiller]

Hi Guys,

Assembly house usually asks about assembly drawing, when I use the default setting in Altium, the output is not satisfactory and they always complaining and call for more info! So, my question is what information we should include in assembly drawing?

Regards,

[cagri.saglam]

Hi,

There is a good video from by robertferanec:

. You can check it.
If you continue to take calls from your supplier/customer, you should try to get some informations that what you should give into assembly drawing. Then, we can look at how we apply them into drawings.

[robertferanec]

How does your assembly drawing looks? What they are asking about?

Usually we only deliver component outline with reference designator inside + polarity or pin 1 marking + fitted / not fitted highlight. If needed we can add a note about special soldering requirements, but usually that is enough. We also generate View with tracks visible, so it is easier to find specific components - but I am not sure if they use it (we generate it because we use that drawing a lot)

I attached the files, so you can see them. They are from our open source project OpenRex: https://www.imx6rex.com/open-rex/

[JohnsonMiller]

Regarding Assembly Drawing, I still have a fundamental question. In pick-and-place file, placement is described in full detail, why we still need to provide these drawings?

[robertferanec]

Pick and place file is mostly to feed up the assembly machine. Assembly drawing is for people.

[JohnsonMiller]

Exactly! Since people not doing pick-and-place, assembly drawing sounds useless! unless I missing a point.

[JohnsonMiller]

And I got a problem, in my component library, a mechanical layer is used to specify the detail of each component. When I create assembly drawing using an output job, Altium prints mechanical data on both prints and does not care that component is either on top or bottom layer. How we can force prints to make difference and show mechanical data based on the layer that component is placed?

[robertferanec]

Exactly! Since people not doing pick-and-place, assembly drawing sounds useless! unless I missing a point.

- People who are setting up machines use assembly drawing to be sure the machines are set correctly. Also people who are hand soldering components on your board (e.g. through hole components such connectors) will be using assembly drawings. People who are checking and testing your boards will be also using the drawings. And, I also use the drawings a lot - e.g. you immediately see if correct components where fitted, where test points are located (you can add some notes on printed assembly drawing for example what voltage should be there) etc.

How we can force prints to make difference and show mechanical data based on the layer that component is placed?

- you need to create layer pair. This will help: https://youtu.be/L36KicrU45Q?t=1335

[JohnsonMiller]

Still, soldering TH by hand? I thought it is done by some robots!

- you need to create layer pair. This will help: https://youtu.be/L36KicrU45Q?t=1335

Thank you very much! got it.

[JohnsonMiller]

- you need to create layer pair. This will help: https://youtu.be/L36KicrU45Q?t=1335

In your video there is a "View Configuration" tab. For some reason, I am still using AD17.1, but at menu select View->Panel->PCB->, I do not see any selection to activate that panel. Is there any chance to have that feature with 17.1 or I have to move to 18 or so?

[JohnsonMiller]

Any help regarding that Tab?

[robertferanec]

JohnsonMiller for AD17 and older, this video can help "Altium Designer – How to Create Assembly Drawing Layers": https://welldoneblog.fedevel.com/201...rawing-layers/

[JohnsonMiller]

Thank you Robert, with your help I managed to build a decent assembly drawing; hopefully, both human and the machine can now understand it.

PS- I moved to AD20, and I see that a problem which I once complained about is gone. It was a slow reacting and refreshing schematic viewer,

[JohnsonMiller]

Hi Guys,

Shall we mirror the bottom layer?
The Altium's initial setting is normal, or let's say top-view. But I have been asked to mirror the view.

[robertferanec]

Interesting. I do not mirror layers for PCB manufacturing. In case your PCB manufacturer really needs to mirror them, they can easily do it by themselves.

However what you may need to mirror is text on the bottom layer. In Altium you can Flip the board (I do not have access to Altium right now, but you will easily find the Flip View command somewhere in the menu) - that will show you the view as you would be looking at the bottom side of your real PCB - double check if everything looks ok there, especially text.

PS: Only the situation when I needed to mirror a layer was when I was making PCB at home and wanted to have the black ink directly touching copper layer