OrCAD and Allegro to Flux

Bring your OrCAD and Allegro project to Flux and continue it here. Flux is an AI hardware engineer. Import your schematic, board, and library files into a project. Ask Flux to work on the electronics, mechanical parts, firmware, and manufacturing.

Import your OrCAD and Allegro project into Flux

Attach the OrCAD and Allegro files, or a ZIP file of the project folder, to a message in the Chat panel. Ask Flux to import them. Flux creates a new project from the files.

Import this OrCAD project.

Import this ODB++ board from Allegro and this EDIF netlist together.

Import this ZIP file of my OrCAD project folder, then review the schematic.

To do it in the UI:

Upload an OrCAD Capture design (.dsn), an Allegro or OrCAD PCB Editor board (.brd), or a project folder with its .opj file.

Select Flux menu → Import → Project… to open the Import Project dialog.
Click Choose files or Choose folder. You can also drop the project files, a project folder, or a ZIP file on the dialog.
Select the projects to import, then click Import.
Click Open to open the new project.

Each import creates a new project.

Export board files from Allegro

In Allegro PCB Editor, select File → Export → ODB++ inside to export an ODB++ archive (.tgz or .tar) or job folder. Select File → Export → IPC 2581 to export an IPC-2581 file (.xml or .cvg). Upload these board files with the project flow.

You can also import an EDIF netlist (.edf or .edif) with the project flow. Upload it with an ODB++ board to import the board and netlist together.

Import your OrCAD and Allegro libraries into Flux

Attach the .olb or .dra library files to a message in the Chat panel and ask Flux to import them.

Import this OrCAD Capture .olb library and add the parts to my library.

Import these Allegro .dra footprints as parts.

To do it in the UI:

Select Flux menu → Import → Part… to open the Import Parts dialog.
Click Choose files or Choose folder. You can also drop the library files, a folder, or a ZIP file on the dialog.
Select the parts to import, then click the import button. Upload OrCAD Capture .olb files or Allegro footprint .dra files.

Each imported part becomes a new part in your Flux library.

What you can do with your design in Flux

Flux is an AI hardware engineer. After the import, your OrCAD and Allegro design is part of a Flux project. Ask Flux to work on the schematic and board. Flux also works on the mechanical parts, firmware, and manufacturing in the same project.

Turn the imported board into a complete device

Use the imported OrCAD schematic and Allegro board as the starting point. Ask Flux to design an enclosure around the board, then write firmware for the microcontroller and peripherals in the schematic.

Use the board outline, mounting holes, connectors, and clearance needs from the imported design to shape the enclosure.
Use the imported schematic's pin assignments and connected parts to guide firmware for the microcontroller.

Using the imported Allegro board, design an enclosure that fits its outline and aligns with its mounting holes and connectors.

Write firmware for the microcontroller in the imported OrCAD schematic. Use its pin assignments to initialize and test the connected peripherals.

Review the imported design

Ask Flux to review the schematic and board. Flux reads part datasheets and reports design issues with suggested fixes. Flux can also make a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) report.

Review the imported schematic and board. Check the reset circuit and decoupling for the processor.

Make an FMEA report for the power input and motor driver.

Place and route the board

Ask Flux to place components and route the board. Flux sets the stackup and layout rules, places the parts, routes the traces, and runs a design rule check.

Place the components and route the board on six layers. Keep the memory bus short and matched.

Route the high-speed pairs with a 100 ohm differential impedance.

Simulate circuits and signals

Ask Flux to simulate circuit behavior. Ask Flux to analyze high-speed traces and RF feed lines. Flux reports electromagnetic results with plots.

Simulate the power supply startup and report the settling time.

Analyze the losses and coupling on the memory interface.

Check the board temperature

Ask Flux to run a thermal simulation of the PCB. Flux calculates board and component temperatures from the power each part dissipates.

Run a thermal simulation at maximum load. Report the temperature of the processor and power stages.

Design the enclosure and mechanical parts

Ask Flux to design enclosures, brackets, mounts, and mechanisms around the board. Flux uses the board outline, mounting holes, connectors, and part models. See Mechanical Design.

Design a shielded enclosure for this board with openings for the connectors.

Design a bracket that mounts the board to the inside of the chassis.

Check fit, strength, and air flow

Ask Flux to check clearances between the board and the enclosure. Ask Flux to analyze stress and deflection in a mechanical part. Flux also simulates air flow and cooling through an enclosure.

Check the clearance between the board and the enclosure.

Analyze the stress in the board mount with a 30 N load.

Simulate air flow through the chassis and report the board temperature.

Write the firmware

Ask Flux to write firmware for the microcontroller on the board. Flux uses the design's pin assignments and tests the code.

Write firmware for the control board to read the current sensor and shut down the motor on an overcurrent.

Design the cables between boards

Ask Flux for a cable between two connectors in the design. Flux reads the net connections and selects matching housings and wires.

Get a quote for 15 cables between the control board and the front panel, 350 mm long.

Ask Flux for PCB quotes and orders. Ask for 3D-printing quotes and orders for the mechanical parts. You can also export Gerber, drill, BOM, and pick-and-place files. See Manufacturing files.

Get quotes for 50 assembled boards from JLCPCB and PCBWay.

Get a 3D-printing quote for the board enclosure in nylon.

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