Software Enhancements CALCE V2.0 Release

Project Number : C96-19

Point of Contact:
Dr. Michael Osterman CALCE EPRC email: osterman@calce.umd.edu Phone: (301) 405-8023 Fax: (301) 314-9269

Objective Background Approach Work Accomplished Related Internal Reports

Objective

Prepare and release the next version of the CALCE software for UNIX.

Background

Since the CALCE EPRC was formed, it has been engaged in the development software to aid in the design and assessment of printed wiring assemblies. The development effort has resulted a set of tools which focus on the mechanical assessment of a printed wiring board. In particular, this effort has been to develop and support physics of failure based design and assessment methodology. Tools include thermal analysis, vibrational analysis, fatigue assessment of leads and plated through holes. Software remains an important technology transfer device. Updating to improve usability and robustness is critical to software acceptance and usage.

Approach

Update of the CALCE Software is intended to improve overall usability of the tool set while increasing software robustness. To this end, the current tool set will be reviewed. A list of updated tools will be developed and a release schedule will be established. CALCE companies will be solicited for example design models to be used a tutorial. Documentation will be updated and a tutorial will be developed based on one or more industry examples. The results of the industry problems will be correlated against measured and calculated information as available.

The latest release of calcePWA is currently being tested within the CALCE EPRC. We hope to have Release 1.3 available with documentation by March 28. The software will be posted at this Web Site for members to download.

Release 1.3.1

Updated and revised version of calcePWA 1.3 was released May 19,1996. This release included:

Updated On-line User's Manual

The user's documentation is being updated to reflect the changes made in updating calcePWA Release 1.2 to calcePWA Release 1.3.

Release 1.3.2

Updated and revised version of calcePWA 1.3 was released June 10,1996. This release included updates resulting from the software enhancements project:

Enhanced Mouse Control
In order to reduce the time required to create and modify PWA designs, the ability to control and access information via the mouse (or pointer device) was added. This update effected the following tools:
- Board Manager
- Component Manager
- Vibrational Setup Tool
PWA Toolbox Update
The PWA toolbox has been enhanced with new tool management facilities. These facilities provide the following capabilities:
- Tool process manager
  This allow the user to monitor the status of tools which have be started from the PWA toolbox. In addition, the process manager allow you to remove terminate active processes.The enable a user Tool Manager
- Custom tools manager
  This allow the user to add, modify, and remove custom software to the working on a PWA design.

PADS Update

This update provides the capability to import/export designs which are created with the PADS PCB design system. The addition extends the ability of calcePWA to be integrated within tial design process. The PADS update was made available July 24, 1996.

Color Scale Control

This enhancement allows you to set the color legend in the display tool to either automatic or manual. Under the manual mode, you can specify the minimum and maximum display values. This is particularly useful when view temperature and vibrational profiles, as well as fatigue failure information. This capability was provided with the PADS update.

Funding

1 unit

Related Internal Reports

PADS Support