Create Electronic Component from sketch

[Anonymous]

I have created a sketch of an NFC/RFID antenna. 

I want to: 

1. Make an electronic component (from New electronics library?) 
2. View it as PCB
3. View it as 3D PCB

The end goal is to export the information as Gerber files, so that I can have it manufactured. 

I have followed along from: TUTORIAL: Creating electronic components with Fusion 360 - YouTube

However It seems as if they aren't creating it from a sketch. 

Q: How do I go from sketch to electronic component so that i can use it in a PCB/schematic? 

Q: Is there an easier way of getting NFC/RFID antennas in fusion electronics? (standard library etc) 

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

I hope you're doing well. Currently, sketch isn't integrated into the library editor so in this scenario I would export the antenna as a DXF and then in the footprint editor in the library import it. From there you can add in the pads for the circuit to connect to.

As of right now the electronics library does not contain NFC/RFID antennas, however that will likely change in the future.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[ritste20]

@jorge_garcia Can I make a feature request for when Autodesk (hopefully) adds legitimate sketch tools to the library editor?

I can see uses for a polyline tool for drawing irregular shapes on the copper layers. Similar to how AutoCAD uses polyline/pedit (width, halfwidth, lines and arcs, join, etc.) and when finished editing you have a single joined entity that can be used as an smd pad to connect. It would also be useful for antenna layouts and coil designs.

For example, trying to incorporate an antenna into the outer bezel of a device for a "tap" transaction that doesn't work as a standard circle arrangement. For secure contactless credit/debit transactions, the height of the field is heavily regulated and often precludes placing the antenna below something like an LCD interface.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks jorge,

So would you reccomend the workflow: 

1. Sketch the antenna 
2. Export the antenna as a DXF
3. Import the footprint to edtitor in the library

Or is there a better way (starting from scratch that is) ? 

thanks, 

Leo 

[ritste20]

I would say that is your best bet to get started. After you run the import-dxf ulp, you might need to adjust some of the geometry in the footprint editor so make sure you check all your corners/joints for alignment issues and make sure the signals are appropriately connected.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks ritste20, 

I've just seen that it imports the .DXF keeping all consturciton lines, and doens't keep width. But I'm sure this can be fixed.. 

Never thought that getting a commmerically available chip like NHS3152 and integrating it on a pbc with any antenna that would make it run, would be so much work. This is probably why usually it's not a physicis but an electronic engineer that does this work 🙂 

thanks for your help, 

Leo  

[ritste20]

That is currently up for debate in the electronics world. As switching frequencies continue to rise and components get faster seemingly by the day, the industry is starting to realize that it IS a physics problem. Field management becomes the key to successful board design and some people will probably dislike me a little for what I'm about to say but traditional circuit theory goes out the window.

In the days of the Commodore 64, you could put components anywhere on the board and bundle jumper harnesses by the dozen. Everything worked perfectly. As long as you didn't have any shorts or opens, you could do no wrong. A book I highly suggest to anyone involved in board design and even remotely concerned with EMI/signal integrity would be "Fast Circuit Boards" by the late Ralph Morrison.

Regards,