Methods for better ECAD / MCAD Collaboration and Data Exchange?

Hi guys,

I have a little bit of time on my hands at work, and I am looking to support a Continuous Improvement project on my team.

Basically, we have the common problem of inefficient ECAD/MCAD Collaboration. We're using Mentor Graphics, and when our ECAD designers Create the IDF Outputs to send to the MCAD designers, the ECAD-hint.map file references a component library that often contains close, but not close enough 3D representations of the electronic components on the PCB.

So, without immediately trying to buy the next greatest ECAD/MCAD Collaboration Add-On from Mentor, I was wondering if any of you guys have recommendations, processes, or techniques that you use to promote efficient collaboration that reduces design re-loops because of physical violations between PCB enclosures and components.

Speaking to some folks at my company, some have used scripts to reference the component footprint with the actual 3D model from the part supplier.

Thanks for the help, and regards!

Use real life models for the components, referenced to by the IDF data, that's how I've done it for 15 years and how all those I deal with do it. Have models with the same name as the footprints then you dint have to mess around with scripts... Keep it simple.