Mecadtron NEXTRA

Mecadtron Nextra
Mecadtron NEXTRA
NEXTRA 3D eCAD / mCAD Integration

FlowCAD is the exclusive international sales channel for Mecadtron. Mecadtron offers with NEXTRA® a family of products for 3D PCB design. The software can build the bridge between eCAD and mCAD software. Native design data from electrical and mechanical design environments can be imported into NEXTRA. 3D applications like flex or rigid flex PCB require exact information of eCAD and mCAD design data to place the PCB within the mechanical context.

In NEXTRA special 3D tasks for PCB design can be performed like in no other tool. You can check for high voltage air gaps or run a creepage analysis. Bending of complex rigid flex PCBs is possible in a 2D and 3D view.

Supported mechanical software (mCAD):

  • Siemens NX®
  • PTC Creo®
  • Dassault SolidWorks®
  • Dassault Catia®

Supported electronic software (eCAD):

  • Cadence Allegro®
  • OrCAD PCB Designer®
  • Altium Designer®
  • Mentor Xpedition®
  • Mentor PADs®
  • Zuken CR-5000®
  • Zuken CR-8000®
NEXTRA is an Analysis Tool for mCAD and eCAD for High Voltage Analysis Like Air Gaps and Creepage as well as MID and Rigid-Flex PCBs

Software Solutions

NEXTRA Air Gap Analysis
NEXTRA Air Gap Analysis

Air Gap

High Voltage PCBs have to maintain a minimum spacing between the conducting elements of the electronic unit. NEXTRA enables you to make complex 3D checks based on the netlist and design constraints. NEXTRA will analyze all violations between elements like exposed copper, metall housing connected to ground or other voltages. This check in performed in 3D.
Clearance and Creepage on PCBs

SMART Schematic / Intelligent PDF
Creepage Analysis with NEXTRA

Creepage

In High Voltage applications on Printed Circuit Boards a safety spacing has to be between the two conductors with a high voltage. Depending on the maximum voltage value the spacing increases. The spacing needs to be the shortest distance, on the surface (top and botton), but current might also flow inside milling, across unconnected copper islands or even inside the layers. Nextra provides you with a check to find all violations and you are compliant with your standards lke (i.e. IEC).
Clearance and Creepage on PCBs

NEXTRA Dielectric Strength Analysis
NEXTRA Dielectric Strength Analysis

Dielectric Strength Analysis

High Voltage PCBs have to maintain a minimum isolation between two layers in a PCB. This seperation is done by the dielectric material i.e. FR4. Depending on the thickness of one or more layers of dielectric material the allowed maximum voltage may vary. NEXTRA enables you to make complex 3D checks based on the netlist and design constraints. NEXTRA will analyze all violations between elements on adjacent layers connected to ground or other high voltages. This check in performed in 3D.

NEXTRA MID Design
NEXTRA MID Design

MID Design

Molded interconnect design was the origial name for MID, but oftn you find the name Mechatronic integrated design. The difference to traditional printed circuit boards is, that MID are made of a 3 dimensional carrier including 3D routing and assembly of components on planes attacht in any angle to the carrier. NEXTRA can read netlists from PCB layout tools and mechanical information from mechanical CAD tools. The routing and export is optimized for the capabilities of the manufacturing processes (i.e. laser structuring).
NEXTRA MID datasheet

NEXTRA Advanced Flex-PCB-Design
NEXTRA Advanced Flex PCB Design

Advanced rigid flex design

In modern PCB Designs short cables are more and more replaced by flexible PCBs. Either as a full flexible or rigid-flex application. NEXTRA helps to design with the knowledge of the signal names and design constraints a complex 3D bent design. It shows you the folded and bent view in 3D as well as a flat 2D view as you need it for manufacturing.
NEXTRA advanced flex datasheet

Mecadtron NEXTRA Training Classes

Public training classes are offered on a regular basis. In the table below you will see the time table, when these classes are offered. In addition you can ask for your own training on your site, which makes business sense, when you have five or more person attend the same class form one company. Customization of trainings is possible too.