FAB 3000 - Revision History

This was a general maintenance release to improve/fix minor GUI, database, memory, and security protocols for Windows 11 compatibility.

No new features were added.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	IPC-2581 Export. Choose PadStack output: Yes, No, or use PadStack References (improves export speed).
	IPC-2581 Export. Clones the IPC-2581 output file to appear generated from another EDA tool.
	IPC-2581 Export has been improved. Specifically StepRepeat, Nested Steps, Attributes, etc.
	IPC-2581 Import has been improved to handle Altium's Component Package Pin rotations, StepRepeat using various Datums, etc. Thanks John Schweikle.
	NC Drill/Mill Import.  Resolved an import issue when zero precision digits are defined in the header. Thanks Rob Ocenosak.
	Backside View. Panel Outline, List and Properties point list properly display coordinates while in Backside view mode.
	Rout paths with compensation side (left/right) can now be properly mirrored. Thanks Peter Pugno.
	Selection sets no longer reset when tip text window disappears.
	Display of component outlines.
	25 other minor bug fixes have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	Both FAB 3000 and DFM Now! were fully reviewed and not impacted by Log4j.
	3D STEP IMPORT can now automatically detect the "Normal Plane" used to extract 2D Geometries from 3D BReps.
	3D STEP IMPORT can now automatically generate Drill layers (Plated/Non-Plated) and generate a Border layer.
	Convert Selected Objects to Boundary Outlines. Menu: Tools / Convert Objects to / Outline...
	Query/Object Hover displays Paste Pad details intelligently : Area ratio, Aspect ratio, Pad Pitch, Volume - and even warns "in real time" whether Paste Pads contain any potential stencil manufacturing violations.
	Units has been added to the View menu for easier ability to change display units.
	SMT Stencil Area and Aspect Ratios defaults can now be set in the Options dialog. Menu: Setup / Options, in tab "Default Values"
	Unlimited UNDO/REDO has been optimized even further to improve the overall users editor experience.
	3D STEP IMPORT "arc resolution" control has been greatly improved.  Previous versions imported with poor arc resolution.
	Build Components now lets you select pads also on Top and Bottom metal layers. Previously only Mask and Paste layers.
	Add Rout Tabs. Per customer request, we increased the number of symmetric tabs to 8 (from 3 max).
	Explode command (menu: Edit / Explode) has been improved.
	PCB Border detection has been improved.
	Copy Objects Mode (from Options) - Determines what Net and RefDes values to use for copied objects.
	SMT Stencil/Paste Table features have been improved (including Pitch calculation and more).
	25 other minor bug fixes and units improvement have been made.
	Object Snap Toggle (Hotkey F3) now correctly traverses all available Object snaps.  Previously got stuck on 2 Object snaps.
	Dbl-Click on FAB 3000 workspace file, retains all fonts used by text. Previously defaulted all fonts to standard "fnt".

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	SMT Stencil/Paste Table. Interactively test for various Paste pad pitch, ratio, and etching violations. Results are color coded for easy visualization.
	Generate SMT Stencil/Paste Pad reports.  Includes an option to include any potential warnings or errors.
	Explode NC Layer.  Converts any NC Drill/Rout layer to base objects like traces, pads, etc.
	Options... Now includes default values for SMT Stencil Area Ratio and Aspect Ratio.
	ODB++ Import has better sorting of complex surfaces containing multiple Islands and holes.
	ODB++ Import now detects which CAD tool created the ODB++ and optimizes objects.
	IPC-2581 Import has better sorting of complex contours containing multiple Islands and holes.
	Easily convert any Gerber layer to NC Drill/Rout objects using the Rt-Click menu in the Layers control.
	Add Wide Path has been improved.
	Open Folder... has been improved.
	Explode command (menu: Edit / Explode) has been improved.
	Attributes have been improved with faster access.
	Selection Filter (Attributes) now quickly searches for matching attribute name:values pairs and/or wildcards.
	Restored keyboard focus for accessing various controls in the toolbar.
	20 other minor bug fixes and units improvement have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	IPC-2581 Export has been improved and faster.
	ODB++ Export has been improved and faster.
	Pad Stack Extraction solely pads/drills with concentric alignment.
	Component Display: Pin#1 now uses a single solid circle for easier orientation recognition.
	Copy Objects Mode.  Determines what Net/Component Refdes information to retain when copying objects.
	10 other minor bug fixes and units improvement have been made.
	More Hot Keys/Shortcuts have been added to improve user experience.
	IPC-2581 Import now groups PadStacks (if available) to retain more design intelligence.
	Panel Display now shows improved level of detail (LOD) - no need to zoom-in to view smallest details.
	Layer Stack up order would change when a new layer was created.
	Imported Dielectric layers now display the correct stack up order.
	Customer reported a crash when attempting to export IPC-2581.
	20 other minor bug fixes and units improvement have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	Preferred User Unit values are now available throughout all FAB 3000 settings, and dialog options.
	DXF Export - Outputs Dynamic text ($$).
	DXF Export - Correctly assign entity handle value for Hatches.
	Add Tab defaulted a zero width tab - which didn't permit users to select tab location.
	SMT Stencil Foil thickness uses the correct units (when non millimeter).
	10 other minor bug fixes and units improvement have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	Array Staggered. Arrays the selection in a staggered (hexagon) pattern. Typically used to optimize circular objects.
	Option: Copy Objects Mode. Determines what Net/Component information to retain when copying objects.
	Add Coupons and Inserts for Panelization.
	Add Labels with Dynamic Text for Panelization.
	Add Objects into the Panel such as: Rout, Score, Polygon, Line, Path, Circle, Arc
	Selection Filter Toggle. Toggles the selection filter on/off. Use Key F6
	Grid Snap Mode. Restricts cursor movement to specified grid intervals. Use Key F9
	Grid Display Mode. Turns the grid display on and off. Use Key F7
	New example Matrix files (*.fm6), Panel Setup files (*.pan).
	Entire GUI has been improved, plus Tool tips are now available everywhere to help provide more information.
	Synchronize Layers - Easier to use with more automation. Perfect when different PCB jobs need to be merged onto a panel.
	Detect Layer Types has been improved. Automatically recognizes even more layer types.
	Add Tab. New options are available to add tabs on rounded/circular PCB edges.
	Panel Wizard. Both Fixed Size and Smallest Panel are easier to use. Select external Job files (*.job) for inclusion in the panel.
	Job Insert. Can now add Job inserts as a Staggered Arrayed. Typically used to optimize area for circular jobs. There is now an option to use spacing
	Job Insert.  Job Spacing is now an option to use spacing between Inserts (previously only distance was accepted).
	Panel Setup dialog has been improved.
	Selection Filter dialog.
	Add Pin has been improved in the Package Editor.
	PCB Border automatic detection has been improved.
	Add Fiducial. Now adds appropriate sized Mask pads.
	30 other minor bug fixes and UI Improvements have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	Use wildcard match patterns to more easily search, select, and modify objects.
	Display Job Profile improved. (menu: View | Display Job Profile)
	Components Table has been improved and now use wildcards. (menu: Assembly | Components Table...)
	Selection Filter has been improved and now use wildcards. (menu: Edit | Selection | Filter...)
	Open Workspace (*.wrk) has been improved.
	Homebase Pad creation has been improved.
	All Find commands (menu: Info | Find) have been improved and now use wildcards.
	All Dialog boxes open centered to FAB 3000 (not screen as previously).
	14 other minor bug fixes and UI Improvements have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	IPC-2581 Rev A/B/C now supported for both Import and Export.
	IPC-2581 Import has been improved.
	IPC-2581 Export  has been improved.
	ODB++ Import has been improved.
	ODB++ Export has been improved.
	Component display has been improved.
	14 other minor bug fixes and UI Improvements have been made.

 New Feature

 Improved Feature

 Fixed Feature

	Selection Filter. Aperture Shapes allows anyone to select objects using defined aperture shape and/or within defined width/height.
	Import Large Bitmap - Merge Adjacent objects now runs 10X faster and produces better results.
	Import Images - Merge Adjacent objects now runs 10X faster and produces better results.
	DXF Import: Join works better for connecting adjacent lines/arcs that are not touching.
	Options: "SMT Stencil Foil Thickness (Millimeter)" setting did not save. Now it remains permanent.
	GDS-II Import. Resolved invalid rotation for non-ortho cell reference inserts.
	Removed invalid variable in GetPathDirection() which affected Boolean and tessellation features. It occurred only in V8.3.5.
	10 other minor bug fixes and UI Improvements have been made.