ColorCAM
Encyclopedia
ColorCAM was both a CAD and a CAM
system for printed circuit boards (PCB). Introduced in 1983 by Lothar Klein, LKSoft it was one of the very first systems running on a personal computer
instead of a workstation
or mainframe
which was typically the case for all CAD applications at that time.
ColorCAM was originally developed and marketed under the name LAYCAD and was running on computers from ELTEC in Mainz, Germany, and HEMA in Aalen, Germany, using the Motorola 6809
CPU
, one of the most powerful 8/16 bit
processors at that time. To be able to address more than the maximal 64 Kbyte
of RAM available with an 16 bit address space these computers had special hardware to superimpose a memory window in this 16 bit address space, from a bigger storage with up to 512 Kbyte RAM
. The ELTEC computer had a 512×256 pixel memory mapped graphic while the HEMA computer had a 640×400 pixel graphic using the NEC 7220 graphics controller chip. Both computers used the FLEX (operating system)
.
In 1984, ColorCAM was ported onto the newly introduced 16 bit IBM AT computer. At that time the only available colour graphics adapter (CGA) had a resolution of 320×200 pixel, not sufficient for a CAD application. So the HEMA graphics was turned into an external "Graphic box" and connected with the IBM AT via the parallel port. A next major improvement was the introduction of an expansion board using the Hitachi ACRT graphics controller HD63484. With up to 1 Mbyte
of video RAM it was possible to create a 1600×1200 pixel graphic with 4 bit/pixel and display it on a 1024×786 CRT
display. The processing power of the IBM-AT class of computers was too low to implement algorithms for the automatic routing
of tracks on the PCB. Therefore a solution using Maze runner concepts was realized on an expansion board using the INMOS Transputer
to boost the processing power. ColorCAM itself was written in the Pascal programming language
with only small parts in Assembly language
.
On the CAM
side, ColorCAM was optimized for running the milling and drilling machines from LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
for the production of PCB prototypes.
Support and sales of ColorCAM were discontinued in 1993. In total more than 1000 licenses of ColorCAM were sold worldwide by LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
within less than 10 years.
Computer-aided manufacturing
Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of computer software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most common; CAM may also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all operations of a...
system for printed circuit boards (PCB). Introduced in 1983 by Lothar Klein, LKSoft it was one of the very first systems running on a personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
instead of a workstation
Workstation
A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems...
or mainframe
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
which was typically the case for all CAD applications at that time.
ColorCAM was originally developed and marketed under the name LAYCAD and was running on computers from ELTEC in Mainz, Germany, and HEMA in Aalen, Germany, using the Motorola 6809
Motorola 6809
The Motorola 6809 is an 8-bit microprocessor CPU from Motorola, designed by Terry Ritter and Joel Boney and introduced 1978...
CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
, one of the most powerful 8/16 bit
Bit
A bit is the basic unit of information in computing and telecommunications; it is the amount of information stored by a digital device or other physical system that exists in one of two possible distinct states...
processors at that time. To be able to address more than the maximal 64 Kbyte
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
of RAM available with an 16 bit address space these computers had special hardware to superimpose a memory window in this 16 bit address space, from a bigger storage with up to 512 Kbyte RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
. The ELTEC computer had a 512×256 pixel memory mapped graphic while the HEMA computer had a 640×400 pixel graphic using the NEC 7220 graphics controller chip. Both computers used the FLEX (operating system)
FLEX (operating system)
The FLEX single-tasking operating system was developed by Technical Systems Consultants of West Lafayette, Indiana, for the Motorola 6800 in 1976. The original version was for 8" floppy disks and the version for 5.25" floppies was called mini-Flex. It was also later ported to the Motorola 6809;...
.
In 1984, ColorCAM was ported onto the newly introduced 16 bit IBM AT computer. At that time the only available colour graphics adapter (CGA) had a resolution of 320×200 pixel, not sufficient for a CAD application. So the HEMA graphics was turned into an external "Graphic box" and connected with the IBM AT via the parallel port. A next major improvement was the introduction of an expansion board using the Hitachi ACRT graphics controller HD63484. With up to 1 Mbyte
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
of video RAM it was possible to create a 1600×1200 pixel graphic with 4 bit/pixel and display it on a 1024×786 CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
display. The processing power of the IBM-AT class of computers was too low to implement algorithms for the automatic routing
Routing (EDA)
In electronic design, wire routing, commonly called simply routing, is a step in the design of printed circuit boards and integrated circuits . It builds on a preceding step, called placement, which determines the location of each active element of an IC or component on a PCB...
of tracks on the PCB. Therefore a solution using Maze runner concepts was realized on an expansion board using the INMOS Transputer
INMOS transputer
The transputer was a pioneering microprocessor architecture of the 1980s, featuring integrated memory and serial communication links, intended for parallel computing. It was designed and produced by Inmos, a British semiconductor company based in Bristol....
to boost the processing power. ColorCAM itself was written in the Pascal programming language
Pascal (programming language)
Pascal is an influential imperative and procedural programming language, designed in 1968/9 and published in 1970 by Niklaus Wirth as a small and efficient language intended to encourage good programming practices using structured programming and data structuring.A derivative known as Object Pascal...
with only small parts in Assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
.
On the CAM
Computer-aided manufacturing
Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of computer software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most common; CAM may also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all operations of a...
side, ColorCAM was optimized for running the milling and drilling machines from LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG is a German-based equipment manufacturer supplying the electronics industry. Although LPKF focuses mainly on PCB prototyping and micromachining solutions for SMT stencils, the company also offers laser plastic welding systems and precision drives, as well as laser...
for the production of PCB prototypes.
Support and sales of ColorCAM were discontinued in 1993. In total more than 1000 licenses of ColorCAM were sold worldwide by LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG is a German-based equipment manufacturer supplying the electronics industry. Although LPKF focuses mainly on PCB prototyping and micromachining solutions for SMT stencils, the company also offers laser plastic welding systems and precision drives, as well as laser...
within less than 10 years.