New PCB Design Products

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

— These new products include circuit design software, free evaluation kits, better user functionalities, and a Website that connects designers and suppliers.PCB Design Software in North America

Kelleher Systems (www.kellehersystems.com) will exclusively sell Infinite Graphics CheckMate and PAR software products for the PCB design market in North America. The design for manufacturability (DFM) solution is said to be affordable and easy to use. CheckMate is a suite of tools enabling the PCB designer to validate the manufacturing data generated during the design phase. CheckMate automates verification (eliminates Gerber viewing), conducts a netlist extraction and compares, and gives an analysis of the manufacturability of the design to various specifications.

Evaluation Software for CADSTAR 12.0

The latest version of CADSTAR Express, the evaluation software from Zuken, can be downloaded free. All the functionality of CADSTAR 12.0 is available; limited to work with 300 pins and 50 components. A DIY manual helps users through the design process and completes the evaluation process. There is also a free parts library featuring 20,000 listings from the 240,000+ online CADSTAR parts library. Highlights from version 12.0 in CADSTAR Express include functionality for managing obsolescence, a "getting started" Wizard that will guide the user step-by-step through the design set up process, and a new start page for effective workflow management.

CADSTAR 12.0

For migrating users, version 12.0 helps to protect and retain historical IP with the addition of a comprehensive integrated migration tool supporting competitive design data. New features help overcome time-to-market issues for designers and engineers. By incorporating more advanced Microsoft Windows compliant GUIs, including dockable windows and tabbed design windows, users will be able to set CADSTAR up more quickly and easily. Version 12.0 includes a start page created to help users organize their workflow by displaying customer-set preferences including recent workspaces and design files, getting-started training files, and online support. The customizable capabilities of this new GUI provide personal screen-viewing preferences. A schematic start-up wizard moves step by step through the design set-up process. Significant enhancements have been added that make the reuse of tried and tested design data a smoother and more efficient process.  Reuse blocks can be defined by saving sections from an existing schematic or PCB design, then these blocks can then be included and reused in new designs. Users can carry out design migration from directly within CADSTAR, without the requirement for any additional add-on tools. The Parts Acceptance Attribute automatically notifies users when a component has become obsolete. When reloading a design from the library, information will be provided stating which component is to be replaced, with a suggested alternative part. The enhanced viewing of attribute data is now possible with a single dialog that can be customized to display specific reports, which can then be imported into Microsoft Excel. Zuken, www.zuken.com/cadstar

Circuit Simulation for Teaching and Design

Multisim 11 circuit simulation software is available in specialized editions for both hands-on learning and professional circuit design. Multisim software delivers a graphical approach that abstracts the complexities of traditional circuit simulation, helping educators, students and engineers employ advanced circuit analysis technology. The academic edition of Multisim 11 incorporates specialized teaching features and is complemented by circuits textbooks and courseware. Technical colleges and four-year universities choose Multisim for its interactive components, simulation-driven instruments and integration to real-world analog and digital measurements. Multisim 11 Professional helps engineers optimize circuit designs, minimize errors and reduce prototype iterations. When combined with the new NI Ultiboard 11 layout and routing software, Multisim provides engineers a cost-effective, end-to-end prototyping platform. Its integration with NI LabVIEW measurement software also helps engineers define custom analyses to improve design validation. Key benefits of Multisim 11 Academic include simplified digital circuits teaching by exporting raw VHDL from a programmable logic device (PLD) schematic, hands-on electronics experiment guidance with new educator-requested AC single-frequency analysis, correlates simulated data with real-world measurements by integrating with the NI Electronic Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (NI ELVIS) educational prototyping platform. Multisim 11 Professional offers better simulation with SPICE parser improvements, updated BSIM models, support for advanced parameters and enhanced digital simulation accuracy; easier prototyping and ensured design synchronization and transparency with enhanced forward/backward annotation from the Multisim schematic to an Ultiboard layout; and improved design communication with on-page connectors and a new WYSIWYG net naming system. National Instruments, www.ni.com/multisim/upgrade

Power Supply Design Software 

Version 7.1.5 of PI Expert power supply design software. Available now for free download from the Power Integrations website, this revision of the design tool includes improved support for Power Integrations’ HiperPLC controller IC for off-line resonant converters. The software permits the designer to choose from a variety of magnetic core materials and sizes for both for the LLC and PFC stages. The design spreadsheet allows for transformer design optimization for improved efficiency. It accurately calculates the external resistor (REXT) required to reduce no-load consumption in designs using PI’s LinkSwitch-II and LinkSwitch-CV product families in flyback topologies. An expanded Help feature includes traditional Chinese language support. PI Expert is an interactive program that automatically generates the electrical design and selects the critical components required based on a designer’s power supply specifications. It also provides a detailed electrical and mechanical transformer design using PI’s proprietary E-Shield EMI reduction techniques. Optimization choices stressing cost and efficiency are included to help designers target specific needs. The program reduces design time from days to minutes. PI Xls Designer is a hands-on approach to power supply design for advanced users and those who prefer a spreadsheet interface. The tool generates detailed engineering and mechanical designs to assist users in prototyping the transformer. PI Viewer is a tool for viewing design files created with older versions of PI Expert. Power Integrations (Nasdaq:POWI), www.powerint.com/pi-expert.

Industrial Sourcing

IndustrialInterface.com bypasses traditional sales channels and lets engineers instantly and anonymously share design applications with dozens of relevant suppliers. It allows engineers to quickly find multiple solutions for their designs and the right suppliers to provide them. Salespeople who have experience with similar projects and sell exactly what an engineer needs pay to contact the engineer. IndustrialInterface.com has reduced the sourcing process to three steps: an engineer posts the technical requirements of a design application to the Website, sourcing specialists at IndustrialInterface.com use the company’s software to identify and contact dozens of relevant suppliers while the posting engineer remains anonymous, and then salespeople review the details of the application and pay to contact the engineer if they can provide a solution. Engineers can get multiple quotes, find alternative components or suppliers, and even find design solutions when they know little more than the problem they are trying to solve. IndustrialInterface.com, http://industrialinterface.com

OrCAD Expanded with Additional Allegro Technology 

Changes to the part number schema with the new Cadence Design Systems Allegro and OrCAD 16.3 release enhance the breadth of technology available in the OrCAD product family and include performance options that were previously only available as Allegro part numbers. The primary goal in expanding the OrCAD product family is to enhance the customer experience from point of sale through installation and support. By streamlining the purchasing process with the new part numbers, customers can choose a single source for technology, technical support, fulfillment, licensing, and training. With the changes in release 16.3, customers can use a single license file from EMA for installation and updates, eliminating the need to request licenses from both EMA and Cadence. They will also receive hard copy media for all new product releases with one dedicated URL for downloads. Technical support and training for all OrCAD products and the OrCAD products with Allegro functionality are provided.EMA Design Automation, www.ema-eda.com

Subscribe

Join the PennWell SMT Group on LinkedIn

Become a Fan on SMT's Facebook Page

Post your electronics manufacturing, SMT-related material to the #SMT community on Twitter. Use the #SMT hashtag.