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Engineering bureaus are essential to the electronics industry, ensuring high-quality contract work across a wide range of specialties. Altium has partnered with over 800 independent service bureaus over the years, elevating the quality of PCB design. Engineering service companies and contractors using Altium typically provide engineering design services specializing in everything from electrical and mechanical design to signal and power...

In our high-speed design courses, we pass around sample PCBs so that the students can see the physical representation of the things that we describe in class. One question that we are frequently asked relates to thieving and the benefits it delivers. This article describes thieving (sometimes called copper thieving), to what sections of the board it is applied; at what point in the fabrication is it done, how it relates to plating operations; who...

This article looks into the problems associated with noise pick-up when interfacing with remote sensors. An excellent place to begin is with a circuit that many of us will be familiar with but universally renowned as being very poor at dealing with dominant noise sources such as electric field interference. Non-differential op-amp interface In this example, a remote sensor (unearthed) is connected to a single-ended op-amp via a cable.  If we...

For the home hobbyist, protecting their electrical devices usually means keeping the coffee cup or soda can away from anything that carries a large voltage. Good practice indicates that electrical devices should be housed in an enclosure to protect expensive components and reduce the risk of electric shocks from exposed circuitry. However, what do you do if the fantastic new device you’ve designed needs to work in a humid, damp, or dripping wet...

Digital designs fall broadly into two categories: low-speed and high-speed. The category “high speed” does not necessarily mean a high clock rate. Rather, it refers to the rise time of the signal during switching, which leads to propagating wave behavior on long PCB tracks. When a PCB track gets too long, it needs to be designed like a transmission line, not just a simple conductor with DC resistance. Understanding how to design transmission...

Transistors are vital components in power supplies, high-power ICs, and embedded systems, enabling efficient switching in electronics, sensors, and analog systems. To streamline design and ensure proper functionality, access to comprehensive PCB supply chain tools is essential for sourcing and integrating transistor parts seamlessly into your projects. When you use the complete set of PCB design tools in Altium Designer, you can do more than...

Circuit protection is vital for user safety and for protecting a board from electrical damage. Whether you’re working with a small, moderate power PCB or a large, high voltage electromechanical system, power surges or faults can destroy components and create hazards for users. The best way to ensure your next device remains safe from high voltage ESD or large current surges is to use a simple PCB relay. Compared to large relays that need to be...

“Those who get to choose, choose Altium Designer.” - Lawrence Romine, Altium VP of Corporate Marketing In this episode, Lawrence Romine is with us to reveal some exciting news about the new Altium Designer Multi-Plan Subscription Programs. He explains the three components that make up the subscription program and how a designer like you can benefit from each option.  Listen to the Podcast: Download this episode (right click and save) Watch...

It’s easy to find errors in most simple PCBs. Simply scan through your critical nets and trace each copper connection from source to load. Today’s printed circuit boards are not so easy to inspect and validate by eye. Even relatively simple low-speed boards can have hundreds of components packed into a small space, and it’s easy to get lost in a complex PCB layout. Today’s modern designs demand modern design tools. Altium Designer users have...