Practical Steps to Create Embedded Side-Emitting LEDs in a PCB Embedded PCB cavities can be used along the edge of a PCB to provide side access to components, such as LEDs. Read Article How to download and install AD10 when using proxy servers The latest version of Altium Designer® 10 can be installed directly from the Software section of AltiumLive. However, your computer’s network settings, particularly the use of proxy servers, can sometimes cause problems with the install process. Here’s how to find out if you’re likely to have proxy server issues and how to work around them. The latest version of Altium 10 can be installed directly from the Software section of AltiumLive. However Read Article A Cloudy Focus There’s been some discussion on our new Forum about our plans for “all this cloudy stuff”. Some of you have asked why we have this focus. Some have questioned why we’re bothering when we can’t “even fix the so-and-so bug in the so-and-so editor in Altium Designer® ”. I think our response to this is to remind everyone that this is not about the software, but about what you do with it. It’s not about AltiumLive, but how you exploit AltiumLive Read Article Improving support for users - and investing in support AEs Many of you who’ve contacted Altium’s North American support team over the past two years may have noticed some changes. Notably, there were times when it was hard to get a live body on the other end of the phone, although generally once you did the advice you got was solid. For those users who resorted to emailing the team or logging a case through the support center (feel free to continue this practice), the wait time for a response could get Read Article What's in a Name - Component Code Development Part 2 In this blog, I outline how Altium Designers Content Team names printed circuit board (PCB) components, symbols, and footprints. This seems like an eminently boring place to start, but something I’ve noticed is that figuring out a way to name circuit board components in engineering land often makes for an animated discussion. Parametric information about the component is elevated to the row in the cmplib. This gives us the freedom to name the Read Article Creative Use of Flexible Tools A question came up on the forums today asking how to make a design rule in Altium Designer® to check for silkscreen clearance to the board outline. Knowing that there is no direct method to achieve this, I had to get creative. A question came up on the forums today asking how to make a design rule in Altium to check for silkscreen clearance to the board outline. Knowing that there is no direct method to achieve this, I had to take step back and Read Article Component Development best practices - Part 1 During the coming weeks, we’d like to post details about our PCB component development standards, practices and processes. Along the way, I’d like open discussion about how you develop libraries, and where do you see challenges. We’d like to pull everything together into more formal best practices and standards guide. With solder paste, a solder mask, printed circuit assembly, and PCB fabrication, there is so much to consider so let's dig in! Hi Read Article AltiumLive - this time it's personal! Altium product manager Rob Irwin shares some personal thoughts on AltiumLive and its significance to electronics design. As many of you know, Altium recently acquired Morfik, a developer of software tools used to create web applications. On the surface it’s a puzzling match up. Altium makes tools to design and develop electronic devices. Morfik makes tools to develop web stuff. Where’s the synergy? I must confess that at first I was struggling to Read Article All you need to know about AltiumLive An introduction to AltiumLive and the cool new community applications that are available for you to use. AltiumLive is an online extension of your Altium Designer® software for PCB designs. It is a place where you can connect, engage and exchange values and ideas with the broader Altium Designer community. It’s also a mechanism that keeps you up to date with the latest device support, features, updates and online services. AltiumLive Forum The Read Article AltiumLive - FAQs Your AltiumLive questions - answered! The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions, the answers for which are all aimed at getting you up-and-running with AltiumLive. OK, I'll ask it. What is the underlying purpose of AltiumLive? The key objective of AltiumLive, through its Forums, BugCrunch and the recognition program, is community building. We want to have a community that is rich in knowledge and expertise, and full of members who are Read Article Software development streams - the natural evolution of our business The software engineering industry is a bit of an ugly duckling when it comes to release cycles. For reasons of traceability, validation, verification, and marketing, most software packages are built to a certain level of completeness and then released with much fanfare. But is this how we should do things in the future? Software development streams - the natural evolution of our business The embedded software engineering industry is a bit of an Read Article Safeguard designs with source control In this Blog entry I'll show you how to get started with version control by installing the popular and free Subversion version control engine, and setting up Altium Designer® to work with it. In this Blog entry I’ll show you how to get started with version control by installing the popular and free Subversion version control engine, and setting up Altium to work with it. Altium is one of the first electronics design systems to tap into the Read Article Design custom NanoBoard peripheral boards – Pt2 Last month, we discussed how to get started on custom peripheral board designs by building a template from the PB30 reference design. This month, with an example prototype peripheral board in hand, we look at the process of registration using the 1-Wire bus EPROM which holds the board’s identity and allows Altium Designer® to automatically configure FPGA projects that use the new board. Design custom NanoBoard® peripheral boards – Pt2 Part 2 Read Article Design Custom NanoBoard Peripheral Boards If you want to add custom hardware functionality to your NanoBoard®, why not make your own add-on Peripheral Board? This two part Tech Tip details the easy way to create your own custom board to use with Altium Designer®. Part 1: Creating your own peripheral board template In this first installment of this two-part tech-tip, we’ll look at how to go about getting the PCB design under way, starting with the PB30 reference design and modifying it to Read Article Automate Output Job File Processing with PCB Release View in Altium Deisgner There are many ways to peel an orange - so to speak - and some are better than others. And when it comes to generating fabrication and assembly outputs from your designs this adage holds true. In this PCB design tip, FAE Dave Cousineau describes a re-usable, highly effective way of managing output jobs using the PCB design release capability of Altium Designer®. Using Output Job files to define and store the necessary documentation needs for any Read Article PCB Design Environment Migration: How Many Interfaces Does It Take to Complete a PCB Design? Ever find yourself juggling multiple interfaces just to accomplish one singular goal of your PCB design? Learn how easy it can be to design a PCB with a unified design environment in Altium Designer®. That’s a trick question, it only takes one. But for many engineers, designing a PCB often involves learning multiple sets of software just to accomplish one final goal. And even then, there's no guarantee that a multi-tool chain approach will Read Article New Features You’ll Only See in Altium Designer 16 We’ve packed many new features in Altium Designer®, allowing you to get your designs done faster than ever. Check out our top 3, and register now for a free webinar to see them all! It’s that time of the year again, and we’ve got a major update planned for Altium . Our focus has always been on providing you with the most productive and efficient design tool that allows you to tap into your true design potential. This release is no exception to Read Article Pagination First page « First Previous page ‹‹ Page205 Current page206 Page207 Page208 Page209 Page210 Next page ›› Last page Last » Load More