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Design Outputs

PCB Design Outputs & Documentation

Make sure your manufacturer understands your design intent with complete and accurate design outputs. Browse our library of resources on documenting your PCB design to ensure defect-free manufacturing with high yield. Topics covered include creating your bill of materials, generating manufacturing data, and file formats.

Overview of PCB Design Output Files Generating Gerber Files Push to Manufacturing with Altium 365 Project Release
PCB Design Output Files Overview of PCB Design Output Files Make sure you know which PCB design output files your fabricator and assembler need to ensure they can build your PCBA. Read Article
The Main Advantages when using Draftsman to Create an Order Form When manufacturing a PCB, it is not enough to provide the manufacturer with layout, drilling data and drawings alone. The manufacturer requires an order form that contains all of the basic parameters of your PCB. Use of a Draftsman document brings an elegant, yet powerful solution for creating such a form quickly and easily. Everything you need for creating your order form - including PCB parameters, drilling and impedance tables, and PCB stackup Download PDF
The Main Advantages when using Draftsman to Create an Assembly Drawing Automation of manufacturing processes has dramatically simplified the fabrication and assembly of electronic products. However, it is almost impossible to assemble a PCB without a drawing. A manufacturer will definitely require an assembly drawing. Use of a Draftsman document brings an elegant, yet powerful solution when creating the drawings you need for assembly. Draftsman has been designed for creating documentation specifically for PCBs. Its Download PDF
The Main Advantages when using Draftsman to Create a Fabrication Drawing It is pretty difficult to make a modern PCB without a drawing. The more accurate and detailed the drawing, the fewer questions your manufacturer will need to ask. Also, it is more likely that the product will fully meet your requirements and expectations. Use of a Draftsman document brings an elegant, yet powerful solution when creating the drawings you need for manufacturing. Add layout views, a drill table, an impedance table, a layer stack Download PDF
The Main Advantages when using Draftsman to Create a Component Mounting Drawing Quite often, a standard assembly drawing is not enough to ensure the quality of a PCB assembly, especially when designing high-density boards. It would also be helpful to include additional detailing for simpler devices. Manufacturing and inspection services also need a clear understanding of which components are being used in a design and where those parts are located. Use of a Draftsman document brings an elegant, yet powerful solution to make Download PDF
PCB fabrication notes Decoding PCB Fabrication Notes Your PCB fabrication notes contain important information that ensures your board can be manufactured exactly as you intend. See what you should include and what these mean. Read Article
PCB manufacturing impedance control PCB Manufacturing and Impedance Control: How to Specify Your Requirements PCB manufacturing houses can easily accommodate impedance control requirements as long as you can specify requirements clearly. Here’s what to tell your fabricator. Read Article
Complete Guide to PCB Aging Test Methods Complete Guide to PCB Aging Test Methods A finished PCBA that will be deployed in the field should pass several tests to ensure reliability and stable operation. Industry standards specify multiple testing methodologies, performance requirements, evaluation metrics, even test fixtures that must be used to assess electrical behavior, thermal cycling resistance, long-term thermal stability, ability to withstand thermal shock, and much more. With Altium Designer, you’ll have a complete Read Article
altium outjob files Altium OutJob Files vs. Project Release: What's the Difference? Altium OutJob files provide an easy way to create, export, and organize your PCB fabrication files. Now when you need to share your data through the cloud, you have other options. Read Article
Gerber file formats Your Guide to Gerber File Extensions in PCB Design Gerber files come with multiple extensions but in only two common file formats. You can learn more about Gerber file extensions in this article. Read Article
Taking a Modular PCB Design Approach in Altium Designer PCB design is rarely discussed in terms of designing functional blocks or as connecting modules with different functionality. Simple designs can usually be designed without considering how your PCB layout affects the operation and interaction between multiple functional blocks in your board. With more complex designs, you’ll need to consider more than just the high-level overview of your board when you are designing a complex system. Modular PCB Read Article
Sourcing Military PCB Components in a Unified Design Environment Sourcing Military PCB Components in a Unified Design Environment Whether you are a procurement officer for the military, a prime contractor, or a defense subcontractor, you’ll face a number of obstacles when sourcing components for electronic defense systems. Given the component shortages and potential for counterfeiting in the components market, military PCB components cannot be procured from just any company. Any component for a military electronic system must meet rigorous quality standards and be traceable Read Article
Power Electronics for Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries in Altium Designer Power Electronics for Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries in Altium Designer Power electronics encompasses a massive list of systems that make modern life possible. From automotive systems to power distribution systems, power electronics are responsible for controlling and managing the flow of power throughout an electrical system. With alternative energy systems bound to become more popular in the future, engineers and designers need the right PCB design software for power electronics systems. Design software for power Read Article
Connectors Benefit from Compatible ECAD/MCAD Tools Modeling and Placing Connectors Within Altium Designer ALTIUM DESIGNER The most powerful, modern, and easy-to-use PCB design tool for professional use. I/O use connectors for PCB system integration In this guide to PCB connectors, we’ll take a look at connectors within electrical systems, how they benefit from ECAD/MCAD tools, and optimal design specifics like appropriate cable connectors or gold fingers gold plating. Connectors abound on printed circuit assemblies given integrated electrical Read Article
How to Keep Your 3D PCB Models Current with Data Management Tools How to Keep Your 3D PCB Models Current with Data Management Tools Any component includes a significant amount of design data. This includes electrical models, 3D component models, and PCB supplier information. Your PCB design software should be allowed to take this data and integrate it with your MCAD tools. This allows you to create 3D body models from your PCB footprints and integrate them into a data library. Ensuring that this data stays up to date takes a data management platform that operates directly Read Article
ESD Grounding Requirements in Your Next PCB ESD Grounding Requirements in Your Next PCB Any PCB that will be deployed in an environment surrounded by high voltage equipment or power sources is at risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Static electricity can also discharge directly into a board and ruin sensitive electronic components if a board is handled without a wrist strap. This induces a transient voltage in the PCB, which can cause damage to sensitive components. In extreme cases, such as lightning strikes or major power Read Article
Designing Your PCB for Transient Voltage Suppression Designing Your PCB for Transient Voltage Suppression PCBs in aircraft, near high voltage equipment, and with a weak grounding strategy are at serious risk of damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD). When ESD occurs, a huge spike of current propagates through your board, causing damage to components and thermally sensitive components. There are a number of ways to protect your board from ESD. In addition to implementing the right grounding strategy, choosing the right components for suppressing Read Article