Newsletters

Thermal Management Part 2: Sizing a Component Heatsink and Datasheets In this episode, Chris Carlson shows how to properly size a heatsink for a component. An expert in PCB design, Chris is a wealth of information for the novice and experts in PCB design. Get the most effective information on PCB design and Electronic Design Automation. Links to the Datasheets: Voltage Regulator Datasheet Thermal interface (sil Pad) by Berrgquist Heatsink Datasheet If you find this video interesting, please like and share with your Watch Video

Global PCB Designers and Innovators: OnTrack Newsletter October 2017

Global PCB Designers and Innovators: OnTrack Newsletter October 2017 On Track Newsletter October 2017 VOL. 1 No 7 Welcome to the October 2017 issue of Altium’s On Track Newsletter. This month we celebrate a few unique engineers and designers from our global user community. The first is Omer Mahgoub from South Africa who is designing boards for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The SKA will be the world’s largest radio telescope ever built, spanning two continents and providing unprecedented views of space. Next Read Article

7:34 Thermal Management Part 1: Thermal Resistance Concept In this episode, Chris Carlson gives an overview of thermal management as it relates to PCB design. An expert in PCB design, Chris is a wealth of information for the novice and experts in PCB design. Get the most effective information on PCB design and Electronic Design Automation. If you find this video interesting, please like and share with your fellow PCB designers or let us know if you have any questions in the comments. Let us know if you Watch Video

Solar Cars of the Future Pioneered by Midnight Sun Solar Design Team

Solar Cars of the Future Pioneered by Midnight Sun Solar Engineering and Design Team Since the 1988-1989 academic year the University of Waterloo’s Midnight Sun solar team, under the guidance of faculty advisor Professor Gordon Savage, has been building and competing in the American Solar Challenge ( ASC) and the World Solar Challenge ( WSC). Each of these competitions are held alternately every other year. Running the helm of the electrical systems team are Minghou Ji (Engineering Manager), Yifei Li (Hardware Engineer) and Read Article

Omer Mahgoub from Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Africa and PCB Design for Astronomy

Omer Mahgoub from Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Africa and PCB Design for Astronomy Judy Warner: Omer, will you please share what the SKA is, what countries are involved, and what purpose it serves? Omer Mahgoub: The SKA (Square Kilometre Array) is an international effort to build the world's largest radio telescope, with a total collecting area of 1 square kilometer and located on two continents (Africa and Australia). Organizations from 10 countries are members of the SKA: Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand Read Article

Keep Learning, Tackling 3D and Making and Hacking! OnTrack Newsletter September 2017

Keep Learning, Tackling 3D and Making and Hacking! OnTrack Newsletter September 2017 On Track Newsletter September 2017 VOL. 1 No 6 Welcome to the September edition of Altium’s On Track Newsletter. This month PCB designer extraordinaire, Susy Webb, shares her tireless passion and continual pursuit of excellence in Design Like a Girl. In the On Track video series, John Magyar illustrates why 3D is a truly powerful tool and not just a gimmick for designers. Lastly, we take a peek inside the wild and wonderful world of makers and Read Article

3D PCB Design: A Gimmick or Feature? John Magyar, an expert in complex PCBs, explains 3D features in PCB design software that help to resolve common problems earlier in the design process. What if routine placement issues could be discovered early? Welcome to the future of PCB design. You can now export a full 3D assembly and that's no gimmick! Learn more about working in 3D PCB design tools here: https://www.altium.com Watch Video

PCB Design Tools at Maker Faire Open Source Hardware Summit

PCB Design Tools at Maker Faire Open Source Hardware Summit In response to a grassroots swell of “makers”, Maker Media launched the first Maker Faire in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006. By 2014 over 215,000 attendees flocked to their two flagship events in New York city and San Francisco. Over the years, these large events spawned Featured Maker Faires, Mini-Maker Faires and School Maker Faires all around the world. If you’ve not heard of or been to a Maker Faire, I think their website describes it Read Article

Susy Webb On Self-guided Learning, Success and PCB Design Conferences

Susy Webb On Self-guided Learning, Success and PCB Design Conferences Judy Warner: Susy, tell us about where you work and what kind of PCBs you design? Susy Webb: I work for Fairfield Nodal in Houston, which makes oil exploration and monitoring equipment for land and ocean environments. The devices we make are spread out in an area and pick up energy waves that are sent down into the earth and return. Those energy waves can be interpreted and give an idea if there may be oil deposits in the earth in a given area Read Article

Where Will the Next Generation of PCB Designers Come From? OnTrack Newsletter August 2017

Where Will the Next Generation of PCB Designers Come From? OnTrack Newsletter August 2017 On Track Newsletter August 2017 VOL. 1 No 5 Welcome to the August edition of Altium’s On Track Newsletter. It seems like every electronics industry event where PCB designers gather, the conversation inevitably drifts to questions about where the next generation of PCB designers are going to come from. The old guard is retiring, yet their replacements don’t appear to be filling the vacancies they leave behind. From my perspective, I see many ways Read Article

Expert PCB Design Advice from the Pros: OnTrack Newsletter July 2017

Expert PCB Design Advice from the Pros: OnTrack Newsletter July 2017 On Track Newsletter July 2017 VOL. 1 No 4 Welcome to the July edition of Altium’s On Track newsletter. In Rock Stars and Superheroes we continue with part two of our conversation with signal integrity guru Rick Hartley, who shares some timeless wisdom for today’s EE and PCB designer. In Maker Space, you will enjoy learning about team Badgerloop from the University of Wisconsin. These undergrad underdogs are just weeks away from their 2nd SpaceX Read Article

Learn from the Master of Signal Integrity: OnTrack Newsletter June 2017

Learn from the Master of Signal Integrity: OnTrack Newsletter June 2017 On Track Newsletter June 2017 VOL. 1 No 3 If the PCB design galaxy had Jedi knights, Rick Hartley would be the Obi-Wan Kenobi of signal integrity. In this month’s edition of Altium’s On Track newsletter, you will have the unique privilege to hear first-hand about Hartley’s failures and triumphs throughout his design career. Next month, in part two of this interview, he will share a few of his “Jedi mind tricks” and offer some advice for today’s Read Article

PCB Design, Robotics, and Video Tips: OnTrack Newsletter May 2017

PCB Design, Robotics, and Video Tips: OnTrack Newsletter May 2017 On Track Newsletter May 2017 VOL. 1 No 2 Welcome to the second edition of the Altium On Track newsletter. This month we feature a very special PCB designer, Cherie Litson, who is a CID and CID+ Master Trainer. We also take you inside the FIRST Robotics Competition and Team Mechanical Mayhem 1519. We’ve also launched a new monthly On Track educational video series which offers design tips and tricks. As usual, there’s plenty of Brain Food and a Read Article

PCB Design Process: The EDA Design Approach - OnTrack In this episode, Chris Carlson gives an overview of the process flow of PCB design. An expert in PCB design, Chris discusses the toolchain a product needs to go through during development. What are the limitations of typical processes and is there a better way? Get the most effective information on PCB design and Electronic Design Automation. If you find this video interesting, please like and share with your fellow PCB designers. Read the Watch Video

AltiumLive 2017: ANNUAL PCB DESIGN SUMMIT

AltiumLive 2017: ANNUAL PCB DESIGN SUMMIT Rarely does a PCB design conference come along that is focused wholly on training content designed to make YOU a more knowledgeable and effective designer. That’s why Altium decided to create one--fully centered on designers...and presented by expert PCB designers. This Fall, AltiumLive 2017: Annual PCB Design Summit is coming to North America and Europe. We will host a 2-day PCB design conference like no other. You will hear from industry Read Article

Impressive Next Gen PCB Designer Nicole Pacino

Impressive Next Gen PCB Designer Nicole Pacino Mike Creeden, Founder of San Diego PCB, with his daughter Nicole Pacino With the median age of today’s PCB being 48 years old, it’s always refreshing and encouraging to see a young sprout up amongst the design community ranks. One such young is Nicole Pacino of San Diego PCB. Nicole is the daughter of Mike Creeden, founder of San Diego PCB, who is also an IPC Master Trainer and IPC ’s Council executive board member. As you can imagine, Nicole was Read Article

5:40 On Track: Get Up To Speed: Automotive Projects + PCB Designers Watch Video