Altium Designer Evaluation Guide for OrCAD® Users

Created: February 9, 2018
Updated: March 20, 2020

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Transformer Theory Made Simple

Transformer Theory Made Simple Transformers used for 50/60 Hz power conversion must be physically larger than those used in wall-warts. Read this article and you will understand why. Read Article

Countersink and Counterbore Ergonomics and convenience are important issues when designing a printed circuit board and the device as a whole. A lot of Altium Designer tools are aimed at solving them. These include Countersink and Counterbore holes, which allow the use of various types of screws in the mounting holes of the board. Quick overview In most cases, printed circuit boards require mounting holes. Holes with countersink and counterbore allow using different types of Download PDF

How to Use Testpoints on a PCB Design in Altium Designer

How to Use Test Points on PCB | Altium Designer Maybe it’s because of the old memories of pop quizzes in grade school, but it seems like no one really likes the idea of “testing”. Just as the school children in “A Christmas Story” reacted badly to having to write a theme, people all over the world usually react just as negatively to the idea of taking a test. And yet, if you are going to be a circuit board designer, you are going to have to learn how to use a PCB test point. The good news is Read Article

What is a Gerber file?

What Is A Gerber File or Release and How Are They Used in the PCB Fabrication Process? Do you know what is a Gerber file? We've compiled the essential information you need to understand everything about Gerber files and their role in PCB fabrication. Read Article

Series Termination Resistance Calculation

Series Termination Resistor Calculation You might need to determine the right series termination resistance value for this type of circuit With transmission lines, some things never seem to be simple. Determining the termination technique and the values of components in a termination network shouldn’t be a difficult task. Most PCB design programs force you to look online for calculators, or you’ll have to run the calculations by hand. Instead, your design software should make it easy Read Article

Power plane return path

Power Plane and Ground Planes: Should You Use Your PCB Power Plane as a Return Path? Power planes (sometimes called a power layer) and ground planes are important for more than just distribution of supplying power. When defining reference planes, both with impedance controlled routing and in managing return paths, your stackup might force return currents to pass into a PCB power plane before being coupled back to a ground layer. Even though you define a GND reference layer as a the basis for your impedance-controlled trace width Read Article

PCB test points

Is It Printed or a Component? All About PCB Test Points A PCB test point can be a simple pad in the PCB layout, or it can be a specific component where you can connect a probe. Read Article

Backplane Routing Topology

Backplane Routing Topology for Gigabit Copper and Fiber Networks Backplanes are the backbone of modular computing platforms, providing a fabric that interlinks pluggable daughtercards in a single system. The design of backplanes must support interfaces on the daughtercards, often at high data rates reaching multiple Gbps. Some standards also specify system design requirements that support RF or fiber integration into these systems. The RF and fiber portion is normally integrated through a specialized connector Read Article

RF PCB Layout and Routing

The Digital Engineer's Guide to RF PCB Design Guidelines: Layout and Routing Read our guide to learn some of the best RF PCB design guidelines for layout and routing. We’ll also look at how simulation tools can help you evaluate your RF PCB layout. Read Article

PCB plating

How to Choose Board Plating and Thickness for Your PCB Ever wondered what surface plating you should use? We've compiled important data on PCB plating. Read Article

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