Bil Herd on Changing CAD Tools and Making Your Own Part Libraries

Get familiar with the Altium 365 browser-based interface, from registering an Altium Account and signing in to accessing your Personal Space and available Workspaces. This article introduces the interface’s main navigation areas, account controls, and ways to switch between Workspaces, with details on supported sign-in methods and administrator-controlled authentication. Keep reading to navigate…

Altium MCAD CoDesigner connects electrical and mechanical design teams, allowing engineers to exchange PCB and component data through a shared Altium Workspace while working independently. This article provides concise overviews of improvements included in subsequent updates to CoDesigner and provides compatibility details for supported ECAD and MCAD software, along with guidance on checking…

Control who can create Workspaces and save or share design files across your organization’s Altium 365 platform. This article explains how administrators can use the Altium Company Dashboard’s Advanced Controls to apply company-wide restrictions, limit Personal Space capabilities to administrators or a specific group, and reduce the risk of inadvertent file sharing or external exposure. Keep…

Learn how Group Administrators can use the Altium Company Dashboard to view and manage their organization’s Altium 365 Workspaces. This article explains the information displayed on each Workspace tile, the available management controls, and what happens when a Workspace is deactivated. Keep reading to manage your company’s Workspaces with greater confidence. - Find Workspace details, including…

What does the end of SOLIDWORKS PCB and SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector mean for your designs and workflow? This FAQ explains the end-of-life timeline, addresses file compatibility and migration questions, and outlines the options for moving to Altium Designer and Altium MCAD CoDesigner. Keep reading to understand your options and take your next step with confidence. - Learn how end-of-life affects…

Explore how Altium MCAD CoDesigner connects electronic and mechanical design through video tutorials covering setup, design transfers, and collaboration. From shaping PCBs and importing enclosures to editing rigid-flex boards and fixing component models, this collection demonstrates practical workflows for exchanging designs between Altium Designer and MCAD tools. Keep reading to find the…

Explore how Altium MCAD CoDesigner synchronizes harness designs between ECAD and MCAD, from using ECAD layout data to generate an initial physical model to transferring harness element lengths back to ECAD. This advanced guide explains key differences between SOLIDWORKS and Creo, the objects included in synchronization, and the modeling requirements and limitations that shape the exchange. Keep…

Learn how Altium MCAD CoDesigner synchronizes harness designs between Altium Designer and supported versions of PTC Creo and SOLIDWORKS. This article explains how connectivity, connectors, splices, and wire and cable properties transfer to MCAD for 3D routing, and how physical lengths return to the ECAD Harness Layout Drawing. It also covers software requirements, property settings, and connector…

Learn how Altium MCAD CoDesigner synchronizes a multi-board assembly between ECAD and MCAD so electrical and mechanical engineers can review PCB placement and enclosure fit. This article covers software and Workspace requirements, transferring individual boards, linking assemblies, and sharing PCB positions, orientations, and enclosure geometry. Keep reading to follow the workflow and bring your…

Synchronizing a rigid-flex PCB between ECAD and MCAD requires careful attention to board geometry, bend definitions, and platform compatibility. This article explains how Altium MCAD CoDesigner transfers standard and advanced rigid-flex designs, how flexible regions are represented as MCAD sheet-metal parts, and which board outline and bending requirements must be met for synchronization. Keep…