Easy, Powerful, Modern

The world’s most trusted PCB design system.

Learn More

PCB Design

High Frequency SMD Passives

How High Frequency SMD Passives Work in a PCB Layout High frequency capacitors, resistors, and inductors are eventually dominated by parasitics. Here's what data sheets can tell you about these components and how to simulate them. Read Article

Gemini vs. ChatGPT

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Who Writes Better Code? In this article Ari Mahpour performs a one-to-one coding comparison between ChatGPT’s GPT4 model against Gemini Advanced, Google’s most capable model. Read Article

TotM - 02_2024

Why Altium Designer Can Help Design PCBs Intuitively and Intelligently As the complexity of printed circuit boards (PCBs) continues to rise, the demand for cutting-edge tools becomes more critical. Altium Designer merges intuitive design with intelligent functionality to offer a leading solution, focusing on key features like: A cohesive unified design environment and data model; Comprehensive integrated analysis tools; Capabilities for 3D Molded Interconnect Device (MID) design. A Unified Design Environment and Read Article

PCBs, Global Innovation Policy & the CHIPS Act

PCBs, Global Innovation Policy & the CHIPS Act Explore the intersection of Global Innovation Policy and the CHIPS Act with Stephen Ezell, VP of Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), in this insightful episode of the OnTrack Podcast. Hosted by Tech Consultant Zach Peterson, this discussion delves into the complexities of navigating the Chinese market, the principles of comparative advantage, and the critical role of policy in fostering Read Article

Altium at Embedded World 2024

Altium to Unveil Latest Innovations at Embedded World 2024 Discover Altium's latest innovations at Embedded World 2024, Booth 4-305, where industry experts will showcase integrated processes for electronics creation, intelligent component sourcing, and enhanced design productivity. Connect with Altium's ecosystem and shape the future of electronics development. Read Article

Pi.MX8_Chapter_III

Pi.MX8 Project - Board Layout Part 1 Welcome to the third installment of the Pi.MX8 open-source computer module project! In this article series, we delve into the design and testing of a system-on-module based on an i.MX8M plus processor from NXP. In the last update, we looked at the schematic structure of the module and started preparing the preliminary component placement. Now that we’ve placed the components, we have a good idea of the density of the design and the demands this Read Article

Types of Wiring Harnesses for Electronics

Types of Wiring Harnesses for Electronics Multi-board PCBs and many other systems rely on wiring harnesses to make power and signal connections. Here are the types of wiring harnesses you can use. Read Article

Volume in Your First PCB Manufacturing Run

Volume in Your First PCB Manufacturing Run Your first PCB manufacturing run at scale should use the right volume or follow the LRIP concept. Here's what you should use for your first production run. Read Article

3D_MID_image

3D-MID Take the guesswork out of your designs with the 3D-MID design tool in Altium Designer® 24! Immerse yourself in a dynamic design experience, visualizing, and editing your circuits in true 3D for unparalleled precision. In our brand new guide, you can learn about the capabilities and benefits of this feature. In addition, we will show examples of using MID (Mechatronic Integrated Device) technology. Read Article

LAE Part 2

Design Phase – Lid Assembly Electronics Part 2 Welcome back to the Open Source Laptop Project series! So far, we’ve discussed the functionality and component selection of the lid assembly electronics, we’ve taken a closer look at the schematic capture, and we’ve prepared the project for the PCB layout design. In this update, we’ll tackle the PCB design of the webcam board with some expected challenges ahead; e.g., dealing with the overall small form factor of the board or breaking out the Read Article

Altium Designer's New Constraint Manager

Deep Diving Into Altium Designer's New Constraint Manager Learn all about Altium's New Constraint Manager with Andy Critcher, Director at Total Board Solutions, especially the revolutionary design constraint application for multiple nets. Whether tackling high-voltage designs, complex boards, or boosting productivity, this suite of tools promises to streamline workflows for the forward thinking PCB Designer. Read Article

Improved Compliance: Easier Tracking of Regulatory Requirements and Standards

PLM Improves Regulatory Compliance: Easier Tracking of Requirements and Standards Explore product lifecycle management’s (PLM) influence on regulatory requirements and compliance in the PCB manufacturing industry. Read Article

PLM Ensures All Design Documentation is Consistent Across Platforms

PLM Ensures All Design Documentation is Consistent Across Platforms Consistent documentation is a foundational block in a product’s life cycle; how does PCB design PLM help to ensure its continuity at all stages? Read Article

Wifi Enabled Power Supply

Retrofitting your Old Power Supply to be Smartphone Controllable In this article Ari Mahpour talks about how to retrofit an old power supply to be controlled by your smartphone using a Raspberry Pi Pico W Read Article

PCB Industry & Material Science Innovations with Dr. Preeya Kuray

PCB Industry & Material Science Innovations with Dr. Preeya Kuray In this episode of the OnTrack Podcast, we chat with Dr. Preeya Kuray, a renowned material scientist at AGC Multi Materials. Dr. Kuray and Tech Consultant Zach Peterson explore some of the latest developments in the PCB industry, as well as a few material science innovations. Dr. Kuray shares her insights on the evolving landscape of printed circuit boards and the groundbreaking material science developments shaping the future of electronics Read Article

USB Type-C Isolator with Advanced Power Filtering

Eliminating Audio Ground Loops: Designing a USB Type-C Isolator with Advanced Power Filtering In this article, Mark tackles the common problem of buzzing noises caused by ground loops in audio systems. His solution is a custom-designed USB isolator equipped with modern USB Type-C connectors and enhanced with sophisticated power filtering. This device effectively isolates the audio interface from the computer, cutting off the noise. Mark focuses on simple explanations of choosing components like the Analog Devices ADUM4165 IC and power supply details. Read Article

Pi.MX8_Chapter_II

Pi.MX8 Project – Schematic Structure and Component Placement Welcome to the second installment of the Pi.MX8 open-source compute module project! In this article series, we delve into the design and testing of a system-on-module based on an i.MX8M plus processor from NXP. In the previous update, we discussed the motivation behind this project as well as which features our module should have and which components we would like to use to implement them. This time, we will like to focus on the structure of the Read Article