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PCB Design

Important Features to Consider When You're Comparing PCB Design Software

Important Features to Consider When You're Comparing and Recomparing PCB Design Software Anyone who knows me knows that I hate shopping. This is as true for lab equipment and software as it is for clothes and cars. At my lowest of lows I’ve had meltdowns in the mall, and had to call a cab while my friends were still going strong. Now when I shop, I like to get something as close to perfect for me as possible, so that I don’t have to repeat the experience for a long time. So, if I’m looking for ECAD software, what features and support Read Article

How IBM’s 5 nm Transistors Will Enable Internet of Things Deep Learning and Other Technologies

How IBM’s 5 nm Transistors Will Enable Internet of Things Deep Learning and Other Technologies My great grandmother was born in a time when normal people still used horses and carriages to get around. By the end of her life, she had seen jet airplanes, computers, and spacecraft. Technology in the last century accelerated rapidly, and this century promises more of the same. Moore’s Law has been one measure of the pace of advancement. While many experts have predicted its doom, Moore’s Law stands today. The most recent proof of electronic Read Article

Meet the Baja Racing Team from New Jersey Institute of Technology

Meet the Baja Racing Team from New Jersey Institute of Technology Bob Burghart is a Sophomore who is studying Mechanical Engineering at NJIT, and is the leader of the sub-team responsible for electronics designs for their Baja racing car. In the car, there is a main dash system, a data acquisition board, a display board, and front and rear dongles that connect to 20 sensors. As a kid, Bob had the typical curious mind of a budding engineer--always enjoying taking things apart. By middle and high school he began Read Article

PCB Designer Rick Hartley: Signal Integrity and High Speed Guru

PCB Designer Rick Hartley: Signal Integrity and High Speed Guru Hartley in the early days of PCB design doing mylar tapeups by hand. Judy Warner: Rick, will you start by giving us a brief history of your background, career, and what kind of products you have designed? Rick Hartley: I started life in electronics in 1965 at the age of 20. I was a technician for several years in an R & D department, going to school at night, studying electrical engineering. After a while, I moved to field service, spent a couple Read Article

Advanced PCB Design Solutions Require Short and Long Term EDA Software

Advanced PCB Design Solutions Require Short and Long Term EDA Software My grandfather taught me to always use the right tool for the job. He told me that because I broke one of his screwdrivers while using it as a pry bar. Sorry grandpa. You might not break something by using the wrong apparatus, but you are guaranteed to take too long finishing your work. The same principle applies to PCB design. As boards becoming increasingly complex, designers need more advanced tools to build them. You can try working with the Read Article

Heat sink design basics and PCB heat sink selection

Overview of Heat Sink Design Basics and Principles It’s important for electrical engineers to remember the basics and how they affect our designs. When it comes to thermal management, thermal resistance, and heat sinks, the three main phenomena that drive heat transfer are convection, conduction, and radiation. Heat design strategies for modern PCBs rely on a combination of all three effects, and you should consider a holistic approach to heat management in your PCB. These three fundamental Read Article

How the Repeat SpaceX Dragon Capsule Launch to Space Station Will Change PCB Design

How the Repeat SpaceX Dragon Capsule Launch to Space Station Will Change PCB Design Do you ever look up at the moon and wonder what mysteries lie beyond? Every once in a while, while I’m gawking at the moon, a moving star catches my eye. The International Space Station (ISS) is occasionally visible from Earth and is a constant reminder of humankind’s achievements in space. SpaceX recently added another accomplishment to the list, by resupplying the ISS with a previously used capsule. SpaceX’s advancements in reusable spacecraft Read Article

How the Repeat SpaceX Dragon Capsule Launch to Space Station Will Change PCB Design

How the Repeat SpaceX Dragon Capsule Launch to Space Station Will Change PCB Design Do you ever look up at the moon and wonder what mysteries lie beyond? Every once in awhile, while I’m gawking at the moon, a moving star catches my eye. The International Space Station (ISS) is occasionally visible from Earth and is a constant reminder of humankind’s achievements in space. SpaceX recently added another accomplishment to the list, by resupplying the ISS with a previously used capsule. SpaceX’s advancements in reusable spacecraft Read Article

The Most Important Features for PCB Layout Software Comparison

The Most Important Features for PCB Layout Software Comparison Have you ever gone to a used car dealership and tried to get a good deal on a car? It’s nearly impossible for anyone but a mechanic. When I went I ended up with a choice between two cars that seemed nearly identical to me, except for their price. I picked the cheaper one and took it to a local shop, and found out that I’d chosen a jalopy. Sometimes choosing PCB design software can feel the same way. You use a free program or spend some money on Read Article

How to Design a 4-20mA Current Loop Receiver with Minimal Components

How to Design a 4-20mA Current Loop Receiver with Minimal Components I’ve always been a fan of Gordon Ramsay. He never fails to amaze me with his colorful cursing as raw scallops are continuously served by hapless Hell’s Kitchen contestants. But what really amused me was when he tried his hand at Asian cuisine. The tables were turned, and he learned the hard way that good Asian cuisine is a completely different beast than his usual beef wellingtons. Process Control: Where 4-20mA reign supreme. I had a similar Read Article

Why Increasing Design Complexity Requires the Best Professional PCB Design Software

Why Increasing Design Complexity Requires the Best Professional PCB Design Software Didn’t everything seem so simple when you were a kid? No job to work at, no mortgage to pay, and no kids of your own to wrangle. My main occupation was to run around outside and try not to get too dirty while playing. Now life is certainly better, but also quite a bit more complicated. Similarly, the PCB industry is also growing up and become more convoluted. Gone are the days of large, simple boards. Now everything has to be small, sleek, and Read Article

The Top 3 DFM Problems That Affect Every PCB Design: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites

The Top 3 DFM Problems That Affect Every PCB Design: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites Altium Audio Bites, giving you bite-sized information that's easy to digest and apply to your everyday design tasks. From our PCB Design Tips & Tricks audio series here is: The Top 3 DFM Problems That Affect Every PCB Design. All our audio series are from real PCB designers in the field, detailing their day to day problems and experiences. We hope you can learn from this as much as we have. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the Read Article

How Proper PCB Layout Can Help You Avoid Adding Heat Sinks to Your Design: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites

How Proper PCB Layout Can Help You Avoid Adding Heat Sinks to Your Design: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites Altium Audio Bites, giving you bite-sized information that's easy to digest and apply to your everyday design tasks. From our PCB Design Tips & Tricks audio series here is: How Proper PCB Layout Can Help You Avoid Adding Heat Sinks to Your Design. All our audio series are from real PCB designers in the field, detailing their day to day problems and experiences. We hope you can learn from this as much as we have. Give it a listen and let us know Read Article

5 PCB Design Facts That Your Boss Needs to Know: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites

5 PCB Design Facts That Your Boss Needs to Know: PCB Design Tips & Tricks - Altium Audio Bites Altium Audio Bites, giving you bite-sized information that's easy to digest and apply to your everyday design tasks. From our PCB Design Tips & Tricks audio series here is: 5 PCB Design Facts That Your Boss Needs to Know. All our audio series are from real PCB designers in the field, detailing their day to day problems and experiences. We hope you can learn from this as much as we have. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the Read Article

Should You or Your Manufacturer Specify Every Aspect of PCB Construction?

Should You or Your PCB Contract Manufacturer Specify Every Aspect of Construction? I was finally taking a trip to China; something I had been planning for years. I was about halfway through the flight when all of a sudden, my vacation excitement turned to dread. I realized that back at home, where I am PCB assembling, there might have been a critical board mistake during assembly. I was regretting not specifying that reflow profile. Then again, maybe I was regretting over specifying it? Any mistakes on my board were made days Read Article

15:22 Altium Designer 18 Demo Watch Video

8:26 PCB Design: Tips and Tricks for Rigid-Flex Designs - OnTrack Altium FAE, John Magyar, shows you tips and tricks to bring your Rigid-Flex Designs to life. Learn more about Rigid-Flex and PCB Design tools at https://www.altium.com Learn more about Rigid Flex Circuits here. Watch Video