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Streamline, Collaborate, and Innovate with PLM in PCB

Streamline, Collaborate, and Innovate with PLM in PCB Each year that goes by, the electronics industry becomes increasingly saturated; more companies pop up, new products arrive, and behind each and every one lies the humble printed circuit board—the silent powerhouse that allows electrical currents to flow between attached components to bring devices to life. Time-to-market and product complexity are paramount in this burgeoning sector, and PCB engineers are under pressure to streamline their Read Article

Unveiling the Benefits of PLM for Modern PCB Designers

Unveiling the Benefits of PLM for Modern PCB Designers The printed circuit board design field is dynamic. It is constantly leveling up to meet the demands of smaller and more intricate yet more powerful electronics, and while traditional design software remains the cornerstone of this process, a new method to optimize design has emerged: product lifecycle management (PLM). The integration of PLM into businesses’ workflows has given PCB designers access to centralization that drives them towards Read Article

Multi-Board PCB Signal Integrity

Multi-Board PCB Signal Integrity: A Complete Guide Multi-board PCB assemblies must adhere to signal integrity rules and ensure low EMI. These two aspects are intertwined, as explained in this comprehensive guide. Read Article

Pi.MX8_Chapter_V

Pi.MX8 Project - Board Layout Part 3 Welcome to a new installment of the Pi.MX8 open-source computer module project! In this 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 completed the layout preparations. This included creating the impedance profiles, adding the design rules according to the board manufacturer specifications and defining areas where special design rules should apply. We have Read Article

Modern vs. Old School Signal Integrity w/ Donald Telian

Modern vs. Old School Signal Integrity w/ Donald Telian Explore the fascinating evolution of signal integrity in PCB design with industry expert Donald Telian. In this episode of the Altium OnTrack podcast, Donald delves into the differences between modern and old school signal integrity, sharing invaluable insights from his illustrious career. Learn about IBIS modeling, high-speed design, and the critical advancements that have shaped the industry. Listen to the Episode: Watch the Episode: Episode Read Article

When to Use a Standard Stackup in PCB Fabrication

When to Use a Standard Stackup in PCB Fabrication A standard PCB stackup is a convenient option in PCB fabrication, but make sure it conforms to your design requirements before taking this approach. Read Article

Direct Metallization Process for PCB Via Fabrication

Direct Metallization Process for PCB Via Fabrication When vias and plated through-holes are fabricated in a PCB, they require a metal deposition and plating process in order to build up the required copper on the hole wall. Building up the metal film on a via wall is performed with a process known as electroplating, but before this process is performed a primary metallization process is needed to form a seed layer for further deposition. There are primary metallization processes that can be used to Read Article

pcb prototype

Should You Manufacture Your First PCB Prototype Locally? Discover how to protect your intellectual property (IP) when creating PCB prototypes. Learn the pros and cons of local vs. global PCB manufacturing, and get valuable tips on data dissemination protocols to safeguard your design outputs. Make informed decisions to keep your product's IP secure while managing costs effectively. Read Article

Edge Devices and LLMs: What's Ahead for AI

Edge Devices and LLMs: What's Ahead for AI In this episode of the Altium OnTrack podcast, host Tech Consultant Zach Peterson explores the fascinating world of Edge AI and how Large Language Models (LLMs) fit into the picture with Jan Jongboom, co-founder of Edge Impulse. The two discuss the evolution from GPT-2 to GPT-4, the importance of edge computing, and the hardware requirements for running AI on edge devices. Discover how reducing the size of LLMs enables efficient deployment on Read Article

Overcoming Single Source Risks in Medical Device Manufacturing

Overcoming Single Source Risks in Medical Device Manufacturing Medical devices face single-source risks in their supply chains. Procurement managers and electrical engineers can address these risks, but it requires looking throughout the medical electronics supply chain. Read Article

Talking Signal Integrity & PCB Laminates w/ Bert Simonovich

Talking Signal Integrity & PCB Laminates w/ Bert Simonovich Learn about the complexities of dielectric anisotropy and its implications for high-speed PCB designs in this week’s OnTrack podcast episode. Don't miss this engaging and informative discussion. Listen to the Episode: Watch the Episode: Key Takeaways: Learn about the different dielectric constants in PCB materials. Discover how anisotropic properties affect transmission line modeling in PCB LAMINATES. Gain practical knowledge for achieving better Read Article

Navigating Device Safety and Quality in Supply Chain

Navigating Device Safety and Quality in Supply Chain The printed circuit board (PCB) serves as the foundation upon which modern devices manage to function—it plays a critical role in electronics. From smartphones and laptops to lifesaving medical equipment and industrial control systems, PCBs direct the flow of electrons to enable the functionality that society increasingly depends upon. However, with increased power and capability comes additional safety and quality considerations, and these Read Article

ATmega328P Essentials: Getting Started Without Arduino

ATmega328P Essentials: Getting Started Without Arduino I’ve been using the Arduino Uno board for quite some time, including as examples for many of my articles. I’ve always wondered what it would take to get the ATmega328P (the original chip used on the older Uno boards) working completely on its own. With the Arduino making it so accessible via its bootloader, nice GUI software, and C++ abstraction, you’d wonder why on earth I would want to even attempt this. Sometimes, in order to appreciate what Read Article

Getting Started With DevOps for Embedded Systems Using the ATmega328P

Getting Started With DevOps for Embedded Systems Using the ATmega328P DevOps and Agile methodologies have transformed software development by emphasizing collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement. Applying DevOps principles to my designs and projects has been a game-changer, enhancing efficiency and reliability. In this article, we’re going to walk through setting up a continuous integration (CI) workflow for an existing embedded systems project that uses the ATmega328P microcontroller. By the end of Read Article

Embedded Systems Architecture: When Your Product Has Multiple PCBs

Embedded Systems Architecture: When Your Product Has Multiple PCBs Embedded systems are ubiquitous in today's technology-driven world. Be it an internet-connected shaver or a complex automobile, embedded devices are at the heart of most electronic devices that we use today. Comprised of one or many microprocessors, embedded systems can simplify electronics by offloading complexity to be handled by software.. As embedded devices become larger and more complex so do the printed circuit boards (PCBs). Quite often Read Article

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How Multi-Board Design Tools Can Transform Your Electronics Projects

How Multi-Board Design Tools Can Transform Your Electronics Projects Multi board PCB design tools give Electronics engineers new capabilities and enable unique product designs. Read Article