The Constraints are then evaluated for each object returned by the queries. For anyone new to the query system in Altium, I recommend reading this article on the Altium Wiki. By default, the query is simply “All” which means that the design rule is applied to every object in the design. In the case of the electrical clearance rule, two queries are executed: one to pick the first copper feature, and the next to pick the second.
#Altium pcb design how to
Highlight that rule in the tree view on the left side of the editor to show the details of the constraint.Īltium decides how to apply design rules by evaluating one or more queries. That rule is captured under Electrical -> Clearance. Let’s go back to the example earlier in this post that defines a minimum separation between copper features. Expanding a category shows the individual rules that can be modified for each. The Design Rules are divided up into several different categories, like Electrical, Routing, Signal Integrity, etc. The editor window will look like the following: Then, open the PCB Rules and Constraints Editor by clicking Design -> Rules… To get an idea of the range of design rules available within the Altium PCB Editor, open an existing design or start a new PCB project. Luckily this is a straightforward process in Altium, and we’ve developed some best practices that you can use to get going quickly. The standard rules that have been developed cover a large chunk of the playing field, but the designer of any reasonably complex board will need to refine these default rules to match the application. The downside is that there isn’t a single set of design rules that can play nicely with every PCB design. As a result, tools like Altium are made to be as flexible as possible. The range of possible applications for a printed circuit board is amazingly broad. Depending on the user’s preferences, errors can either be reported in the background or prevented in real-time. As the designer places and routes components, Altium will check the board against this rule set. An example rule might be that the minimum distance between two copper board features (like a trace and the annular ring of a via) must not be closer than 5 mils (5 thousandths of an inch). In the context of PCB design, Design Rules are a set of requirements, restrictions, and constraints that the board must meet in order to be considered a valid design. The most fundamental of these safeguards are the Design Rules.
#Altium pcb design software
Luckily, many modern software tools provide safeguards to catch critical mistakes before they’re sent out to your favorite PCB fabricator. Because we currently don't support Altium Designer Winter 09, we will send the generated Gerber files to you for final approval before starting manufacturing.Unfortunately, none of them apply to PCB design.ĭesigning and developing printed circuit boards can be an unforgiving process: placing a critical analog line just a few millimeters closer to a noisy clock line might be the difference between a functional widget and an expensive drink coaster. prjpcb files, please ensure they contain only a single. We can convert your Protel 99SE and DXP, and Altium Designer 6, Summer 08 and Winter 09 PCB design files to Gerbers. Uploading your Altium Files for Manufacture Transferring data back and forth between external routing tools is a thing of the past. and route high-speed tracks with automatic impedance control and length tuning.Īnd when the critical routes are done, Altium Designer finishes the job with its in-built topological auto-routing engine.Īt all stages of routing you work directly in the PCB editor.automatically remove redundant trace segments,.The advanced interactive routing modes are at your fingertips, and under strict rules control. Any PCB level changes are automatically reflected in the schematics - complete design synchronization as soon as you click 'Save'Īltium Designer intelligently routes that path for you just move the mouse over the path you want a track to follow.You can use the schematic structure to drive the creation of component placement rooms, preserving the logical structure in the source files.You can generate component and net classes automatically, based on the schematic's hierarchy.With Altium Designer's unified data model, your PCB remains in synchronization with the source schematics at all times.
#Altium pcb design full
View and edit the PCB design in full 3D with a single click of the mouse. There is no need to export to a separate application or to recreate your board in an external 3D application. With Altium Designer, design boards of any complexity and instantly see the board, the loaded components and sub-assemblies directly within the PCB editor.