Altium Designer - Revision history

Ivc: /* Changes to default preferences */

2016-11-05T12:16:05Z

Changes to default preferences

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:16, 5 November 2016
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	The following is a list of my own changes, and for my own reference, of changes I make to the default installation of Altium:		The following is a list of my own changes, and for my own reference, of changes I make to the default installation of Altium:

	* System -> General -> "Reopen Last Workspace: Uncheck"
	* PCB Editor -> Display -> "Antialiasing Quality: 2x" - For better graphics representation in 2D and 3D		* PCB Editor -> Display -> "Antialiasing Quality: 2x" - For better graphics representation in 2D and 3D

Ivc: /* Supplier part data automatically in schematic */

2016-11-05T12:10:39Z

Supplier part data automatically in schematic

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:10, 5 November 2016
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	# Select the right part or from multiple suppliers, and add it to the list, click Ok and you are done - you can right-click the header to add more columns to the list, e.g. stock and RoHS status		# Select the right part or from multiple suppliers, and add it to the list, click Ok and you are done - you can right-click the header to add more columns to the list, e.g. stock and RoHS status
	# Go to Reports -> Bill of Materials and scroll down the list until the Supplier* fields appear, click visible on e.g. the Supplier part number and Supplier pricing - the pricing is fetched live from the supplier (not from Altium)!		# Go to Reports -> Bill of Materials and scroll down the list until the Supplier* fields appear, click visible on e.g. the Supplier part number and Supplier pricing - the pricing is fetched live from the supplier (not from Altium)!

			== Changes to default preferences ==

			The following is a list of my own changes, and for my own reference, of changes I make to the default installation of Altium:

			* System -> General -> "Reopen Last Workspace: Uncheck"
			* PCB Editor -> Display -> "Antialiasing Quality: 2x" - For better graphics representation in 2D and 3D

	== References ==		== References ==

Ivc at 22:58, 22 October 2015

2015-10-22T22:58:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 22 October 2015
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	* [http://cladlab.com/electronics/general/altium/altium-tricks-and-standards#gallery Alitum tricks and standards]		* [http://cladlab.com/electronics/general/altium/altium-tricks-and-standards#gallery Alitum tricks and standards]
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator PCB reference designators]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator PCB reference designators]
			* [http://frontdoor.biz/HowToPCB/HowToPCB-Data.html How to PCB] - Detailed list of important design phases

Ivc at 19:53, 22 October 2015

2015-10-22T19:53:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:53, 22 October 2015
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	* Selecting menu Design -> Layer Stack Manager		* Selecting menu Design -> Layer Stack Manager
	* On the diagram of the PCB section cut, double ~~clock~~ the Core marker		* On the diagram of the PCB section cut, double-click the Core marker
	* In the dialog box, change Thickness to 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.6 or 2.0 (or any other value)		* In the dialog box, change Thickness to 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.6 or 2.0 (or any other value)

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	=== Fabrication files ===		=== Fabrication files ===
	* To get standard Gerber manufacturing files, open the PCB and select File, Fabrication Output and Gerber files (install the plugins if necessary)		==== Gerber files ====
	* Select Format 2:5, ~~clock~~ Plot Layers and Used on, deselect Paste, Mechanical, and Pad Master layers and enable the GKO Board Outline layer when sending to a PCB manufacturer		* To get standard Gerber manufacturing files, open the PCB and select File, Fabrication Output and Gerber X2 files (install the plugins if necessary)
			* Select Format 2:5, click Plot Layers and Used on, deselect Paste, Mechanical, and Pad Master layers and enable the GKO Board Outline layer when sending to a PCB manufacturer
	* Click OK and get the Gerber files		* Click OK and get the Gerber files
	* Then for the drill files, go to File, Fabrication Output and NC Drill files		* Then for the drill files, go to File, Fabrication Output and NC Drill files
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	* Go to the project Output folder and select the required files, zip them up and send to fabricator		* Go to the project Output folder and select the required files, zip them up and send to fabricator
	** Normally include the a short PCB fab note txt, .GBL, .GBO, .GBS, .GKO, .GTL, .GTO, .GTS, .RUL, .TXT and a .png 3D render of the 3D view - filename e.g. fpv_light_strip_rev3-seeedstudio.zip		** Normally include the a short PCB fab note txt, .GBL, .GBO, .GBS, .GKO, .GTL, .GTO, .GTS, .RUL, .TXT and a .png 3D render of the 3D view - filename e.g. fpv_light_strip_rev3-seeedstudio.zip

			==== IPC-D-356 netlist ====
			Including the netlist from your design reduces the risk that the PCB fabricator accidentally prepares your board with the wrong setup (the Gerber and Drill files are not used directly on the machines but manipulated to fit the fabricators machining tolerances and properties).

			* Export the PCB design to Gerber and NC Drill files, go to the generated CAMtastic1.Cam file tab
			* Import the NC Drill file using File -> Import -> Drill and pick the generated *.TXT file in the project Output folder
			* Delete all layers in the CAMtastic panel except the copper layers and drill holes, i.e. keep .GTL, .GBL, and *.TXT layers
			** A dialog box will open to confirm the new layer order, the default values are good and click Ok on both
			* Now, extract the netlist using Tools -> Netlist -> Extract and the Nets tab in the CAMtastic panel will be populated, click on the nets to highlight the different copper traces
			* Export the IPC-D-356 netlist by selecting File -> Export -> IPC-D-350, define the output folder and click Ok

	== Multiple board design ==		== Multiple board design ==

Ivc: /* Transfer design */

2015-10-21T16:55:10Z

Transfer design

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 21 October 2015
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	=== Transfer design ===		=== Transfer design ===
			==== Import schematic to PCB ====
	* Compile the schematic in the Project menu and watch the System, Messages window for error messages, double-click the line to focus on the fault		* Compile the schematic in the Project menu and watch the System, Messages window for error messages, double-click the line to focus on the fault
	* In the schematic, select the Design menu and Update PCB to transfer the design		* In the schematic, select the Design menu and Update PCB to transfer the design
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	* Change the name and designator to match the schematic symbol, i.e. pin 1 in the symbol should be pin 1 on footprint		* Change the name and designator to match the schematic symbol, i.e. pin 1 in the symbol should be pin 1 on footprint
	* Save and switch over to the footprint manager to change to the new footprint/make sure the pin designators has been updated		* Save and switch over to the footprint manager to change to the new footprint/make sure the pin designators has been updated

			==== Remove rooms from import ====
			By default Altium adds rooms to the PCB even if you don't use them in the schematic.

			* Open menu Project -> Project Options -> ECO Generation
			* Select Add Rooms and then choose Ignore Differences from the drop-down menu on the right
			* Open Design -> Rules -> Placement -> Room Definition and remove any rooms defined

	=== Routing board ===		=== Routing board ===

Ivc: /* Import graphics and logos */

2015-10-21T16:48:22Z

Import graphics and logos

@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 * In the PCB Inspector switch layer to Top Overlayer or Bottom Overlay
 * To flip or mirror the design, mark the design, Edit, Select and Flip selection
 === Board shape ===

Ivc at 15:44, 21 October 2015

2015-10-21T15:44:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:44, 21 October 2015
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	* Make the changes to the symbol and save it		* Make the changes to the symbol and save it
	* To use the new symbol, open the Schematic and place a new component, select your own SchLib file to view the list of all the components		* To use the new symbol, open the Schematic and place a new component, select your own SchLib file to view the list of all the components

			For designators, check [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator this PCB reference designators] list.

	=== Edit footprint ===		=== Edit footprint ===
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	== References ==		== References ==
	* [http://cladlab.com/electronics/general/altium/altium-tricks-and-standards#gallery Alitum tricks and standards]		* [http://cladlab.com/electronics/general/altium/altium-tricks-and-standards#gallery Alitum tricks and standards]
			* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator PCB reference designators]

Ivc: /* Board shape */

2015-10-21T13:51:40Z

Board shape

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 21 October 2015
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	If you already have the lines in the Keep-out layer positioned:		If you already have the lines in the Keep-out layer positioned:
	* Select all with ctrl+a and select Design, Board Shape, Redefine From Selected		* Select all with ctrl+a and select Design, Board Shape, Redefine From Selected
			Press 3 to view the final PCB design in 3D rendered perspective. Press 2 to go back to 2D.

	=== Fabrication files ===		=== Fabrication files ===

Ivc: /* Board shape */

2015-10-21T13:51:03Z

Board shape

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 21 October 2015
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	=== Board shape ===		=== Board shape ===
	~~Either~~:		If no board outline has been define before:
	* Select Design, Board Shape, Redefine Board Shape and click on the 4 corners to outline the board size		* Select Design, Board Shape, Redefine Board Shape and click on the 4 corners to outline the board size
	* Then select Create Primitives From Board Shape, 4mil width, put the board outline on the Keep-out layer (Gerber friendly, GKO file)		* Then select Create Primitives From Board Shape, 4mil width, put the board outline on the Keep-out layer (Gerber friendly, GKO file)

Ivc: /* Make PCB footprint */

2015-10-21T13:50:07Z

Make PCB footprint

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:50, 21 October 2015
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	* In Tools, pick IPC Compliant Footprint Wizard to make common SMD footprints or Component Wizard for all other kinds		* In Tools, pick IPC Compliant Footprint Wizard to make common SMD footprints or Component Wizard for all other kinds
	* The footprint is added to your current open PCB library		* The footprint is added to your current open PCB library

			If the component has a non-standard/IPC footprint, make a custom footprint:
			* Duplicate one of the other footprints which looks like the new footprint you need
			* Rename the footprint and start editing the pads, silkscreen and 3D bodies
			** Use the X and Y values from the datasheet to manipulate the X and Y properities for each pad in the component
			** Define the pin numbers for each pad, if there are multiple pads with the same net use the same pin number for every pad in the net

	=== Create component overview layout ===		=== Create component overview layout ===