Difference between revisions of "Altium Designer"
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(Created page with "Altium Designer is an advanced schematic and PCB design software. == New project == * Add a new PCB group by in the File menu === New Schematic === * Create a schematic and add...") |
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Altium Designer is an advanced schematic and PCB design software. | Altium Designer is an advanced schematic and PCB design software. | ||
== Libraries == | |||
* Add the following libraries to get a good base to start from - edit the symbols or footprints to fit your need | |||
* Libraries: | |||
** [http://lc-sdr.googlecode.com/svn-history/r36/trunk/libs/Miscellaneous%20Devices.IntLib Miscellaneous Devices] and [http://lc-sdr.googlecode.com/svn-history/r36/trunk/libs/Miscellaneous%20Connectors.IntLib Miscellaneous Connectors] | |||
** [http://wiki.altium.com/display/ADOH/Download+Libraries Altium 10 libraries] - all major manufacturers covered | |||
** [http://www.opencircuits.com/SFE_Footprint_Library SparkFun Altium PCB Library] - selection of common parts | |||
** [http://www.siliconvalleygarage.com/downloads/vh_altium_library.intLib siliconvalleygarage.com] - good selection | |||
== New project == | == New project == |
Revision as of 12:46, 19 June 2013
Altium Designer is an advanced schematic and PCB design software.
Libraries
- Add the following libraries to get a good base to start from - edit the symbols or footprints to fit your need
- Libraries:
- Miscellaneous Devices and Miscellaneous Connectors
- Altium 10 libraries - all major manufacturers covered
- SparkFun Altium PCB Library - selection of common parts
- siliconvalleygarage.com - good selection
New project
- Add a new PCB group by in the File menu
New Schematic
- Create a schematic and add it to the PCB group by dragging it in the Projects panel
- Save the board in a new project folder
New PCB
- Create a new PCB board using the PCB Wizard on the Files panel and drag the PCB into the PCB group in the Projects panel
- Right-click the sheet and select Options, Board Options and uncheck Display Sheet
- Add the necessary design rules before transferring the schematic, i.e. thicker power traces for power nets
- Save the board in the same folder as the schematic
Edit schematic symbols
- Create a new Schematic Library to collect the new symbols, save it to a common location
- Open the other Integrated Library or Schematic Library and in the Project panel pick the SchLib file
- Switch over to the SCH Library panel to view all the symbol drawings
- In Tools, select Copy component to save it to your own Schematic Library from the list
- 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
Edit footprint
- Create a new PCB Library for the new footprints
- Open the other PCB Library with the footprint you want to edit and pick it from the Projects panel
- Switch to the PCB Library panel to view all the footprints, pick the right one
- In Edit, pick Copy Component to copy the entire footprint
- Switch over to your own PCB Library in the Projects panel, the PCB Library, and right-click in the Components list to Paste 1 Components to the library
- Edit the footprint and save it for later use
Make generic footprint
- Open your PCB Library and switch over to PCB Library panel
- In Tools, pick IPC Compliant Footprint Wizard to make common SMD footprints or Component Wizard for all other kinds
- The footprint is automatically added to your current open PCB library
Define footprints
- In the schematic, select Footprint manager in the Tools menu
- Go through the list to by clicking Add and Browse to pick the correct footprint for each component
Transfer design
- 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
- Click Validate Changes and Execute Changes, watch for errors after the transfer has been performed
- All the components footprints will now be placed besides the PCB board outline ready to be placed and routed
Routing board
- Place the components in a favorable way with common components grouped close together to minimize trace length
- Use Interactive Routing from the Place menu to lay the traces
- It might be useful to perform a Autoroute to check if there is problems or better ways to place the components, undo the autoroute