PCB design software helps engineers create printed circuit board layouts from circuit schematics and prepare designs for manufacturing. Different tools offer different levels of routing, layout control, component management, design checking, and manufacturing support.
PCB Design Software Options
Some commonly used PCB design tools include:
- Altium Designer: Provides schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, component management, design checks, and manufacturing documentation.
- Cadence OrCAD X: Supports schematic design, PCB layout, routing, simulation, and design verification.
- Siemens Xpedition: Designed for complex PCB development with advanced layout, routing, collaboration, and manufacturing capabilities.
- Autodesk Fusion Electronics: Combines schematic capture and PCB layout with broader mechanical and product-design workflows.
- KiCad: An open-source PCB design platform offering schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, libraries, and manufacturing output.
- EAGLE: Provides schematic and PCB layout tools with component libraries and board-design capabilities.
Routing
Routing determines how electrical connections are created between components on the board. Engineers should compare:
- Manual routing
- Interactive routing
- Automatic routing
- Differential-pair routing
- High-speed routing
- Length matching
- Via management
- Routing constraints
These features become especially important for complex and high-speed boards.
Layout
PCB layout controls where components and electrical connections are placed on the board. Important features include:
- Component placement
- Multiple board layers
- Copper areas
- Ground planes
- 3D board views
- Layer management
- Design-rule constraints
- Mechanical dimensions
A good layout workflow helps engineers manage board space while meeting electrical and mechanical requirements.
Component Libraries
Component libraries provide symbols and footprints needed to build a PCB design. Engineers should check:
- Symbol libraries
- PCB footprints
- 3D models
- Custom component creation
- Library management
- Component search
- Manufacturer information
Accurate component data helps reduce design and manufacturing errors.
Design Checks
Design-checking features help identify problems before the PCB is manufactured. Useful capabilities include:
- Design Rule Check (DRC)
- Electrical Rule Check (ERC)
- Clearance checking
- Connectivity checking
- Signal-integrity analysis
- Manufacturing-rule checking
- 3D collision checking
These checks can help identify problems early in the design process.
Manufacturing Support
Manufacturing support helps convert the completed PCB design into production-ready files. Engineers should compare support for:
- Gerber files
- Drill files
- Pick-and-place files
- Bill of materials
- Assembly drawings
- Fabrication documentation
- PCB manufacturer integration
What Engineers Should Compare
When comparing PCB design software, consider:
- Routing: Interactive routing, differential pairs, length matching, vias, and high-speed design.
- Layout: Component placement, multilayer boards, copper areas, 3D views, and constraints.
- Component libraries: Symbols, footprints, 3D models, custom parts, and library management.
- Design checks: DRC, ERC, clearance checks, signal integrity, and manufacturing rules.
- Manufacturing support: Gerber, drill, BOM, pick-and-place, and assembly files.
- Workflow: Schematic-to-PCB integration, collaboration, version control, and project management.
Conclusion
PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence OrCAD X, Siemens Xpedition, Autodesk Fusion Electronics, KiCad, and EAGLE support different levels of circuit-board development. Engineers should compare routing, layout, component libraries, design checks, manufacturing support, and overall workflow based on the complexity and production requirements of their PCB projects.