Introduction to ACD and Altium Designer

ACD (Advanced Circuits Division) has recently implemented Altium Designer 10, a powerful electronic design automation (EDA) tool, to streamline its PCB design and manufacturing processes. This move is expected to significantly enhance ACD’s capabilities in delivering high-quality, innovative electronic solutions to its clients across various industries.

What is ACD?

ACD, or Advanced Circuits Division, is a leading provider of printed circuit board (PCB) design, fabrication, and assembly services. With state-of-the-art facilities and a team of experienced professionals, ACD caters to a wide range of industries, including:

• Aerospace and Defense
• Automotive
• Medical Devices
• Industrial Automation
• Consumer Electronics
• Telecommunications

ACD’s commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction has made it a trusted partner for businesses seeking end-to-end PCB solutions.

What is Altium Designer?

Altium Designer is a comprehensive PCB design software that offers a unified platform for schematic capture, PCB layout, and design collaboration. It is widely used by electronic engineers and PCB designers worldwide due to its advanced features, user-friendly interface, and seamless integration with manufacturing processes.

Key features of Altium Designer include:

• Schematic capture and PCB layout tools
• 3D PCB visualization and clearance checking
• Design rule checking (DRC) and electrical rule checking (ERC)
• High-speed design and signal integrity analysis
• MCAD integration and collaboration
• Version control and design data management

With the implementation of Altium Designer 10, ACD aims to leverage these features to enhance its PCB design capabilities and deliver superior solutions to its customers.

Benefits of Implementing Altium Designer 10 at ACD

The decision to implement Altium Designer 10 at ACD is driven by the numerous benefits it offers to the company and its clients. Some of the key advantages include:

1. Enhanced Design Efficiency

Altium Designer 10 provides a streamlined and intuitive design environment that enables ACD’s engineers to create complex PCB designs more efficiently. The software’s unified platform allows for seamless integration between schematic capture and PCB layout, reducing the time and effort required to complete a design.

2. Improved Design Quality

With advanced features like design rule checking (DRC) and electrical rule checking (ERC), Altium Designer 10 helps ACD maintain the highest standards of design quality. These tools automatically detect and flag potential issues, such as component placement errors, signal integrity problems, and manufacturing constraints, ensuring that designs are error-free and ready for production.

3. Faster Time-to-Market

By streamlining the PCB design process and reducing the occurrence of errors, Altium Designer 10 enables ACD to deliver finished products to its clients in shorter timeframes. This faster time-to-market allows businesses to stay ahead of the competition and capitalize on new opportunities more effectively.

4. Seamless Collaboration

Altium Designer 10 offers powerful collaboration features that enable ACD’s team members to work together seamlessly, regardless of their location. The software’s version control and design data management capabilities ensure that all stakeholders have access to the latest design files and can contribute to the project without conflicts or data loss.

5. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

By leveraging the capabilities of Altium Designer 10, ACD can deliver higher-quality PCB designs that meet or exceed customer expectations. The software’s 3D visualization and MCAD integration features allow for better communication with clients, ensuring that their requirements are accurately captured and implemented in the final product.

Implementation Process

The implementation of Altium Designer 10 at ACD involved a well-structured process to ensure a smooth transition and maximum benefit realization. The key steps in the implementation process were:

1. Training and Skill Development
2. ACD provided comprehensive training to its PCB design team to familiarize them with the features and functionality of Altium Designer 10.

3. Experienced Altium users within the organization were identified as champions to support the adoption process and provide guidance to their peers.

4. Pilot Projects

5. ACD selected a few pilot projects to test the capabilities of Altium Designer 10 in real-world scenarios.

6. These projects allowed the team to identify any potential issues or challenges and develop best practices for future implementations.

7. Design Process Integration

8. ACD reviewed and updated its existing PCB design processes to integrate Altium Designer 10 seamlessly.

9. This involved creating new design templates, libraries, and workflows that leveraged the software’s features and capabilities.

10. Collaboration and Data Management

11. ACD established clear guidelines and protocols for design collaboration and data management using Altium Designer 10’s version control and project management features.

12. This ensured that all team members could work together effectively and maintain the integrity of design files throughout the project lifecycle.

13. Continuous Improvement

14. ACD implemented a feedback loop to gather insights and suggestions from its PCB design team regarding the use of Altium Designer 10.
15. This feedback was used to identify areas for improvement, optimize design processes, and provide additional training or support where needed.

Case Studies

To demonstrate the impact of implementing Altium Designer 10, ACD has shared a few case studies highlighting the benefits realized by its clients:

1. Medical Device Manufacturer

• Challenge: A medical device manufacturer required a complex, high-density PCB design for a new patient monitoring system. The design needed to meet strict regulatory requirements and be completed within a tight deadline.
• Solution: ACD utilized Altium Designer 10’s advanced PCB layout tools and design rule checking features to create a compact, high-quality design that met all regulatory requirements. The 3D visualization capabilities allowed for better communication with the client, ensuring that their expectations were met.
• Result: The medical device manufacturer was able to bring their new product to market on time, with a reliable and high-performing PCB at its core. ACD’s use of Altium Designer 10 contributed to a 20% reduction in design time and a 15% decrease in design errors compared to previous projects.

2. Automotive Electronics Supplier

• Challenge: An automotive electronics supplier needed to update the PCB design for a critical component in their vehicle infotainment system. The new design required the integration of high-speed interfaces and strict adherence to automotive industry standards.
• Solution: ACD leveraged Altium Designer 10’s high-speed design and signal integrity analysis tools to create a robust PCB design that met the required specifications. The software’s MCAD integration features allowed for seamless collaboration with the supplier’s mechanical engineering team.
• Result: The updated PCB design provided improved performance and reliability for the vehicle infotainment system. ACD’s use of Altium Designer 10 helped reduce the overall project timeline by 25% and ensured that the design met all relevant automotive industry standards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Q: What is the learning curve for ACD’s engineers to adapt to Altium Designer 10?
   A: While Altium Designer 10 offers a user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve involved in mastering its advanced features. However, ACD has provided comprehensive training and support to its engineers to ensure a smooth transition. Most engineers become proficient with the software within a few weeks of regular use.

2. Q: How does Altium Designer 10 compare to other PCB design software in terms of features and capabilities?
   A: Altium Designer 10 is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and powerful PCB design software solutions available. It offers a wide range of features and capabilities that rival or exceed those of its competitors, such as advanced PCB layout tools, 3D visualization, and high-speed design analysis.

3. Q: Will ACD’s adoption of Altium Designer 10 impact the pricing of its services?
   A: No, ACD’s adoption of Altium Designer 10 will not directly impact the pricing of its services. The company views this implementation as an investment in improving its design capabilities and delivering greater value to its clients. Any cost savings achieved through increased efficiency will be passed on to clients in the form of competitive pricing and faster turnaround times.

4. Q: How does Altium Designer 10 support collaboration between ACD and its clients?
   A: Altium Designer 10 offers several features that facilitate collaboration between ACD and its clients. The software’s 3D visualization capabilities allow for better communication of design concepts and requirements. Additionally, Altium Designer 10’s version control and design data management features ensure that all stakeholders have access to the latest design files and can provide feedback or input as needed.

5. Q: Will ACD’s existing PCB designs be compatible with Altium Designer 10?
   A: Yes, ACD will be able to import and work with its existing PCB designs in Altium Designer 10. The software supports a wide range of design file formats, making it easy to migrate existing projects. However, some legacy designs may require minor adjustments to take full advantage of Altium Designer 10’s features and capabilities.

Conclusion

The implementation of Altium Designer 10 at ACD marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative PCB solutions to its clients. By leveraging the software’s advanced features and capabilities, ACD can streamline its design processes, improve design quality, and accelerate time-to-market.

As demonstrated by the case studies, the adoption of Altium Designer 10 has already yielded tangible benefits for ACD’s clients, including reduced design time, fewer errors, and improved product performance. As ACD continues to refine its design processes and exploit the full potential of Altium Designer 10, it is well-positioned to strengthen its position as a leader in the PCB design and manufacturing industry.

Looking ahead, ACD remains committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in PCB design and manufacturing. The company will continue to invest in its people, processes, and tools to ensure that it can meet the evolving needs of its clients and deliver the highest level of service and quality.