ECAD MCAD Capabilities For Today’s Most Demanding Designs

 

Introduction

Electronic and mechanical design have converged, requiring tight integration of ECAD and MCAD tools. Today’s products involve complex PCBs and electronic components embedded into sophisticated mechanical assemblies. Engineers need advanced ECAD/MCAD capabilities to efficiently design these multi-disciplinary systems. This article explores key features and technologies which enable engineers to keep pace with the rising complexity and compressed timescales of cutting-edge product development.

Top ECAD Capabilities

Electronic CAD tools have evolved with tomorrow’s complex PCB and IC designs in mind. Here are top capabilities to meet demanding ECAD needs:

Advanced PCB Design and Analysis

• High density multi-layer PCB with DDR4, PCIe Gen 4, and HDMI 2.1 support
• Integrated signal and power integrity analysis
• Thermal analysis for temperature prediction
• Board level EMI/EMC analysis
• DFM checks and visualization during layout
• Gerber and IPC netlist outputs

FPGA, IC and HDL Design

• FPGA synthesis and optimized place and route
• Tight integration with HDL design flow
• Advanced verification features like static timing analysis
• High-speed signal analysis at chip and package level
• DRC, LVS, power analysis for ICs
• Multi-mode/multi-corner analyses

Advanced Library Management

• Unified library for schematic symbols, PCB footprints, and 3D models
• Automated library part creation wizards
• Custom library generation and part editor
• Lifecycle controls for revision and variant management
• ECAD/MCAD collaboration features

Systems Design and Verification

• Co-simulation of analog, digital, software, and mechanical
• Executable system models integrating behavioral models
• Automated testbench creation for verification
• Assertions, code coverage metrics
• Links to requirement management systems

Team Collaboration Features

• Real-time multi-user collaboration
• Revision control, release management
• Automated change propagation across domains
• Task management, signoffs, permissions
• Data exchange with MCAD, enterprise systems
• Remote access, mobile support

These advanced ECAD capabilities allow organizations to keep pace with the latest high-speed interfaces, multi-layer boards, FPGA/IC complexity, and the need to rapidly verify at the system level.

Top MCAD Capabilities

Complementing these ECAD solutions, today’s MCAD tools also provide cutting-edge functionality:

Advanced Modeling Environments

• Hybrid modeling with both B-rep and NURBS geometry
• Large assembly handling 100,000+ parts
• Multi-CAD data translation and simplification
• Modeling automation through API, macros, rules

Simulation and Optimization

• Integrated FEA, CFD, and multi-physics
• Topology, shape, and generative design optimization
• Model simplification tools for analysis
• Probabilistic analysis and DOE studies
• Fast results on cloud HPC resources

Manufacturing and Tooling Design

• Detailed design for manufacturability checks
• NC programming for multi-axis machining
• Tooling design for jigs, fixtures, molding
• Factory layout planning capabilities
• Robot programming simulation

Model Based Definition (MBD)

• MBD compliant 3D model annotations
• PMI integration with drawing standards
• Automated drawing creation from 3D models
• Model based GD&T and stack-up analysis
• Close integration with model-based enterprise (MBE)

Team Collaboration

• Multi-CAD data management
• Automated BOM creation
• Change management, revision control
• Release workflows, integration with ERP
• Online sharing for visualization, commenting
• Mobile access

These MCAD capabilities enable organizations to integrate detailed mechanical design earlier for systems-driven product development, conduct advanced engineering analysis, and connect to downstream manufacturing processes.

Driving ECAD MCAD Convergence

With both ECAD and MCAD providing sophisticated toolsets, focus has shifted to tightly integrating cross-domain workflows. Some key technologies driving this convergence include:

Co-Design Environments

Integrated environments allow joint development of electrical and mechanical elements:

• Unified user interface access to ECAD and MCAD tools
• Cross-probing between electrical schematics and 3D mechanical models
• Single environment executables replacing interfacing data files
• Change management and revision control across domains
• Modeling interaction behavior between electrical and mechanical components

Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

MBSE allows cross-functional teams to jointly develop systems models:

• Multi-discipline modeling languages (SysML, Modelica, etc)
• Behavior models to simulate system functionality
• Requirements integration and verification
• Automated generation of analysis models from system model
• Simulation model libraries reusable across projects

Model Based Enterprise (MBE)

MBE extends digital models downstream to manufacturing:

• MBE compliant modeling with PMI, GD&T, annotations
• Automated generation of manufacturing deliverables from models
• Seamless data integration across engineering, manufacturing, quality
• Closed loop with metrology data to validate as-built vs. as-designed
• Drive manufacturing equipment directly from engineering models

Cloud Platforms

Cloud-based tools remove data silos and location barriers:

• Centralized data on cloud for multi-team real-time access
• Flexible computing resources for simulation, analysis, rendering
• Globally distributed teams can securely collaborate
• Scalable solutions keep pace with business growth
• Integration with other cloud services – PLM, ERP, CRM, SCM

Data Management and Analytics

Sophisticated data management enables new insights:

• Unified data management across MCAD, ECAD, enterprise systems
• Analytics reveal trends and performance metrics
• Traceability across full product lifecycle
• Integration with IoT data from smart, connected products
• Foundation for AI/ML applications like predictive engineering

These emerging technologies are instrumental in enabling the integrated workflows, information access, and collaboration essential for multi-disciplinary smart product development.

Using ECAD MCAD to Drive Innovation

Equipped with cutting-edge ECAD and MCAD capabilities, engineers can meet the extreme complexities of today’s smart, connected products. These tools help accelerate innovation and deliver high-quality designs optimized for performance, quality, and downstream manufacturability.

Enable Rapid Design Iterations

Advanced modeling and analysis reduces guesswork and avoids physical prototyping iterations. Engineers can rapidly evolve designs digitally to explore tradeoffs. Changes cascade across linked models reducing rework.

Increase First-Time Quality

By simulating, optimizing, and virtually verifying designs upfront, costly errors late in process are avoided. Integration across domains ensures continuity between electrical, mechanical, and embedded software elements.

Compress Development Timescales

Concurrent cross-discipline collaboration during design shortens development lead times. Automation, knowledge re-use, and cloud access accelerates the design process. Models speed downstream manufacturing planning.

Design Without Limits

High-end capabilities remove tool limitations allowing engineers to focus creativity on innovation. Teams can design high-density boards, complex ICs, sophisticated mechanisms, and highly optimized structures.

Enable “Design Anywhere” Culture

Cloud-based tools with enterprise integration lower barriers for distributed multi-site teams to collaborate on designs anytime, anywhere. Borderless collaboration enables 24/7 engineering.

ECAD and MCAD solutions continue advancing to handle rising complexity across industries like automotive, aerospace, mobile computing. By leveraging these technologies, engineering organizations can confidently take on their most demanding multi-discipline design projects and accelerate into the future.

Conclusion and Key Recommendations

• Adopt ECAD and MCAD platforms with advanced modeling, analysis and collaboration capabilities
• Seek co-design environments uniting electrical and mechanical workflows
• Leverage MBSE for integrated multi-discipline system modeling
• Implement MBE for model-based product lifecycle management
• Utilize cloud platforms to link distributed teams and data
• Drive design innovation with state-of-the-art toolsets

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of integrated ECAD and MCAD solutions?

Key benefits include:

• Improved multi-discipline collaboration during design
• Tighter integration between electrical and mechanical domains
• Higher quality designs with fewer errors and changes
• Faster innovation cycles with rapid design iteration
• Downstream manufacturability designed-in earlier
• Better handling of design complexity and scale
• More flexibility for globally distributed teams

What new technologies are driving ECAD and MCAD convergence?

• Co-design environments unifying ECAD and MCAD workflows
• Model based systems engineering (MBSE) methodology
• Model based enterprise (MBE) strategy connecting design to manufacturing
• Cloud-based tools removing data silos and location barriers
• Advanced data management and analytics capabilities

What capabilities are most important for PCB design today?

Critical PCB capabilities are:

• High speed design with latest signal protocols
• Multi-layer stackups with high pin counts
• Integrated signal and power integrity analysis
• Thermal modeling for temperature prediction
• DFM checks during layout
• FPGA/IC integration and co-simulation
• Revision control and enterprise connectivity

How can MCAD solutions drive manufacturing and production?

MCAD enables manufacturing-ready designs via:

• Detailed design, GD&T, and PMI for MBD
• Automated generation of drawings, BOMs, tooling specs direct from models
• Simulation of machining, fabrication, ergonomics, factory layouts
• Coordinating with PLM, MES, and ERP systems
• Enabling zero-defect manufacturing philosophies

How can organizations migrate towards model-based engineering?

Recommended steps:

• Assess current toolset gaps vs model-based needs
• Define a long term model-based strategy with timeline
• Start deploying supporting technologies like PLM, MBSE, MBE in phases
• Introduce model-based practices into specific programs first before broad rollout
• Develop workflows, standards, and training to support adoption
• Show measurable improvements and wins as foundation for enterprise adoption