Altium Designer Quick Start Tutorial Blog Part 2

 

Introduction

In the previous part of this Altium Designer Quick Start Tutorial, we covered the basics of setting up the software, creating a new project, and familiarizing ourselves with the user interface. Now, it's time to dive deeper into the powerful features of Altium Designer and explore the design process for printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Creating a New Schematic

Before we can design a PCB, we need to create a schematic that represents the electronic circuit. A schematic is a graphical representation of the components and their interconnections. Follow these steps to create a new schematic:

1. Go to the "File" menu and select "New" > "Project" > "Schematic."
2. Choose a suitable location to save your project and provide a name for the schematic.
3. Select the desired schematic template or start with a blank schematic.
4. The schematic editor window will open, presenting you with a canvas to begin designing your circuit.

Adding Components

To add components to your schematic, follow these steps:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and choose "Component."
2. In the "Components" panel, search for the desired component or browse through the available libraries.
3. Double-click or drag and drop the component onto the schematic canvas.
4. Repeat this process to add all the necessary components for your circuit.

Connecting Components

After placing the components, you need to connect them appropriately. Follow these steps to make connections:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and select "Wire."
2. Click on the start point (a component pin or an existing wire) and drag the wire to the desired endpoint.
3. Release the mouse button to complete the connection.
4. Repeat this process to make all the necessary connections between components.

Adding Labels and Annotations

To improve the readability and clarity of your schematic, you can add labels and annotations. Here's how:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and choose "Label" or "Text."
2. Click on the schematic canvas where you want to place the label or annotation.
3. Enter the desired text and press "Enter" to confirm.

Checking for Errors

Before proceeding to the PCB design phase, it's essential to check your schematic for errors. Altium Designer provides powerful tools for electrical rule checking (ERC) and design rule checking (DRC). Follow these steps to perform these checks:

1. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "ERC" or "DRC."
2. Choose the appropriate rule set or create a custom rule set.
3. Click "Run" to initiate the check.
4. Review the reported errors or warnings and make the necessary corrections in your schematic.

Creating a PCB

Once your schematic is complete and error-free, you can move on to the PCB design phase. Follow these steps to create a PCB layout:

1. Go to the "Design" menu and select "PCB Editor."
2. Choose the appropriate board layer setup (e.g., 2-layer, 4-layer, etc.) based on your requirements.
3. The PCB editor window will open, displaying a blank canvas for your board layout.

Importing the Schematic

To import your schematic into the PCB editor, follow these steps:

1. Go to the "File" menu and select "Import" > "Import Schematic."
2. Navigate to your schematic file and click "Open."
3. Your schematic components and connections will be imported into the PCB editor.

Placing Components

After importing the schematic, you need to place the components on the board. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and choose "Components."
2. Select the desired component from the list and click on the PCB canvas to place it.
3. Repeat this process for all components, or use the "Auto Place" feature for automatic component placement.

Routing Traces

Once the components are placed, you can start routing the traces (copper connections) between them. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the "Route" menu and select "Interactive Routing."
2. Click on the start point (a component pin or an existing trace) and drag the route to the desired endpoint.
3. Release the mouse button to complete the trace.
4. Repeat this process to route all the necessary connections between components.

Adding Copper Pours

Copper pours are solid copper areas on a PCB layer that serve as ground planes or power planes. Follow these steps to add copper pours:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and choose "Copper Pour."
2. Select the desired layer for the copper pour.
3. Click and drag on the PCB canvas to define the area for the copper pour.
4. Release the mouse button to create the copper pour.

Adding Vias

Vias are plated-through holes that electrically connect different layers of a PCB. Follow these steps to add vias:

1. Go to the "Place" menu and select "Via."
2. Click on the PCB canvas where you want to place the via.
3. Repeat this process to add more vias as needed.

Checking Design Rules

Similar to the schematic phase, it's crucial to check your PCB layout for design rule violations. Altium Designer provides a comprehensive set of design rules to ensure the manufacturability and reliability of your PCB. Follow these steps to perform a design rule check:

1. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "DRC."
2. Choose the appropriate rule set or create a custom rule set.
3. Click "Run" to initiate the check.
4. Review the reported errors or warnings and make the necessary corrections in your PCB layout.

Creating Output Files

After completing your PCB design and ensuring it adheres to the design rules, you can generate output files for manufacturing. Altium Designer supports various output formats, including Gerber files, drill files, and pick-and-place files. Follow these steps to create output files:

1. Go to the "File" menu and select "Fabrication Outputs" > "Gerber Files."
2. Choose the desired output options and layers.
3. Provide a filename and location for the output files.
4. Click "OK" to generate the Gerber files.
5. Repeat the process for other output files, such as drill files or pick-and-place files, as needed.

FAQs

1. Q: How do I add a new component library to Altium Designer? A: To add a new component library, go to the "Libraries" panel, right-click on "Libraries," and select "Install Libraries." Then, navigate to the desired library file and follow the prompts to install it.
2. Q: How can I create custom design rules in Altium Designer? A: To create custom design rules, go to the "Tools" menu, select "Design Rules," and click on the "Add Rule" button. You can then define the rule parameters based on your specific requirements.
3. Q: How do I export my PCB design to a different file format? A: Altium Designer supports various file formats for export. To export your PCB design, go to the "File" menu, select "Export," and choose the desired file format (e.g., IPC-D-356, ODB++, or PDF).
4. Q: How can I ensure my PCB design is suitable for manufacturing? A: To ensure your PCB design is suitable for manufacturing, perform thorough design rule checks and generate the necessary output files (Gerber files, drill files, etc.). Additionally, you can send your design files to a PCB manufacturer for a design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis.
5. Q: Can Altium Designer simulate my circuit design? A: Yes, Altium Designer offers various simulation tools, including mixed-signal circuit simulation, signal integrity analysis, and power integrity analysis. These tools allow you to verify the functionality and performance of your design before committing to manufacturing.

Conclusion

In this second part of the Altium Designer Quick Start Tutorial, we covered the essential steps for creating schematics, designing PCBs, checking design rules, and generating output files for manufacturing. Altium Designer is a powerful and comprehensive tool that streamlines the entire PCB design process. With its user-friendly interface and extensive feature set, you can create reliable and high-quality PCB designs for a wide range of applications.

Remember to practice regularly and explore the various tools and features offered by Altium Designer to enhance your PCB design skills further. Additionally, don't hesitate to refer to the software's documentation, online resources, and user communities for more in-depth information and guidance.

Happy designing!