Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1381013
40 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2021 ing that components like capacitors and resis- tors would be consistent. Once the schematic accuracy was verified, it was then given to the PCB designer. With schematic in hand, designers would grab their trusty component booklet and begin placing components—just like stickers—on a Mylar sheet with the aid of a light box. Even if boards of that era were comparatively much simpler than the ones we produce today, designing a PCB required a lot of painstaking effort. It was not unlike fighting the Gorn. The Next Generation As PCs—specifically UNIX workstations— became readily available tools for PCB design- ers in the 1980s, CAD tools changed every- thing. While Picard's Next Generation Enter- prise had more lights, gizmos, and even a pet robot for their adventures, PCB designers began doing more with fewer tools. ey shed their draing tables and T-squares in favor of CAD soware and a whole new set of skills. CAD soware evolved quickly and changed a lot over the course of Star Trek: e Next Generation's run on TV. At first, Data stood there repeating the word processing while he analyzed information, but by the time the gang was traveling through time to battle the Borg on the big screen, Data could process data quickly and silently. In that same time frame, PC capa- bilities grew by leaps and bounds—developing the ability to make the computations required by 3D CAD tools and access larger component libraries via the internet. PCB designers could do more using CAD soware, but they also had to know more and be able to work with a more complex decision tree during the design process. The Expanded Universe Today, keeping track of all the different Star Trek shows, movies, books, and podcasts is overwhelming to even the most rabid Trek- kie. e same can be said for choosing the right CAD tool for your design. Do you pay for some- thing with a larger feature set such as OrCAD or Altium or choose to rely on free or "simple" electronic design automation (EDA) tools? We suggest sticking with the basics like they did in the original show. You don't want a complex matrix of bells and whistles when a lever that moves in two directions will do. And choosing a soware with more functionality than you'll ever need can be confusing, like the new Picard series. Look for tools that will: • Be easy to learn • Have an intuitive user interface (UI) • Possess features key to your design needs • Include access to an expansive parts library • Be in widespread use • Generate Gerber files usable by most manufacturers • Integrate smoothly with your manufacturing process We believe this is the best way for designers on a continuing mission to improve quality, increase functionality, and fuel the innovative devices of tomorrow. DESIGN007 Matt Stevenson is the VP of sales and marketing at Sunstone Circuits. To read past columns or contact Stevenson, click here.