64 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2024
acceptable level of user support. CAD
tools funded and developed by PCB
manufacturers are built to work with their
manufacturing process, so make sure their
capabilities match your design require-
ments not just their capabilities. Com-
mercial packages can become expensive
quickly, so pay attention to the limits
placed on products with multiple tiers of
pricing to be sure important features are
not locked behind an expensive paywall.
•
•
•
Component libraries: A typical designer
might need a library of about 10,000 parts.
When looking at the library offered by a
CAD tool, confirm that the requisite parts
are available. Look for commonly used
parts and check if the tool comes with
access to specialized libraries required for
the project.
Ease of use: CAD tools should be intui-
tive and easy to use. Ease of use is an area
where less expensive, open-source so-
ware tends to lag behind. If price is an
important factor in the decision-making
process, the result can be a balancing act
between price and usability.
Help and documentation: Ensure that the
CAD tool provider offers user support
early in the process. CAD tool soware
providers should make their documenta-
tion available online; quality documenta-
tion can be a huge help to designers who
need questions answered in a hurry.
e most important part about picking a
CAD tool, though, is that it shouldn't make
designing too much of a chore. You want
designing to be productive and efficient, and
in the end, maybe that's the most important
element to evaluate when you're trying out dif-
ferent tools.
Ready for 2024
As we move into 2024, I look forward to
exploring best practices on a variety of PCB
design and manufacturing topics. Sunstone's
alliance with ASC has expanded our PCB uni-
verse and opened the door for a more in-depth
look at the PCB designer's role in ensuring
the smooth manufacturing of really cool stuff,
from design to prototype to large-scale pro-
duction.
DESIGN007
References
1. "Top 5 High-profile Activities for Production
Excellence," by Kevin Beattie, Design007 Magazine,
April 2023.
2. "Avoiding Five Common Pitfalls of Parts," by
Matt Stevenson, Design007 Magazine, June 2023.
3. "Best Drilling Practices for Better PCB Manufac-
turing," by Tim Totten, Design007 Magazine, August
2023.
4. "Choosing the Right CAD Tool," by Matt Steven-
son, Design007 Magazine, October 2023.
Matt Stevenson is vice president
and general manager of ASC
Sunstone Circuits. To read past
columns, click here.
Download Matt's book, The
Printed Circuit Designer's Guide
to… Designing for Reality and
listen to the podcast here. You can view other
titles in the I-007eBooks library.
