Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1536171
and controlling each and every mouse click of the routing process, but with the addition of tool automation assisting/restricting and guid- ing the user along the way, and according to the con- straints that were imple- mented. is methodology allows the user to drive while the tool's automation forces the user to stay within a set of rules/boundaries (con- straints) pre-defined by the user prior to starting the routing process. is is a correct-by-construction approach and helps main- tain all signal routing according to the design requirements during this process. In this meth- odology, by the time the design is 100% routed and a DRC is performed, there should be no routing errors because the user manually con- trolled every aspect of this approach with the use of restrained automation. Because this is a combination of manual effort along with automation utilization, it too is time- consuming and labor-intensive, but the results are more effective than manual routing without automation assistance. It has a higher poten- tial to produce better quality outcomes with fewer redos due to the correct-by-construction methodology. But adapting and implementing changes during the design process is an issue and can be time-consuming as well. With autorouting, designers use the tool's automation capability and horsepower to route all the signal traces. is methodology is the difference maker. It allows you to efficiently and systematically route all signal traces very effectively, with the highest accuracy, and with less manual effort to complete the routing of the entire PCB. e speed in achieving quality routing, as well as the ability to do "what-if " scenarios and recover quickly from on-the-fly changes, makes this approach very attractive. But when I attend conferences and peruse social media posts, design engineers almost universally frown upon autorouting signal traces. Designers view autorouting in a nega- tive way. Most don't utilize this automated approach, especially the seasoned designers who have wit- nessed the evolution of today's EDA tools. In a way, I understand this. Early in my career, I too frowned upon it and never autorouted PCBs simply because I didn't trust the tool. Let's face it: Back then, the autorouter capa- bilities in the tools were not so good. But we are in the era of advanced EDA tools. Autorouters of today are better than they've ever been. It's important to note that not every design can be autorouted. e key is knowing how and when to utilize the autorouter to your advan- tage. It's also important to implement the prin- ciples of PCB layout from the three competing perspectives of e Designer's Triangle: layout solvability, performance, and manufacturabil- ity. You must do so while mastering your EDA tool and controlling and trusting that tool to your advantage. Control and trust are the two words that will dictate whether a user will use an autorouter or not. But how long and how much effort will it take to achieve success? The Aha Moment That Changed My Views on Autorouting I chose to go all-in with autorouting about two decades ago while working on a complex project under a tight schedule for a large mil/ aero company. You know the type of crazy project I'm talking about: An end-of-the-year rush, where the customer waited until the very last minute to pull the trigger. Changes were constant and unfolding daily. Communication was taking place in every form conceivable. But the project deadline was not moving. 30 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2025