Then click on Panels in the bottom right corner and select Properties. Open up the schematic file by double clicking it in the left side pane. Do the same for 'Schlib1.SchLib', saving it as 'Tutorial_SchLib'.īefore we start drawing the circuit, we are going to setup the appropriate document options, including the sheet size and snap and visible grids. Right click on 'PcbLib1.PcbLib' and Save As 'Tutorial_PcbLib'. Do the same for the 'PCB1.PcbDoc' file, and save it as 'Tutorial'. Right click on 'Sheet1.SchDoc' and Save As 'Tutorial'. When saving each file, make sure to check the directory where you are saving to. In the bottom left, click on Projects, and do the same to create the 'PCB Library'. Now do the same, but add 'Schematic Library'. To create a schematic file, right click on the project name on the left side, add new to project, Schematic. Is generally good at getting at least very close to what you need.

This task can be done using an autorouter function, which The final task will be to route the signals (remember, with two layers) between components. You will then use your schematic to create the physical board layout by moving the pieces into their desired location. The first is the schematic, in which you define the parts and connections you wish toĮxist on your design. The first thing to note about a project is that you will have two separate files that will be very closely linked. Change the Project name to 'Tutorial', and choose a location of your choice. Create a new project by going to File > New > Project, and selecting PCB Project. Wait a few days and, like magic, you will have a shiny circuit board onto which you can solder your components.īegin by launching Altium Designer. This tutorial will guide you through the process of turning a circuit into a printed circuit board file that you can then send away to the fabrication house. Altium provides an extensive range of components to accompany Altium products.So, you’ve finished your circuit prototype and you’re ready to make it permanent? Tired of those messy wires and loose components, and ready for something that looks professional? All you need is a good PCB program and you’re ready to go! Current and new components are delivered via the Altium Content Vault, along with reference designs and templates. The components can be accessed via a browser, or they can be accessed from the Vaults panel in Altium Designer. Altium Legacy LibrariesĪdditional, independently developed, libraries and ancillary support files. Vendor Codes Naming Conventions PCB footprints - surface mount Vendor Codes used in Manufacturer libraries. PCB footprints for surface mount packages are built to the standards developed by IPC - 'Association Connecting Electronics Industries'. IPC claims that these land patterns are transparent to the manufacturing process but recommends that they should be optimized to suit the soldering type (wave, reflow) and assembly (components mounted on one or both sides of the board, etc). Land patterns for surface mount components follow the assumptions and equations found in standards IPC-SM-782A, Amendment 1 (October 1996) and Amendment 2 (April 1999) and IPC-7351 (February 2005). High-Density applications with a ‘minimum’ footprint size, designated by the letter ‘L’ Medium-Density applications with a ‘moderate’ footprint size, designated by the letter ‘N’ Low-Density applications with a ‘maximum’ footprint size, designated by the letter ‘M’ Under the IPC-7351 standard, three different footprints levels are specified: The pad diameters for the BGA and CGA packages are defined by the etched copper, rather than by the solder mask. These designation letters are appended to Altium library and footprint names to identify the density level.

Only ‘nominal’ level footprints are drawn for BGA and CGA packages. IPC-7351 compliant footprints are found in Altium Designer 6.3 version libraries and later versions. The IPC-7351 standard: ”Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard” supersedes IPC-SM-782A (Amendments 1 & 2). MetricationĪll PCB footprint dimensions are given in metric units. Hard metric dimensions are employed in accordance with the JEDEC JC-11 'Metrication Policy', SPP-003B (February 1998).

Altium designer pcb library size