Quantum CAD - Electronic and PCB Design Blog

PCB Design CADSTAR 12.1

PCB Design Suite CADSTAR version 12.1 has been released. The CADSTAR team has been focused on making customer's design functionality requirements come true, with new functionality for advanced library management and signal integrity verification, ECAD MCAD integration, and improved high-speed routing.

What do you think of CADSTAR?

Do you think these new functionalities will improve the PCB design suite? 

If you are looking for a company to do PCB layout using CADSTAR or any other package please contact us on 01639 864646 or visit http://quantumcad.co.uk/

For more information on the PCB design suite visit Zuken at www.zuken/cadstar

PLM to the Rescue for Global Manufacturers

The sheer complexity of managing bills of material (BOMs) in a globalised manufacturing environment leaves the door wide open to errors and inconsistencies that can increase both your costs and your products' time-to-market. Fortunately, coming to the rescue is product lifecycle management (PLM).  PLM systems are designed to accurately and efficiently manage BOMs through the complex channels of engineering design teams, offshore suppliers, and remote production facilities.

CXInsight is a highly specialized Product Lifecycle Management system (PLM) and advanced e-collaboration tool for the electronics industry. CXInsight aids project managers, development managers and engineering managers to direct the information streams from design to production through the entire supply chain. It also provides e-collaboration tools that really work! It is a flexible web-based server/client system that operates independently of operating system or application software.

CXInsight is specifically developed for handling fast changing data in development, engineering and NPI.  It also enables global companies to work together on projects in a secure environment via the internet, regardless of geographic location, language or time zone.

Register for CADSTAR 11 Webinar

Register for CADSTAR 11 Webinar on Friday 12th December at 2pm. Number of spaces are limited so better hurry up and register today!

The seminar will cover:

• Intelligent busses

• Auto connect symbols
• Schematic Symbol Creation wizard to output multiple gates
• Sheet Signal References for easy browsing through the hierarchical schematics
• Hide pins when a symbol is connected... and more

You will find that CADSTAR has not only further developed its Schematic and PCB design modules, but now also integrates with other industry leading applications like FPGA design and E³.Logic.

CADSTAR 11, Enhancements

Call us now on 01639 864625 or email sales@quantumeds.co.uk to register for the online webinar.

New Cadstar 11

Zuken have announced the latest version of the company's desktop printed circuit board (PCB) design software - CADSTAR v11.

CADSTAR v11 includes a new pin-management functionality to support high pin count devices, as well as new library management wizards, expanded capabilities for the Place and Route Editor (P.R.Editor), and an enhanced library searcher facility.

This latest version features Zuken's new intelligent auto routing solution, the Dragon Router, which combines intelligence and a methodology-driven approach. Based upon a Routing Strategy Environment (RSE), Dragon provides an analysis of the board.

Features of CADSTAR v11 include:

• Supported sheet signal references for easy browsing
• Hide pins in schematics when a symbol is connected
• Highlight unconnected pins in schematics
• Schematic symbol generation wizard
• Suppress unconnected inner-layer pads, including negative and positive (partial) planes
• Control skew constraints
• Reroute after moving a component
• Interactive placement tools
• Support of slotted holes in Library Management
• Multiple filters
• Supported native and intelligent PDF output

For more information email us or call +44 01639 864646

CADSTAR FPGA / ALDEC Active HDL Webinar

Aldec and Zuken developed a smooth synchronization between Aldec Active-HDL/CADSTAR FPGA and Zuken CADSTAR SCM/PCB offering complete support for all FPGA vendors from design creation to mixed VHDL and Verilog simulation, project management, schematic and PCB layout. This seminar includes a design demonstration and presentation on how to use Aldec Active HDL /CADSTAR FPGA and Zuken CADSTAR SCM/PCB in a unified environment.

Read More about this event by clicking here

The PCB designer’s choice of software tool

Quantum CAD is an electronic design company and offers printed circuit board design services
as part of it’s portfolio. The software packages our highly experienced engineers use are:

•  Zuken CR-5000, CADSTAR and VISULA
•  Mentor Expedition, PADS and BoardStation
•  Cadence Allegro and OrCAD Schematic Capture
•  Powerlogic Schematic
•  Altium Protel

Our designers have regular debates on the Pro’s and Con’s of all PCB design software tools,
Some designers prefer to stick with the tool they originally trained with, others can’t wait to
move on and  learn new tools.

Should a PCB designer stick with the same software tool?

Which software tool do you prefer? Why?
Do you mix software tools to achieve a better solution?
How many tools have you used?

Latest Free Version of CADSTAR Express

Zuken has released the latest revision of the free sample download of CADSTAR 10.0--CADSTAR Express. This fully operational version of Zuken’s easy to use and ready to use powerful desktop PCB design solution includes all the latest features of CADSTAR 10.0, with a limit of 300 pins and 50 components.

Users downloading this tool from Quantum EDS website can quickly get a feel for the major advancements in ease of use and reverse engineering featured in version 10.0. The back annotation function for example, now makes file transfer from PCB into schematic a much smoother process, assisting in the efficient management of engineering change orders that are particularly associated with high-speed designs.

Earlier this year CADSTAR Express took second place in E&E’s (Elektronik & Entwicklung) awards under the Design Tools and Software category; based on the solution’s ease of use and compatibility with other design/manufacturing software systems.

To get the most out of CADSTAR Express, Zuken has compiled a Do-It-Yourself Booklet, created to guide the user step-by-step through the solution using design examples.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact your local Quantum EDS to find out more about the unlimited versions of CADSTAR solutions.