Introduction
Altium Designer 18 is a comprehensive electronic design automation (EDA) software suite that has been widely adopted by engineers and designers for creating complex printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic systems. Known for its powerful features, intuitive interface, and robust performance, Altium Designer 18 represents a significant evolution in PCB design tools. This product overview datasheet provides an in-depth look at the features, capabilities, and benefits of Altium Designer 18, highlighting why it remains a top choice for professionals in the electronics industry.
1. Overview of Altium Designer 18
Altium Designer 18 is a unified design environment that integrates all aspects of PCB design, from schematic capture to PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing output. It is designed to streamline the design process, reduce errors, and improve productivity. The software is built on a scalable architecture, making it suitable for both small projects and large, complex designs.
Key highlights of Altium Designer 18 include:
- Unified design environment for seamless workflow integration.
- Advanced PCB layout and routing tools.
- Enhanced simulation and analysis capabilities.
- Improved collaboration and version control features.
- Support for high-speed design and advanced manufacturing requirements.
2. Key Features and Capabilities
2.1 Unified Design Environment
Altium Designer 18 provides a single, unified platform for all stages of PCB design. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple tools, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow. The unified environment includes:
- Schematic capture.
- PCB layout and routing.
- Component management.
- Signal integrity analysis.
- 3D visualization and mechanical integration.
2.2 Advanced PCB Layout and Routing
The software offers a suite of advanced tools for PCB layout and routing, enabling designers to create high-quality boards with minimal effort. Key features include:
- Interactive routing with real-time design rule checking.
- Differential pair routing for high-speed designs.
- Length tuning and phase matching.
- Support for rigid-flex and multi-board designs.
- Advanced via stitching and shielding.
2.3 Enhanced Simulation and Analysis
Altium Designer 18 includes powerful simulation tools to ensure the reliability and performance of designs. These tools allow designers to analyze signal integrity, power integrity, and thermal performance. Key simulation features include:
- Signal integrity analysis for high-speed designs.
- Power delivery network (PDN) analysis.
- Thermal analysis to identify hotspots.
- Mixed-signal simulation for analog and digital circuits.
2.4 Component Management
The software provides a robust component management system, making it easy to organize and reuse components across projects. Features include:
- Unified component libraries.
- Real-time component data from suppliers.
- Integration with Altium Vault for secure component management.
- Support for parametric searching and filtering.
2.5 3D Visualization and Mechanical Integration
Altium Designer 18 offers advanced 3D visualization capabilities, allowing designers to view their PCBs in a realistic 3D environment. This helps in identifying potential mechanical conflicts and ensuring proper fit within enclosures. Key features include:
- Real-time 3D rendering.
- Import and export of 3D models in standard formats.
- Collision detection and clearance checking.
- Integration with MCAD tools for seamless collaboration.
- 2.6 Collaboration and Version Control
- The software includes tools for team collaboration and version control, ensuring that all team members are working on the latest version of the design. Features include:
- Integration with popular version control systems (e.g., Git, SVN).
- Real-time design collaboration.
- Design history and revision tracking.
- Secure sharing of design data.
2.7 High-Speed Design Support
Altium Designer 18 is equipped with tools to address the challenges of high-speed design, including signal integrity, impedance matching, and EMI/EMC compliance. Key features include:
- Impedance-controlled routing.
- Crosstalk analysis and mitigation.
- EMI/EMC simulation and compliance checking.
- Support for advanced materials and stack-ups.
2.8 Manufacturing Output and Documentation
The software simplifies the process of generating manufacturing files and documentation, ensuring that designs are ready for production. Features include:
- Automated generation of Gerber, ODB++, and IPC-2581 files.
- Bill of Materials (BOM) generation and management.
- Assembly drawings and pick-and-place files.
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM) checks.
3. Benefits of Altium Designer 18
3.1 Improved Productivity
Altium Designer 18’s unified design environment and intuitive interface help designers work more efficiently, reducing the time required to complete projects. The software’s automation features, such as interactive routing and design rule checking, further enhance productivity.
3.2 Enhanced Design Quality
With advanced simulation and analysis tools, Altium Designer 18 ensures that designs meet performance and reliability requirements. The software’s real-time design rule checking and 3D visualization capabilities help identify and resolve issues early in the design process.
3.3 Cost Savings
By streamlining the design process and reducing errors, Altium Designer 18 helps lower development costs. The software’s support for advanced manufacturing requirements also ensures that designs are production-ready, minimizing the need for costly rework.
3.4 Scalability
Altium Designer 18’s scalable architecture makes it suitable for a wide range of projects, from simple single-layer boards to complex multi-board systems. The software’s flexibility allows it to adapt to the needs of different industries and applications.
3.5 Collaboration and Teamwork
The software’s collaboration and version control features enable teams to work together more effectively, regardless of their location. This ensures that all team members have access to the latest design data and can contribute to the project in real time.
4. Applications of Altium Designer 18
Altium Designer 18 is used in a variety of industries and applications, including:
- Consumer electronics.
- Automotive electronics.
- Aerospace and defense.
- Medical devices.
- Industrial automation.
- Telecommunications.
The software’s versatility and advanced features make it an ideal choice for designing cutting-edge electronic products.
5. System Requirements
To run Altium Designer 18 effectively, the following system requirements are recommended:
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit).
- Processor: Intel Core i7 or equivalent.
- RAM: 16 GB or more.
- Storage: 10 GB of free disk space.
- Graphics: DirectX 10 compatible GPU with 2 GB of VRAM.
- Display: 1920×1080 resolution or higher.
6. Conclusion
Altium Designer 18 is a powerful and versatile EDA software suite that offers a comprehensive set of tools for PCB design. Its unified design environment, advanced features, and robust performance make it an excellent choice for engineers and designers working on complex electronic systems. By improving productivity, enhancing design quality, and reducing costs, Altium Designer 18 helps organizations bring innovative products to market faster and more efficiently.
Whether you are designing consumer electronics, automotive systems, or aerospace components, Altium Designer 18 provides the tools and capabilities needed to succeed in today’s competitive electronics industry. With its continuous updates and commitment to innovation, Altium Designer remains at the forefront of PCB design technology.