PCB design suite enters beta testing

The latest version of the P-CAD PCB design system for layout specialists has been released to beta testing.

The latest version of the P-CAD PCB design system for layout specialists has been released to beta testing.

The new version, P-CAD 2004, significantly expands the capabilities of P-CAD with new PCB technologies and enhanced features, including a new schematic editor that supports multichannel and hierarchical design, a new topological autorouter, a new interactive routing engine, and improved management of design rules.

P-CAD 2004 will also offer enhanced links to manufacturing with the introduction of new output servers, and the latest generation CAM software that features an expanded range of analysis and verification checks, and extensive import and export formats.

P-CAD 2004 will be released on Altium's proprietary Design Explorer (DXP) technology integration platform, bringing all the capabilities of P-CAD together in a single, integrated design environment that supports extensive document synchronisation and project management features.

This enables a stronger design entry front end; tighter integration to PCB technologies; and seamless access to Altium's new FPGA and embedded system design products (which are sold separately).

Altium has also added a range of features throughout the capture, layout, signal integrity, and routing stages of P-CAD to assist engineers and designers dealing with high-speed designs.

These include improved support for differential pair routing, FPGA pin swapping, as well as enhanced and additional design rules.

P-CAD 2004 is currently scheduled for full release later this year.

"In today's PCB design market, high density board structures, large BGAs, and complex signal integrity issues all add to the challenges of getting your board completed on time and on budget", said Nick Martin, Joint CEO and founder, Altium.

"P-CAD 2004 has been dramatically updated with the latest technologies and features to improve support for high-speed design, and to significantly improve P-CAD's routing and PCB layout capabilities".

P-CAD 2004 has been released to beta testing, and is currently scheduled for full release later this year.

P-CAD 2002 customers who are on a valid prepaid upgrade subscription plan at the time of P-CAD 2004's release will automatically be shipped the new version free of charge as part of their support contract.

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