ACD Implements Altium Designer 10

ACD Adopts Cutting-Edge PCB Design Software

ACD, a leading provider of printed circuit board (PCB) design and manufacturing services, has announced the implementation of Altium Designer 10 across its organization. This move solidifies ACD’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and delivering high-quality PCB solutions to its clients.

What is Altium Designer 10?

Altium Designer 10 is a powerful and comprehensive PCB design software that offers a wide range of features and capabilities. It is a unified design environment that combines schematic capture, PCB layout, and advanced routing technologies, enabling designers to create complex PCB designs efficiently and accurately.

Some of the key features of Altium Designer 10 include:

Benefits of Implementing Altium Designer 10

By implementing Altium Designer 10, ACD aims to enhance its PCB design capabilities and deliver superior solutions to its clients. The adoption of this advanced software brings several benefits to ACD and its customers:

1. Improved Design Efficiency

Altium Designer 10’s unified design environment and advanced features streamline the PCB design process, allowing ACD’s designers to work more efficiently. The software’s intelligent routing algorithms and interactive routing capabilities significantly reduce design time while maintaining high-quality results.

2. Enhanced Design Accuracy

With Altium Designer 10’s live design rule checking and real-time 3D visualization, ACD can ensure the accuracy and integrity of its PCB designs. The software’s built-in design rule checks help identify and resolve potential issues early in the design process, minimizing the risk of errors and reducing the need for costly revisions.

3. Access to Extensive Component Libraries

Altium Designer 10 provides access to an extensive library of components, including both generic and manufacturer-specific parts. This enables ACD’s designers to quickly find and integrate the necessary components into their designs, saving time and effort in component selection and sourcing.

4. Seamless Collaboration

The software’s real-time 3D visualization capabilities facilitate seamless collaboration between ACD’s design teams and its clients. By visualizing the PCB design in 3D, stakeholders can better understand the layout, placement of components, and potential mechanical interferences, leading to improved communication and faster design iterations.

5. Improved Manufacturing Readiness

Altium Designer 10’s advanced features, such as live design rule checking and 3D visualization, help ensure that PCB designs are manufacturable from the outset. By identifying and resolving potential manufacturing issues early in the design process, ACD can minimize delays and reduce the risk of manufacturing defects, ultimately delivering high-quality PCBs to its clients.

ACD’s Implementation Process

To ensure a smooth transition to Altium Designer 10, ACD has developed a comprehensive implementation plan. The process involves the following key steps:

1. Training and Certification

ACD has invested in training and certifying its design team on Altium Designer 10. The company has partnered with Altium to provide in-depth training sessions, covering all aspects of the software, from basic functionality to advanced features. This ensures that ACD’s designers are proficient in using the software and can leverage its capabilities to the fullest.

2. Pilot Projects

Before rolling out Altium Designer 10 across the entire organization, ACD has conducted pilot projects to validate the software’s performance and identify any potential challenges. These pilot projects involve using Altium Designer 10 for select PCB designs, allowing the design team to gain hands-on experience with the software and fine-tune their workflows.

3. Integration with Existing Workflows

ACD has carefully integrated Altium Designer 10 into its existing workflows and processes. This includes establishing design guidelines, creating custom libraries and templates, and ensuring seamless data exchange with other systems, such as ERP and PLM. By integrating the software into its existing infrastructure, ACD can maintain consistency and efficiency throughout the design and manufacturing process.

4. Continuous Improvement

ACD is committed to continuous improvement and staying at the forefront of technology. As part of its implementation plan, the company has established a feedback loop to gather insights and suggestions from its design team and clients. This feedback will be used to further optimize ACD’s use of Altium Designer 10 and drive continuous improvement in its PCB design and manufacturing processes.

ACD’s Commitment to Quality and Innovation

The implementation of Altium Designer 10 is a testament to ACD’s commitment to quality and innovation. By adopting this advanced PCB design software, ACD aims to deliver superior solutions to its clients and stay ahead of the competition.

Quality Assurance

ACD has a robust quality assurance system in place to ensure that every PCB it delivers meets the highest standards of quality and reliability. The company follows a strict set of quality control procedures, including:

• Design reviews and verification
• Component selection and sourcing
• Fabrication and assembly process control
• Electrical and functional testing
• Visual inspection and quality checks

By leveraging the capabilities of Altium Designer 10, ACD can further enhance its quality assurance processes. The software’s live design rule checking and 3D visualization features help identify and resolve potential issues early in the design process, reducing the risk of defects and ensuring the manufacturability of the PCBs.

Innovation and Technology Leadership

ACD is committed to staying at the forefront of technology and driving innovation in the PCB industry. The company continuously invests in the latest tools, technologies, and processes to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its clients.

The implementation of Altium Designer 10 is a prime example of ACD’s technology leadership. By adopting this advanced PCB design software, ACD is well-positioned to tackle the most complex and challenging PCB designs, while maintaining the highest levels of quality and efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Q: What is Altium Designer 10?
   A: Altium Designer 10 is a comprehensive PCB design software that offers a unified design environment, combining schematic capture, PCB layout, and advanced routing technologies. It enables designers to create complex PCB designs efficiently and accurately.

2. Q: Why did ACD choose to implement Altium Designer 10?
   A: ACD chose to implement Altium Designer 10 to enhance its PCB design capabilities, improve design efficiency, and deliver superior solutions to its clients. The software’s advanced features and extensive component libraries enable ACD to tackle the most complex PCB designs while maintaining the highest levels of quality and accuracy.

3. Q: How does Altium Designer 10 benefit ACD’s clients?
   A: Altium Designer 10 benefits ACD’s clients in several ways. The software’s advanced features help improve design accuracy, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure the manufacturability of the PCBs. Additionally, the real-time 3D visualization capabilities facilitate seamless collaboration between ACD and its clients, leading to faster design iterations and improved communication.

4. Q: What steps has ACD taken to ensure a smooth implementation of Altium Designer 10?
   A: ACD has developed a comprehensive implementation plan that includes training and certifying its design team, conducting pilot projects, integrating the software with existing workflows, and establishing a feedback loop for continuous improvement. These steps ensure a smooth transition to Altium Designer 10 and optimize ACD’s use of the software.

5. Q: How does the implementation of Altium Designer 10 reflect ACD’s commitment to quality and innovation?
   A: The implementation of Altium Designer 10 demonstrates ACD’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and delivering high-quality PCB solutions to its clients. By adopting this advanced software, ACD can further enhance its quality assurance processes, tackle complex PCB designs, and drive innovation in the PCB industry.

Conclusion

ACD’s implementation of Altium Designer 10 marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards excellence in PCB design and manufacturing. By leveraging the software’s advanced features and capabilities, ACD is well-positioned to deliver superior solutions to its clients, while maintaining the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and innovation.

As ACD continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies and processes, it remains committed to being a trusted partner for its clients, providing them with the expertise, support, and solutions they need to succeed in today’s competitive market.