Zuken’s CADSTAR 12.1 PCB Design Software Cuts Engineering Costs

Cut your costs and get it right first time
Maintaining large libraries can be a time-consuming task. It is now much simpler and quicker because the data can be stored in an ODBC-compliant data source. Verification tools for getting designs right-the-first-time are easier as the signal integrity and electromagnetic compatibility modules (SI Verify signal integrity and EMC Adviser) are seamlessly integrated into CADSTAR. This eliminates the need for external net or component lists, exchanging of files, or translators – improving the reliability of design results and speeding-up the process.

Better mechanical integration with Board Modeler Lite module
The ECAD MCAD integration module within CADSTAR called Board Modeler Lite has been improved allowing users to create detailed 3D models of components with the 3D model generator. The creation of detailed 3D models by MCAD teams can be time consuming and the only alternative is to source the data from the internet, where only a handful of component suppliers provide detailed 3D models. This unique 3D model generator is not only easy to use, accurate and fast; the wizards create detailed 3D models for almost any electronic component.

For design teams working on boards where space is tight this functionality has become mission critical. “Board Modeler Lite is a vital tool for us, as we design many boards for the mobile industry where devices need to be as thin as possible, meaning that tolerances are very tight,” explained Eero Leinonen, Director from Inca Systems Oy.

“The boards themselves also need to follow the housing contour, with curves, indents and keep-out areas. We are able to test boards within the test fixture and Board Modeler Lite also allows us feed the exact 3D data from the PCB to the 3D design environment,” added Leinonen.

It’s fast, it’s high-speed and it’s routing
Whether you have global design operations or are a one-man band, high-speed routing is likely a necessity. Zuken, renowned for their industry-leading routing capabilities, has incorporated more of its sophisticated routing functions into CADSTAR, including Smart and Intelligent Fan-Out Routing for BGAs and FPGAs. For those working on mixed signal boards, true star-point routing is supported in both the Design Editor and Place & Route Editor (P.R.Editor) tools. With the star-point capability, a designer can connect the different GNDs without producing DRC errors!