Product suite provides flow-wide hub for PCB design data

This results in cost reduction, increased productivity, and data protection across each state of the PCB development process to efficiently manage complexity. The increasing challenges and complexity of PCB systems design is managed with the xDM Design solution which is an integral part of the xDM suite. Efficiently managing data from a range of sources, the design tool serves as a entral design “cockpit” for all tools and data used by project stakeholders. Traceability is a key feature of this tool, creating a family tree and tracking all events associated with design objects.

The xDM Design collaboration client feature enables team collaboration across the enterprise, providing complete design viewing in a web browser and allowing redlines and mark-ups for design reviews.  The collaboration client also enables quick access to design state information including metrics such as total parts, total nets, constraints, and per cent routed — enabling management to have a quick read of design status at any time.

An automated index of all ECAD design metrics is provided by the xDM Design product. These metrics include gathering, tracking, and analyzing design state data at multiple levels:  design status, online hazards, annotation status, and design constraints, also providing the ability to search on desired metrics. This set of project meta-data is only visible available from within the company's products.

“Mentor’s xDM Design enables us to increase visibility of the work-in-progress ECAD design process which fosters collaboration within design teams, as well as with external disciplines. Instead of relying on each individual, we can increase traceability of the design data and prevent the design from becoming a ‘black box’ where only designers know what’s going on,” stated Hiroyuki Moriya, manager of engineering management at JRC, Ltd. “We plan to streamline the approval and review process by doing it all online which should reduce manual processes, paper, and errors. We consider our work-in-progress data our corporate IP and xDM Design’s tight integration with the Xpedition flow is essential to transform “black-box” data into true IP.”

The xDM Library ensures product quality and cost efficiency by providing visibility of key design and part selection factors early in the development process for fast and upfront identification of preferred viable parts to avoid costly rework downstream. The xDM Library enables reduced infrastructure cost by leveraging library parts across multiple locations, maximum leverage of existing inventory, and the prevention of part shortages.

“As the market-share leader in PCB systems design software, our Xpedition data management solution far exceeds the capabilities of other data management tools in the industry,” stated Henry Potts, general manager and senior vice president of Mentor Graphics Systems Design Division. “Our mission is to provide advanced technologies and services that ease the customers’ increasing design challenges. Our new xDM  Design solution provides a single, comprehensive flow-wide information hub that delivers accurate and secure design and process data needed for systems design team success.”

The xDM product suite also includes xDM Library, which enables comprehensive library development and management, including part creation, 3D modelling, component management, and process integration. The xDM product suite will be available in October 2014.

Some of the key features for xDM Library include:
•    Library editing for symbols, cells, and padstacks with integrated distribution for the enterprise
•    Providing a central hub for 3D model management – supporting both Mentor®-provided 3D models and custom 3D STEP models

An advanced xDM Library option is available, and this version provides the following automated features:
•    Component data management including incorporation of company-specific part data, alternates, supplier information, where-used checking for obsolescence, BOM access for early compliance checking, , and management of preferred parts lists
•    Process integration across the flow, where engineers doing design work have direct access to the rich component data, providing automatic filtering of preferred parts, comparison and identification of  alternate parts from vendor datasheets, ECAD BOM management, and compliance audits on design BOMs