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We're heading to PCB West 2025!

Join Altium at PCB West 2025 in Santa Clara, CA, on October 1! Stop by Booth 300 for the official launch of the new Altium platform, built on the foundation of Altium Designer and Altium 365. Be sure to check out our live demos of Altium Develop and Altium Agile.

Blog
Peak Electrical Performance in Multi-Board Designs With Advanced Simulation and Compliance Tools

Moving from single-board to multi-board systems is a leap in complexity. You must manage not just routing, but power, signal integrity, mechanical fit, and regulatory requirements across boards. In this article, you’ll discover how Altium’s advanced simulation and compliance tools help engineering teams overcome these challenges and deliver reliable multi-board solutions.

Embedded thumbnail for Altium Training - Design Environment: The Altium Environment
How-To's
Altium Training - Design Environment: The Altium Environment

Get familiar with the core workspace layout and navigation methods. In this video, you’ll see how to open schematic and PCB documents, work within the unified design environment, and move between multiple open files using document tabs and keyboard shortcuts.

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Altium Training
Altium Training - Design Environment: Opening a Project from a Local Drive

Get your PCB design workflow off to a smooth start. This Altium tutorial walks you through opening projects from your local directory - a core skill that keeps your process efficient and organized from day one.

Blog
Executive Insights Into Electronic Product Development Gaps You Need To Close

Electronics hardware development is falling behind broader product development disciplines due to fragmented workflows, poor collaboration, and limited compliance visibility. This gap introduces risk, delays, and missed opportunities but executives see real business value in modernizing electronics development through better integration, traceability, and lifecycle visibility.

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Altium Training
Altium Essentials: Design Environment

Take control of your PCB design workflow with Altium Essentials: Design Environment. This tutorial module guides you through the fundamentals of workspace management, from handling panels and documents to mastering menus, context commands, and time-saving shortcuts.

Blog
Sourcing For High-Mix Low-Volume Electronics Manufacturing

High-mix, low-volume (HMLV) electronics manufacturing requires agile sourcing strategies to handle shifting BOMs, erratic lead times, and component volatility. All while controlling costs and ensuring compliance. Cloud-based tools like Altium provide real-time component visibility, BOM collaboration, and supplier integrations to help navigate HMLV complexities.

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How-To's
What Makes a Great PCB Design Review Submission?

Turn your PCB designs into professional-grade submissions. At Altium, we reveal the key practices that transform schematics, layouts, and documentation into review-ready work that stands out. Watch our brand-new tutorial and take your PCB design process to the next level.

Embedded thumbnail for Altium Training - Workspace Folder Structure: Opening the Explorer Panel
Altium Training
Altium Training - Workspace Folder Structure: Opening the Explorer Panel

Discover the key ways to access the Explorer panel in Altium Designer with this step-by-step tutorial. The video walks you through four different methods, giving you the freedom to choose the approach that best fits your workflow.

Blog
One Vision, Three Powerful Solutions: Introducing Octopart Discover, Altium Develop, and Altium Agile

We are excited to announce the launch of three new platform-based solutions that will transform the way electronic products are designed, built, and delivered: Octopart Discover, Altium Develop, and Altium Agile. These solutions are designed to simplify processes, accelerate innovation, and make collaboration seamless across the entire electronics lifecycle. Together, they realize the purpose of Altium and Renesas: To Make Our Lives Easier.

Embedded thumbnail for Altium Essentials: Workspace Folder Structure Overview
Altium Training
Altium Essentials: Workspace Folder Structure Overview

Altium Essentials: Workspace Folder Structure is a tutorial series designed for PCB designers who are learning the fundamentals of navigating an Altium workspace. This playlist walks through key Explorer panel skills, including multiple ways to open it (via keyboard shortcuts, menus, panel buttons, and workspaces), navigating projects, and understanding the panel’s six core information areas.

Blog
The Top 5 Workflow Bottlenecks Slowing Down Mechanical Engineering Teams

Mechanical engineering teams frequently encounter delays from fragmented communication, disconnected toolchains, and inefficient synchronization processes. This article examines five critical workflow bottlenecks and highlights how ECAD-MCAD integration with real-time, bidirectional updates can eliminate rework and accelerate design iterations.

Embedded thumbnail for NFC Reader Project Part One: Schematics to PCB in Altium
How-To's
NFC Reader Project Part One: Schematics to PCB in Altium

Check out our new, in-depth NFC Reader Project tutorial! In this two-part video series, we design an ESP32-based NFC transceiver board from schematics to PCB layout. In Part 1, we dive into the TRF7970A NFC chip from Texas Instruments and guide you step-by-step through the complete design process in Altium.

Embedded thumbnail for HDI PCB Design Review: nRF52840 Via Sizing & Stack-Up Best Practices
How-To's
HDI PCB Design Review: nRF52840 Via Sizing & Stack-Up Best Practices

Explore key HDI design strategies, from calculating aspect ratios and optimizing pad diameters to managing drill tolerances and refining stack-ups for improved signal integrity. This comprehensive review highlights practical solutions to common HDI challenges, including via-in-pad layouts, clearance violations, and layer thickness adjustments for both mechanical and laser drilling processes.

Tag
Agile Hardware Development
Blog
5 Ways Hardware Development Is Just… Different

Explore the challenges and strategies of implementing Agile methodology in electronics hardware development. Understand key differences between hardware and software development within the Agile framework.

Blog
Flexible Circuit Assembly: Thinking Through Component Placement

The flexible circuits are ideal for applications where a thin, small, and lightweight PCB is needed. However, in such cases, challenges in assembly and fabrication often arise. This article delves into these challenges, focusing on component selection and placement and how they can significantly impact the performance of the flexible circuit in its intended application.

Blog
Coding Your Own Networked Test Equipment

Have you ever performed manual tests? If your answer is yes, you're likely aware of how laborious and time-consuming the entire process can be. Allow us to introduce you to the realm of test equipment automation. Our new step-by-step guide empowers you to write code that seamlessly configures your networked test equipment, all from the convenience of your computer.

Blog
Pi.MX8 Project – Schematic structure and component placement

We are advancing with our brand new Pi.MX8 Project. In this chapter, we delve deeper into two crucial aspects: the overall schematic and component placement on the PCB board. Don't hesitate to check it out. Additionally, you can follow this project through our workspace; the link is provided within the article.

Blog
Redefine PCB Boundaries with HDI Design

Dive into the world of High-Density Interconnect (HDI) design to enhance your projects. Explore heightened signal integrity, improved reliability, and the seamless integration of advanced technologies - all within compact and lightweight designs. Discover more about HDI on our updated feature page.

Blog
Pi.MX8 Project – Introduction and Overview

Do you have extensive knowledge about the Pi.MX8 module? We're excited to introduce a new series of articles focusing on an innovative approach to utilizing this module. In this inaugural chapter, we provide insights into the preparation for this project and detail the elements that will be used.

Blog
Simple Documentation for Hand PCB Assembly

Creating documentation for hand PCB assembly does not prevent the same documentation from being utilized to assist in automated PCB assembly. Learn more about the optimal format for this data to enhance both your hand PCB assembly and overall assembly processes.

Blog
Constraint Manager: Precision in Every Detail

Explore the powerful features of Altium Designer 24! Experience Constraint Manager and revolutionize your PCB design with reusable constraint sets, schematic-to-board rule transition, easy class and differential pair grouping, and more.

Blog
Explore New Possibilities with True 3D-MID Design

3D-MID technology seamlessly integrates electrical circuits with three-dimensional mechanical parts. This unique fusion of functionality unlocks a myriad of possibilities across various application areas. Explore more about this innovative feature, available in Altium Designer 24, to delve into the fascinating world of the 3D design process.

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NEW
Embedded thumbnail for Just Released: Supplier Data Merging
New in Altium's Software
Just Released: Supplier Data Merging

Discover how the Supplier Data Merging feature brings together supplier information from your custom parts database and the Altium Parts Provider into a single, unified view. Access consolidated supplier data wherever supplier part numbers appear, including in ActiveBOM and during component selection.

NEW
Embedded thumbnail for How Altium’s Layer Stack Manager Actually Works
How-To's
How Altium’s Layer Stack Manager Actually Works

Take a look inside Altium's Layer Stack Manager and discover how its impedance calculator determines the ideal trace width for your target impedance. In this video, we break down the "black box" behind the calculation and show how the Simbeor-based field solver provides accurate results while eliminating the need for advanced field solver expertise.

Embedded thumbnail for Connect Requirements Directly to Your PCB Design
New in Altium's Software
Connect Requirements Directly to Your PCB Design

See how the Requirements Portal integration in Altium Designer simplifies requirements management by bringing system requirements directly into your PCB design workflow. Connect requirements to design documents, assign tasks, track verification in real time, and keep your entire team aligned with seamless synchronization in Altium 365.

Embedded thumbnail for SFP Connector Routing: High-Speed Differential Pair Design Tips
How-To's
SFP Connector Routing: High-Speed Differential Pair Design Tips

Discover practical SFP and SFP+ routing tips in our latest video, inspired by a real question from the Altium subreddit. We cover how aggressive serpentine length tuning can be, how to reduce impedance discontinuities in tight meanders, and how meandering influences mode conversion at 10G and higher data rates.

Embedded thumbnail for Handle High-Density PCB Layouts with Ease
New in Altium's Software
Handle High-Density PCB Layouts with Ease

Push the limits of PCB design with support for up to 128 signal layers, empowering the development of even the most complex, high-density boards.

Embedded thumbnail for Skip Layer Routing for RF: Control Impedance & Cut Insertion Loss
How-To's
Skip Layer Routing for RF: Control Impedance & Cut Insertion Loss

Discover our latest video and learn how RF designers use a deeper ground plane to minimize skin-effect resistance, improve signal integrity over long high-frequency routes, and optimize impedance matching for oversized SMT pads in antenna launches and coaxial connectors.

Embedded thumbnail for Just Released: ODB++ Intellectual Property Protection
New in Altium's Software
Just Released: ODB++ Intellectual Property Protection

ODB++ Intellectual Property Protection lets you control exactly what design data is included in the ODB++ output, ensuring each manufacturing partner receives only the information needed for their specific fabrication or assembly tasks.

Embedded thumbnail for Future of Electronics Development in Security and Aerospace
How-To's
Future of Electronics Development in Security and Aerospace

See the highlights from Altium's executive event in Hamburg, where Security and Aerospace leaders explored AI-driven development, digital engineering, supply chain resilience, and the future of mission-critical electronics.

Embedded thumbnail for Create Clearance Rules Faster and with Less Effort
New in Altium's Software
Create Clearance Rules Faster and with Less Effort

Setting up clearance rules is now more intuitive in the Constraint Manager. Choose the Simple view for faster configuration with grouped object types, or the Advanced view when you need detailed, matrix-based clearance control.

Embedded thumbnail for Mastering HDI Design Rules in Altium Designer
How-To's
Mastering HDI Design Rules in Altium Designer

In our latest Altium Academy tutorial, we guide you through configuring the essential HDI PCB design rules in Altium's software. You'll learn how to use your manufacturer's fabrication capabilities to create accurate design rules and constraints for your PCB.

Embedded thumbnail for Search, Filter, and Navigate PCB Designs Faster
New in Altium's Software
Search, Filter, and Navigate PCB Designs Faster

The Web Viewer now features a redesigned search experience for faster access to PCB design data across supported CAD formats. A lightweight, intuitive interface lets you begin with simple search terms and progressively refine results using contextual suggestions.

Embedded thumbnail for Gain Better Control Over Wire Bond Visibility
New in Altium's Software
Gain Better Control Over Wire Bond Visibility

New bond wire visibility controls give you greater flexibility when working with wire-bonded boards and footprints, making it easier to focus on the details that matter most.

Embedded thumbnail for Coming Soon: Selectable Harness Source Within Multi-board Design
New in Altium's Software
Coming Soon: Selectable Harness Source Within Multi-board Design

Selectable Harness Source Within Multi-board Design enables harness projects to drive system connectivity while maintaining bidirectional synchronization between multi-board schematics and harness wiring diagrams for improved accuracy and easier design management.

Embedded thumbnail for Choose the Simbeor Version for Your PCB Calculations
New in Altium's Software
Choose the Simbeor Version for Your PCB Calculations

The PCB Editor now lets you choose the Simbeor version used for delay and impedance calculations, giving you more flexibility and consistency across your design workflows.

Embedded thumbnail for Improve PCB Editor Performance with Via Instancing
New in Altium's Software
Improve PCB Editor Performance with Via Instancing

The PCB Editor now uses via instancing to generate geometry for each via individually, providing greater flexibility and a more advanced approach to managing vias in PCB designs.

Embedded thumbnail for GSSG Stackup Deep Dive: Routing, Impedance, and HDI
How-To's
GSSG Stackup Deep Dive: Routing, Impedance, and HDI

A ground-signal-signal-ground (GSSG) stackup rethinks the traditional four-layer PCB structure by moving the ground planes to the outer layers and routing signals on the two inner layers. In this Altium Academy deep dive, we review a real one-minute design review submission and demonstrate how to configure a GSSG stackup properly using the Layer Stack Manager.

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