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Length Tuning Impedance
Blog •
What is the Impedance of Length-Tuning Structures?

Do length-tuning structures create an impedance discontinuity? The answer is an unequivocal “yes”, but it might not matter in your design depending on several factors. Applying a length-tuning structure is equivalent to changing the distance between the traces while meandering. Therefore, you will have a change in the odd-mode impedance of a single trace. The question then becomes: does this deviation in trace impedance in a length tuning structure matter?

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Embedded thumbnail for Creating a Schematic Symbol - Placing Designators and Comments
How to create a Schematic Symbol •
Creating a Schematic Symbol - Placing Designators and Comments

Placing your designator or comments can be done automatically, but that doesn’t mean they’re visible. We’ll walk you through how to make them visible and position them correctly no matter what orientation your symbol is with automatic positioning.

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Embedded thumbnail for Creating a Schematic Symbol: Adding Additional Parts
How to create a Schematic Symbol •
Creating a Schematic Symbol: Adding Additional Parts

Altium Designer makes it easy to add additional parts to your schematic library. We’ll show you how through copying and configuring your new components through the Pin Editor and the properties panel.

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Designing the Next-Generation Electronics
Blog •
A-SAP™ – What do you need to know?

The continued miniaturization of both packaging and component size in next-generation electronics is becoming harder and harder to work around and presents a significant challenge for both PCB designers and PCB fabricators. To effectively navigate the constraints of the traditional subtractive-etch PCB fabrication processes, PCB designs require advanced PCB fabrication capabilities while pushing the limits of finer feature size, higher layer counts, multiple levels of stacked micro vias and increased lamination cycles.

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Embedded thumbnail for Component Placement Control Using Rooms
How to work with Rooms •
Component Placement Control Using Rooms

Rooms give you more control over how and where your components are placed in your PCB. We’ll show you how to use room properties to limit what is allowed in and out of a room using the room definition and custom queries.

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Pin-package and Via Delay Values
Blog •
Pin-Package Delay and Via Delay in High Speed Length Tuning

Take a look at the inside of some integrated circuit packages, and you’ll find a number of wires bonded to the semiconductor die and the pads at the edge of the component's package. As a signal traverses makes its way along an interconnect and into a destination circuit, signals need to travel across these bond wires and pads before they are interpreted as a logic state. As you look around the edge of an IC, these bond wires can have different lengths, and they incur different levels of delay and contribute to total jitter.

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Embedded thumbnail for How to work with Differential Pair Classes?
How to Work with Differential Pairs •
How to work with Differential Pair Classes?

Modern boards can contain a large number of differential pairs. For convenience, they are combined into differential pairs classes. In this video, we'll walk you through how to create and apply a differential pair class. 

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Embedded thumbnail for Adding Rooms from the Schematic
How to work with Rooms •
Adding Rooms from the Schematic

Rooms can be added directly from the schematic sheet. From the schematic sheet they are pushed to the PCB. Here we'll look at the rooms and component classes generated by default in the schematic, how to add and configure rooms manually, and how to push them to the PCB.

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6-Layer PCB Design
Blog •
6-Layer PCB Design Guidelines

Once you’ve run out of room on your 4-layer PCB, it’s time to graduate to a 6-layer board. The additional layer can give you room for more signals, an additional plane pair, or a mix of conductors. How you use these extra layers is less important than how you arrange them in the PCB stackup, as well as how you route on a 6-layer PCB. If you’ve never used a 6-layer board before, or you’ve had EMI troubles with this stackup that are difficult to solve, keep reading to see some 6-layer PCB design guidelines and best practices.

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Component Management
On-Demand Webinar •
Help Ensure The Best Designs With Component Management

There are many aspects to designing a PCB. One of the larger aspects has to do with managing your components. We all need components for our designs, but are those components in our library and designs up-to-date or even purchasable? These questions need to be answered before we can safely use them. If not, we could just be wasting our time designing with invalid components. Altium Designer® has several tools to help you manage the components in your libraries and designs.

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Altium Designer Interface
Blog •
Altium Designer 22.5 Update

We are happy to announce that the Altium Designer 22.5 update is now available. Altium Designer 22.5 continues to focus on improving the user experience, as well as performance and stability of the software, based on feedback from our users. Check out the key new features in the What's New section on the left side of this window!

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Are Hybrid PCB Stackups Reliable?
Blog •
How Reliable is Your Hybrid PCB Stackup?

PCB stackups often incorporate slightly dissimilar materials that could pose a reliability problem. Hybrid PCBs are one case where the PCB stackup will include different materials, typically a standard FR4 laminate and a PTFE laminate for RF PCBs. Designers who want to take the lead on material selection when designing their hybrid stackups should consider these factors that affect reliability. As with any PCB stackup, make sure you get your fabricator involved in the manufacturing process early to ensure reliability problems do not arise during production.

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Embedded thumbnail for How to Draw a Board Outline Using Coordinates
How-To's •
How to Draw a Board Outline Using Coordinates

In this video, we cover how to draw a curve by using coordinates. This can be very helpful when creating a board outline.

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Embedded thumbnail for Creating a Schematic Symbol: Mapping out the Component
How to create a Schematic Symbol •
Creating a Schematic Symbol: Mapping out the Component

When creating a schematic symbol, one of your first tasks will be creating a component symbol. We’ll show you how to map out a component in the Schematic Library Editor by creating and configuring the component, adding pins, and creating graphics.

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Monte Carlo vs Sensitivity Analysis
Blog •
Monte Carlo Simulation vs. Sensitivity Analysis: What’s the Difference?

In a previous article about circuit simulation and reliability, I looked at how Monte Carlo analysis is commonly used to evaluate circuits that are subject to random variations in component values. Sensitivity analysis is a bit different and it tells you how the operating characteristics of your circuit change in a specific direction. Compared to a Monte Carlo simulation, sensitivity analysis gives you a convenient way to predict exactly how the operating characteristics will change if you were to deliberately increase or decrease the value of a component.

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Embedded thumbnail for How and When to Use Rooms
How to work with Rooms •
How and When to Use Rooms

Rooms are an extremely valuable tool within the Altium Designer PCB environment, but how and when do you use rooms? If you need to control component placement and layout, assign a specific design rule to a group of items, or if you have repeated channels that need similar layouts in your multichannel design, rooms can make it much easier.

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Simulation, Build and Test
Blog •
Creating Continuous Integration Pipelines for FPGAs

Field Programmable Gate Arrays, or FPGAs, have become ubiquitous amongst high-speed, real-time digital systems. The speed at which FPGAs operate continues to increase at a dizzying pace but their adoption into Continuous Integration pipelines seems not to trail as closely. In this article we will review the concept of CI pipelines, their application to FPGAs, and look at examples on how to set this up.

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Working with MCAD CoDesigner extension •
MCAD CoDesigner Quick Start: Autodesk Fusion 360

MCAD CoDesigner is built to address the challenges of electronic product design by enabling seamless collaboration between your electrical and mechanical engineers. This video will show you how to start collaborate between Altium Designer and Autodesk Fusion 360. 

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Embedded thumbnail for Component Placement Control for DFM
DFM and Fabrication Cost/Time Constraints •
Component Placement Control for DFM

Component placement is a crucial part of making sure your design is manufacturable, so you need to be able to control placement. We’ll show you how, through rules and courtyard layers to maintain accessibility and manufacturability in your entire design through component placement control.

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Collaborators Visualization
Blog •
Soft Locks [Conflict Prevention] in Altium 365

Conflicts can occur when multiple people work on the same project simultaneously. The user might not realize that they are not looking at the latest version of the documentation, leading to problems later. To address this issue, Altium features an intuitive graphical user interface that allows you to examine conflicts quickly and carefully

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NEW
Blog •
Preparing for Prototype: Final Component Validation

Final component validation is the last critical check before building a prototype, ensuring all parts are accurate, available, and viable. This article shows how Altium’s integrated tools—like SiliconExpert, Z2Data, Octopart, and BOM Portal—help teams avoid costly surprises and prepare with confidence.

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NEW
Blog •
Getting Started with Harness Design in Altium Designer 25

Explore the essential steps and tools for Harness Design in Altium Designer 25, from initial setup to final documentation. The article highlights how the unified design environment streamlines the entire process, improving efficiency and project integration.

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Blog •
The Future of PCB Design Starts Here

Altium Designer is constantly evolving, with powerful new features and updates on the way. Get an exclusive first look at what’s coming next—visit our Coming Soon page to stay up to date with the latest innovations.

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Blog •
Simplify Harness-to-System Connections for Better PCB Design Outcomes

Struggling to keep harness and system designs in sync? In our brand-new article we explore how integrating PCB and harness design workflows can eliminate errors, improve collaboration, and accelerate your development process. Discover a smarter approach to connecting your harness to the system.

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Blog •
Printed Electronics: The Future of Flexible and Cost-Effective Circuit Design

This article explores the rise of printed electronics as a lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to traditional PCB design. It highlights key benefits like reduced manufacturing costs, sustainability, and new design possibilities—especially in wearables, medical devices, and automotive applications. 

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Blog •
New Routing Possibilities with Ultra HDI

Explore how Ultra HDI technology is redefining PCB design. This article breaks down the benefits and manufacturing considerations of Ultra HDI, and how it enables next-level routing density and miniaturization in advanced electronics.

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Blog •
3D-MID in Focus: Principles, Processes, and Practical Use

This article introduces 3D-MID (Mechatronic Integrated Devices), a technology that integrates circuitry into 3D plastic structures to reduce size, weight, and complexity. It explains the production process, use cases, and benefits of 3D-MID in sectors like automotive, medical, and consumer electronics.

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Blog •
Eliminate EMI and Signal Integrity Issues in Multi-Board PCB Designs

Ensure signal integrity and minimize EMI in complex electronics. Our new article explains how to address electromagnetic interference and signal integrity challenges in multi-board PCB designs, offering practical strategies and layout considerations for reliable system performance.

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Blog •
Mastering Component Templates in Altium Designer 25

Our new article by Dario Fresu explains how Component Templates in Altium Designer 25 Pro improve design consistency, reduce errors, and streamline collaboration. It highlights practical benefits like standardized naming, faster component creation, and scalability across projects. Includes examples of using templates with Altium 365™ to simplify complex component setup.

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Blog •
Wire Harness Design Guide for Development and Manufacturing

Designing a wire harness goes far beyond just connecting components—it’s about ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and compliance. This article walks you through the entire process, from initial design to production, helping you streamline development and avoid common pitfalls.

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Blog •
Preparing for Medical Device Cybersecurity Assessments

Explore the key considerations and best practices for conducting cybersecurity assessments in medical device development. This article outlines how to identify potential threats, evaluate risks, and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards.

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NEW
Embedded thumbnail for Design Faster with Altium Designer 25
Altium Designer's 25 Quantitative Benefits •
Design Faster with Altium Designer 25

Every second and every click count in the product development cycle. See how the new PCB Layout Replication feature in Altium Designer 25 boosts your efficiency in the PCB design process. Want to improve even more? Check out our Benefit Calculator now!

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NEW
Embedded thumbnail for Creating PCB Drill Drawings and Tables in Altium Designer
How-To's •
Creating PCB Drill Drawings and Tables in Altium Designer

If you want to learn more about drill drawings and tables in your PCB designs using Altium Designer, this tutorial is a must-watch. In the video, our Tech Consultant Zach Peterson walks you through multiple methods for generating these critical fabrication documents, including automatic Gerber outputs and custom drawings.

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NEW
Embedded thumbnail for Streamlining Team Collaboration in Industrial PCB Projects - Recording Preview
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Streamlining Team Collaboration in Industrial PCB Projects - Recording Preview

This webinar recording shows how Altium Designer and Altium 365 improve team collaboration in industrial PCB projects. It covers features like version control, live commenting, task tracking, and JIRA integration to help teams work more efficiently and reduce costly errors.

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Embedded thumbnail for AC Coupling Capacitors: Placement for High-Speed PCB Design
How-To's •
AC Coupling Capacitors: Placement for High-Speed PCB Design

Learn the facts about AC coupling capacitor placement in high-speed PCB designs. In this video, Zach Peterson explores the ongoing debate: should AC coupling capacitors be placed near the transmitter or the receiver in high-speed differential pairs?

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Embedded thumbnail for Coming Soon: Export 3D-MID Tracks as Centerline Curves
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Coming Soon: Export 3D-MID Tracks as Centerline Curves

Coming Soon: 3D-MID Track-to-Centerline Export allows you to export conductive tracks on 3D substrates as precise centerline curves within STEP files—enabling seamless integration with advanced 5-axis manufacturing processes. Explore more upcoming upgrades on our Coming Soon page.

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Embedded thumbnail for Advanced xSignal and Impedance Control Techniques - Recording Preview
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Advanced xSignal and Impedance Control Techniques - Recording Preview

This webinar recording explores advanced xSignal and impedance control techniques in Altium Designer 25. It covers defining xSignals, managing impedance profiles, differential pairs, and delay tuning—all essential for high-speed PCB design. Full recording you find here: April 2025 COM Webinar Recording.

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Embedded thumbnail for Coming Soon: Embedded 3D Models for Harness Designs
How-To's •
Coming Soon: Embedded 3D Models for Harness Designs

Coming soon: the Embedded 3D Models for Harness Designs feature will automatically include Parasolid-format 3D models in your harness layout drawings. This improves integration with MCAD CoDesigner, enabling seamless synchronization between electrical and mechanical design domains. To see more upcoming upgrades, visit our Coming Soon page.

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Embedded thumbnail for Make Smarter Design Decisions with Signal Analyzer by Keysight
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Make Smarter Design Decisions with Signal Analyzer by Keysight

Discover how to simplify your workflow and boost design confidence with Signal Analyzer by Keysight—a complete extension available right inside Altium Designer 25. This whitepaper shows you how to analyze impedance, delay, and insertion/return loss without ever leaving your design environment.

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Embedded thumbnail for Unveiling 86% Task Time Efficiency in Altium Designer 25
Altium Designer's 25 Quantitative Benefits •
Unveiling 86% Task Time Efficiency in Altium Designer 25

Watch how Altium Designer 25 saves time on PCB visualization. This short video shows a side-by-side comparison of the same task done in Altium Designer 25 vs. an external CAD tool—revealing big time and click savings. A great teaser to highlight the value of the unified design environment and promote the Benefit Calculator.

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Embedded thumbnail for AGND vs PGND: Proper Net Tie Connections in Power Regulator PCB Design
How-To's •
AGND vs PGND: Proper Net Tie Connections in Power Regulator PCB Design

What’s the difference between AGND and PGND — and when should you use a net tie? Zach Peterson breaks down proper PCB layout for buck converters, grounding best practices, and why component placement matters in switching regulator designs.

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Embedded thumbnail for Students at Monash UAS Fly Higher with Altium Solutions to Power Their Autonomous Drone Technology
Altium Stories •
Students at Monash UAS Fly Higher with Altium Solutions to Power Their Autonomous Drone Technology

Discover how the Monash Uncrewed Aerial Systems team leverages Altium Designer, MCAD CoDesigner, and Altium 365 to develop custom drone boards for critical humanitarian missions.

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Embedded thumbnail for Say Goodbye to Disjointed Workflows: Unified Product Design in Altium Designer 25
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Say Goodbye to Disjointed Workflows: Unified Product Design in Altium Designer 25

Check an overview of how Altium Designer 25 unifies Multi-Board and Harness Design into a seamless, efficient workflow for faster, error-free product development.

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Embedded thumbnail for From Concept to Reality: Updated 3D-MID Demo in Altium Designer 25
New in Altium Designer 25 •
From Concept to Reality: Updated 3D-MID Demo in Altium Designer 25

A walkthrough of the new 3D-MID capabilities in Altium Designer 25. Covers setting up a 3D PCB document, component placement on curved surfaces, routing with grids and sketches, exporting for LDS manufacturing, and generating a 3D pick-and-place file.

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Embedded thumbnail for Take 66% of Your Time Back with Custom Pad Stack in Altium Designer 25
Altium Designer's 25 Quantitative Benefits •
Take 66% of Your Time Back with Custom Pad Stack in Altium Designer 25

This video demonstrates the measurable productivity gains of using the Custom Pad Stack tool in Altium Designer 25. It compares a detailed QFN-32 footprint customization process across versions, showing a significant reduction in time and mouse clicks—2 min 5 sec vs. 6 min 2 sec, and 45 vs. 116 clicks.

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Embedded thumbnail for PCB Stackups in Reverse?
How-To's •
PCB Stackups in Reverse?

Watch our new tutorial on reverse PCB stackups — a unique approach that combines thin internal layers with thicker outer cores for specialized applications. Learn how to implement reverse stackups effectively in Altium Designer, understand key manufacturability constraints, and explore Rogers materials specifically suited for this technique.

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Embedded thumbnail for Design Smarter - Harness, Multi-board, and MCAD CoDesign in Action
New in Altium Designer 25 •
Design Smarter - Harness, Multi-board, and MCAD CoDesign in Action

This webinar highlights how Altium Designer 25, with a Pro or Enterprise subscription, enables seamless ECAD-MCAD collaboration using Harness and Multi-board Design tools and the advanced MCAD CoDesigner. Viewers will learn how to integrate harness designs, optimize multi-board systems for enclosure fit, and synchronize designs with SolidWorks, PTC Creo, and Autodesk Inventor.

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