Altium Designer Essentials

Key Topics Covered:

• Accessing Altium Platform: Learn how to access the designated training workspace and connect to the Altium Platform environment  

• Workspace Folder Structure: Navigate the training workspace, understand the web interface, and utilize the Explorer panel  

• Project Management: Access existing design projects and create new ones within Altium Platform for seamless project management and collaboration  

• Design Environment Customization: Discover how to tailor the design environment to your needs, optimizing panels, toolbars, and menus for efficient project work  

• Schematic Preferences Setup: Configure schematic environment preferences to streamline design capture and ensure consistency across projects  

• Navigation Fundamentals: Master basic operations in the schematic editor, including preference settings, mouse actions, frequently used shortcut keys, and search actions  

Key Topics Covered:

• Project Creation and Storage: Create training folders in the workspace and establish new projects using project templates  

• Component Placement and Libraries: Access and place components efficiently using Altium Platform libraries, including reuse blocks, ensuring a streamlined design flow  

• Creating Connectivity: Establish connections between components using wires, net labels, and bus structures to create accurate electrical pathways  

• Hierarchical Design Implementation: Convert flat design structures to hierarchical designs using bottom-up methodology for better organization and manageability  

• Schematic Graphics and Annotation: Manage graphic objects, text strings, formatting, and component annotation for clear documentation  

• Advanced Editing Capabilities: Use alignment commands, net color highlighting, and global editing tools to make swift, consistent changes across multiple components  

• Design Rules Configuration: (New Module 12B) Learn how to define design rules by checking project settings and placing directives, including Constraint Manager navigation, net classes definition, and width rules configuration  

• Electrical Rules and Validation: Apply electrical rules, perform design verification, and conduct Electrical Rule Checks (ERC) to maintain design integrity  

• Multi-Sheet Design Management: Control multi-sheet designs and manage hierarchical structures for larger projects  

• Design Transfer Preparation: Transfer schematic rules and design data to PCB layout, ensuring continuity and consistency in the design process  

Key Topics Covered:

• PCB Environment Setup: Comprehensive walkthrough of the PCB interface, preferences, navigation techniques, and viewing tools  

• PCB Configuration Fundamentals: Board shape definition, mechanical layer setup, layer stack management, and custom grid configuration  

• Layer Stack Management: Configure layer stacks using the Layer Stack Manager and load predefined layer stacks from the workspace  

• Grid Setup: Configuration of the Grid and its visibility / appearance for Component Placement and Routing  

• Design Rules and Constraints: Overview of design rule creation, rule priority management, and the significance of proper rule configuration  

• Advanced Constraint Manager: (New Module 20B) Hands-on experience with the Constraint Manager interface, including defining clearances and widths, using net classes, setting via sizes, establishing component clearances, and importing/exporting constraints and directives  

• Component and Net Class Management: Organize designs using component classes and net classes for rule-driven design  

• Component Placement Strategies: Effective strategies for placing components to balance performance and manufacturability, including precise positioning and mounting hole placement  

• Routing Techniques and Methods: Explore various routing commands and options to create reliable connections while adhering to design constraints  

• Polygon Pour and Plane Management: Configure power planes and polygons, manage polygon pour creation and modification, and understand connection styles for pads and vias  

• Global Editing and Analysis Tools: Apply global edits efficiently using the PCB List panel and PCB Filter panel for design optimization  

• Design Rule Checking (DRC): Configure and run design rule checks, identify and resolve violations using the PCB Rules and Violation Panel  

• Design Reuse with Altium Platform: Utilize Altium Platform for seamless design reuse, speeding up repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency  

• Component Creation for Altium Platform: Creating custom components within the Altium workspace, essential for ongoing design work and library management.  

Key Topics Covered:

• Professional Documentation with Draftsman: Create assembly drawings and fabrication drawings using predefined Draftsman documents and templates  

• Output Job File Configuration: Utilize Output Job files to streamline the generation of multiple outputs, including local fabrication files and documentation, ensuring consistency and accuracy  

• Fabrication & Assembly Outputs: Generate comprehensive fabrication and assembly files in various formats to meet manufacturer requirements  

• Bill of Materials (BOM): Create detailed BOMs that list all components and quantities for assembly  

• Project Release to Altium Platform: Release projects to the Altium Workspace, enabling seamless collaboration and version control through the complete release process  

Key Topics Covered:

• Accessing Altium Platform: Learn how to access the designated training workspace and connect to the Altium Platform environment  

• Workspace Folder Structure: Navigate the training workspace, understand the web interface, and utilize the Explorer panel  

• Project Management: Access existing design projects and create new ones within Altium Platform for seamless project management and collaboration  

• Design Environment Customization: Discover how to tailor the design environment to your needs, optimizing panels, toolbars, and menus for efficient project work  

• Schematic Preferences Setup: Configure schematic environment preferences to streamline design capture and ensure consistency across projects  

• Navigation Fundamentals: Master basic operations in the schematic editor, including preference settings, mouse actions, frequently used shortcut keys, and search actions  

Key Topics Covered:

• Project Creation and Storage: Create training folders in the workspace and establish new projects using project templates  

• Component Placement and Libraries: Access and place components efficiently using Altium Platform libraries, including reuse blocks, ensuring a streamlined design flow  

• Creating Connectivity: Establish connections between components using wires, net labels, and bus structures to create accurate electrical pathways  

• Hierarchical Design Implementation: Convert flat design structures to hierarchical designs using bottom-up methodology for better organization and manageability  

• Schematic Graphics and Annotation: Manage graphic objects, text strings, formatting, and component annotation for clear documentation  

• Advanced Editing Capabilities: Use alignment commands, net color highlighting, and global editing tools to make swift, consistent changes across multiple components  

• Design Rules Configuration: (New Module 12B) Learn how to define design rules by checking project settings and placing directives, including Constraint Manager navigation, net classes definition, and width rules configuration  

• Electrical Rules and Validation: Apply electrical rules, perform design verification, and conduct Electrical Rule Checks (ERC) to maintain design integrity  

• Multi-Sheet Design Management: Control multi-sheet designs and manage hierarchical structures for larger projects  

• Design Transfer Preparation: Transfer schematic rules and design data to PCB layout, ensuring continuity and consistency in the design process 

Key Topics Covered:

• PCB Environment Setup: Comprehensive walkthrough of the PCB interface, preferences, navigation techniques, and viewing tools  

• PCB Configuration Fundamentals: Board shape definition, mechanical layer setup, layer stack management, and custom grid configuration  

• Layer Stack Management: Configure layer stacks using the Layer Stack Manager and load predefined layer stacks from the workspace  

• Grid Setup: Configuration of the Grid and its visibility / appearance for Component Placement and Routing  

• Design Rules and Constraints: Overview of design rule creation, rule priority management, and the significance of proper rule configuration  

• Advanced Constraint Manager: (New Module 20B) Hands-on experience with the Constraint Manager interface, including defining clearances and widths, using net classes, setting via sizes, establishing component clearances, and importing/exporting constraints and directives  

• Component and Net Class Management: Organize designs using component classes and net classes for rule-driven design  

• Component Placement Strategies: Effective strategies for placing components to balance performance and manufacturability, including precise positioning and mounting hole placement  

• Routing Techniques and Methods: Explore various routing commands and options to create reliable connections while adhering to design constraints  

• Polygon Pour and Plane Management: Configure power planes and polygons, manage polygon pour creation and modification, and understand connection styles for pads and vias  

• Global Editing and Analysis Tools: Apply global edits efficiently using the PCB List panel and PCB Filter panel for design optimization  

• Design Rule Checking (DRC): Configure and run design rule checks, identify and resolve violations using the PCB Rules and Violation Panel  

• Design Reuse with Altium Platform: Utilize Altium Platform for seamless design reuse, speeding up repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency  

• Component Creation for Altium Platform: Creating custom components within the Altium workspace, essential for ongoing design work and library management.  

Key Topics Covered:

• Professional Documentation with Draftsman: Create assembly drawings and fabrication drawings using predefined Draftsman documents and templates  

• Output Job File Configuration: Utilize Output Job files to streamline the generation of multiple outputs, including local fabrication files and documentation, ensuring consistency and accuracy  

• Fabrication & Assembly Outputs: Generate comprehensive fabrication and assembly files in various formats to meet manufacturer requirements  

• Bill of Materials (BOM): Create detailed BOMs that list all components and quantities for assembly  

• Project Release to Altium Platform: Release projects to the Altium Workspace, enabling seamless collaboration and version control through the complete release process