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I have recently changed over from using NI Multisim and Ultiboard circuit and PCB design software to solid works PCB circuit and PCB design software powered by Altium in combination with my normal solid works CAD design software. It is a seriously powerful combination integration though I have found it difficult learning and assimilating the software. There are not currently many tutorials but I have started to get a grip with it now and I am seeing its potential.
Yes, the Altium / SolidWorks PCB combo is the most powerful real-time interactive CAE-CAD software combination in the marketplace. SolidWorks also supports CircuitWorks which is non-real time (batch or manual mode) that is included with SolidWorks Professional.
Typically during space studies, that is when the electrical engineer needs to know the interior volume so that the mechanical engineer can perform the external volume dimensioning. Once the EE knows what to put inside, it makes it easier for the ME to package the outside.
I use Cadence (OrCAD & Allegro) which I feel is more powerful for motherboards, servers, high density FPGAs, and other very complex designs where the Signal Integrity (SI) issues are a concern.
However Altium (formally Protel) has a growing grass-roots following and is the typical upgrade path for hobbyist and small to medium sided companies. I would say it is the equivalence in popularity of SolidWorks in the ME community as it is for the EE community.
I have used all of the major packages (Cadence, Mentor, Altium, Zuken) and many of the dying/defunct packages (Protel Autotrax for Macintosh, Intergraph Veribest = Dasix = Daisy-Cadentix, Viewlogic (now DxDesigner), PADS PCB, P-CAD PCB, and others).
The best schematic capture since 1995 (IMHO) is OrCAD Capture which Altium has created a very close alternative and which can translate 100% of Capture .DSN files. DxDesigner by Mentor Grpahics is a beast of a tool which is only for large corporations with librarians since symbols and footprints must be created simultaneously to work properly. Others are minimally complex and will do the basic job, but not for tough multi-GHz SI designs.
Other simulation tools mimic PSpice which is owned by Cadence. But Signal Integrity simulation tools are varied with Hyperlynx and Sigrity being some of the best 2D.
RF and other heavy current EM circuits will use 3D tools such as HFSS and CST which are $50K starting prices !
So as the saying goes; 'pick the tool that best suits the job !'
Thanks for your input to the Electrical engineering and Electronics design section Steven your expertise is much appreciated.
