CADSTAR
6.0 introduces new innovative high-speed Constraints Manager to desktop
PCB design solution
October,
2002. Zuken has announced a major upgrade to its CADSTAR front-to-back
PCB design solution. For the first time, the toolset is delivered
with an innovative Constraints Manager to reduce design iterations
and significantly improve productivity in high-speed designs. Other
major improvements include enhanced 45-degree routing, mixed width
route constraints, enhanced interactive placement, faster drawing
tools and more effective library management.
CADSTAR
6.0 is a Windows compliant solution for PCB design that spans schematic
capture placement, routing, library creation and management, signal
integrity and EMC analysis, and production of manufacturing data.
The addition of a Constraints Manager, functionality that is normally
only available in high-cost design tools, allows engineers to set
design constraints in a simple, spreadsheet-like table and these
constraints are then maintained throughout the PCB design flow.
This cuts product time-to-market by reducing design re-work. Both
electrical and physical constraints can be set.
Activ-45
is a revolutionary set of algorithms that enables fast and accurate,
interactive 45-degree routing. Users simply click on the start point
then move the mouse along the desired route to the next connection
point. The tool automatically completes error-free routing with
true 45-degree angles and will push aside routes to achieve this
where necessary.
As
the maximum and minimum limits of acceptable route widths can be
set, layout engineers can input individual route widths as they
go along and do not have to pre-define these in advance of layout.
This gives greater routing flexibility whilst ensuring that constraints
are not violated.
In
CADSTAR 6.0, component placement includes interactive push-aside
and spring-back functions for the first time. These make it easier
to place components on densely populated boards. In addition, drawing
tools have been enhanced to provide faster and more accurate shape
creation and copying.
Two
aspects of the component library have also been improved in CADSTAR
6.0. Firstly, it is now possible to create an HTML-based data sheet
for every part in the library so that anyone with a browser can
share this data and extract attributes over an intranet or internet
connection. This is particularly valuable where concurrent or partitioned
design work takes place. Secondly, read-only attributes can be set
in the library to provide greater control and security by preventing
unauthorised users from changing component values.
Commenting
on the upgrade, Mark Thompson, Zuken’s CADSTAR Business Unit
Manager said:
“The latest enhancements make CADSTAR even easier to use whilst
bringing functionality up to that of the higher end and more expensive
products from competitors. It’s a clear demonstration of our
commitment to maintaining CADSTAR’s position as the most cost-effective
and capable Windows-based PCB design solution.”
+++ends
Further
Information:
For further information and reader enquiries:
Ev Milker, Zuken Ltd., 1500 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32
4RF, UK
Tel: +44 1454 207800 Fax: +44 1454 207803
E-mail: Ev.milker@zuken.co.uk
For
further information, text and graphics by email or to discuss feature
article opportunities:
EUROPE:
Bob Jones, Publitek Ltd. Tel: +44 1225 470000
E-mail: bob@publitek.com
USA:
Leslie
Cumming, Publitek Ltd. Tel: 503 274 2604
E-mail: leslie@publitekus.com
Editors'
note:
About Zuken
Zuken is one of the world’s leading providers of professional
software solutions for the design of PCB/MCM/IC packages and systems.
These advanced tool sets facilitate schematic capture, placement,
routing and analysis, and manufacture and test. Used by the world’s
top 30 electronic product manufacturers, the solutions operate under
both UNIX and Microsoft Windows. Zuken is the market sector leader
in Japan and has offices throughout Europe and the USA. It is a
global organisation employing over 1000 people and the company is
listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
For
more information, visit http://www.zuken.com.
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