April, 2003. CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L4 and XR 2000 L6 are two low-cost versions of Zuken’s proven P.R.Editor XR 2000 family of automatic, interactive place-and-route tools for PCB design.

Able to work as stand-alone or embedded tools with Bronze, Silver or Gold versions of CADSTAR 6.0.2, the company’s front-to-back PC-based PCB design solution, they provide manual, automatic and interactive grid-free routing to reduce design time and improve productivity. Users can create layer stacks with a mix of layers - typically two electrical with two power planes using CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L4 and four electrical with two power planes using CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L6.

The new tools have all the functionality of unlimited versions of CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 and are restricted only by the number of layers that can be accommodated. They provide the latest 45-degree routing algorithm for error-free, single-click automatic completion of interactive routing. Other features include powerful push-aside and spring-back functions when placing new components onto the board or moving them around, minimum force placement indicators, concurrent bus routing, copy-and-paste of route patterns to enable design re-use, and the ability to create and store breakout patterns for fan-in and fan-out of fine pitch devices.

CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L4 and CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L6 also include a test point analyzer for the addition of in-circuit test pins. Either during routing, or after design completion, test points can be inserted in surface mount or through-hole boards with fine control over the type of test point used. The test points are inserted using push-aside technology and if a pad or via is designated as ‘no test’ the tool’s automatic routines will insert a new test point site.

CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L4 costs 4000 Euros/US Dollars and CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR 2000 L6 costs 6000 Euros/US Dollars.

About CADSTAR
Zuken’s CADSTAR is a Windows-based solution for PCB design that spans schematic capture, placement, routing, library creation and management, signal integrity, EMC analysis, and production of manufacturing data.

Further Information:

• P.R.Editor Xr 2000 L4 & L6 web page
  (includes demonstrations of key functionality)

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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:
Bob Jones, Publitek Ltd. Tel: +44 1225 470000
E-mail: bob@publitek.com

Editors' note:
About Zuken:
Established in 1976, Zuken provides solutions that maximize the efficiency of the design and manufacturing processes of electronics companies. Zuken holds a global share of the PCB/MCM/HIC software market in the field of electronic design automation (EDA). Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company is headquartered in Japan and has development, sales and support centers in 10 countries including the US, Germany, UK and France. Zuken's customers include the world's top 30 electronics manufacturers from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, and medical to military.