Zuken now offers its popular free PCB design suite, CADSTAR Express, with industry-leading automatic and interactive routing technology

October 18th, 2004– Bristol, UK - Zuken has announced that CADSTAR Express, a free web download of its industry-standard printed circuit board (PCB) design solution, CADSTAR 7.0 is now available with an advanced Place and Route Editor for much faster and more accurate routing. CADSTAR Express with P.R.Editor XR 2000 is a fully functional version of CADSTAR 7.0 with a limit of 50 library components and 300 pins.

Visitors to the web site can also view samples of CADSTAR Exchange, an on-line library containing over 100,000 components. Aimed at design engineers, board designers, students and hobbyists, CADSTAR Express comes with a comprehensive, interactive do-it-yourself manual that guides users through the design process, enabling full evaluation of the tool suite.

Zuken’s CADSTAR 7.0 is a front-to-back PCB design suite for the Windows platform. It offers constraints-driven schematic capture, placement, routing, library creation and management, signal integrity, EMC analysis, and production of manufacturing data. The complete design flow is managed within a single, easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). Menus can be customized for fast access to frequently used tools, and other advanced features include board dimensioning tools and a hierarchical library for symbols, components and parts.

The addition of P.R.Editor XR 2000 ensures fast and accurate automatic routing of even the most densely packed boards. Advanced features of the tool suite include accurate 45-degree routing, automatic copper re-pour to save time when there are layout changes, and constraints-based component footprints to avoid manufacturing errors. Placement is now accurate up to 1/1000 th of a degree, and constraints-based track length control assists designers in maintaining signal integrity and minimizing EMC problems, particularly in high-speed designs.

CADSTAR Express is a zero-risk opportunity for designers to experience high-end PCB design productivity from a Windows-based tool suite. It is available for download at www.cadstarworld.com/express. For a limited time in North and South America, Zuken is offering 20% off any CADSTAR product if purchased within 45 days of downloading CADSTAR Express.

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About CADSTAR
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. CADSTAR also features internet-accessible libraries of over 100,000 components, a 3D design tool, automatic and high-speed routing, variant management, and signal integrity management and verification. It provides users with a competitively priced, scalable solution for designing simple or complex, multilayer PCBs.

About Zuken:
Established in 1976, Zuken has evolved into a provider of solutions that maximize the efficiency of the design and manufacturing processes of electronics companies around the world. Zuken holds a leading global share of the PCB/MCM/HIC software market in the field of electronic design automation (EDA). In addition to its longstanding experience as a provider of innovative solutions for PCB design, Zuken’s expanded portfolio encompasses proven solutions for the development of information technology (IT) infrastructures. 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.
www.zuken.com