Welcome

Creating a Custom Padstack (old)

Introduction

A padstack is a design for the exposed copper surface area for each hole or pad on the board where the component is mounted and soldered (see example, Figure 1). You may need to create a custom padstack when creating custom parts to ensure that the pad and hole are big enough to be reliable. This tutorial describes the manual creation of custom padstacks using the Pad Designer application.

Creating a custom padstack in Cadence

Introduction

A padstack is a design for the exposed copper surface area for each hole or pad on the board where the component is mounted and soldered (see example, Figure 1). You may need to create a custom padstack when creating custom parts to ensure that the pad and hole are big enough to be reliable. This tutorial describes the manual creation of custom padstacks using the Pad Designer application.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Creating a custom PCB footprint manually in Cadence

Introduction

A PCB footprint is the physical layout on a PCB to which a component is soldered. Usually, you must create a custom PCB footprint for each custom schematic symbol that you create. Footprints can be made for many standard components (e.g., basic ICs) using the Package Symbol Wizard (see the Creating a PCB footprint using Package Designer in Cadence page), but more complex components (like switching power supply ICs with thermal reliefs) must be created by hand. This tutorial details the manual creation of a custom footprint.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Creating a custom PCB footprint using Package Designer in Cadence

Introduction

A PCB footprint is the physical layout on a PCB to which a component is soldered. Usually, you must create a custom PCB footprint for each custom schematic symbol that you create. This tutorial details the easiest way to make custom footprints using the Package Symbol (Wizard).

• Cadence
• Pcb

Creating a custom schematic symbol in Cadence

Introduction

In most designs, some components will not be available in built-in libraries. The purpose of this tutorial is to show how to make a custom schematic symbol that can be used in the design of schematics in Cadence.

• Cadence

Creating a custom SMD footprint manually in Cadence

Introduction

This tutorial will walk through the creation of a custom surface-mount device (SMD) footprint manually. A MCH3382 Power MOSFET from ON Semiconductor will be used as an example.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Creating a Ground Plane in Cadence PCB Editor

What is a ground plane?

A ground plane is a large area of copper in a printed circuit board design that is connected to ground on the power supply.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Creating a new project in Cadence

Creating a new project in Cadence

1. In Windows, open the Design Entry CIS program. This program allows you to edit schematics, and will be used to export a netlist describing your schematic into the PCB Editor.

Creating Custom Footprints

You can try to find existing footprints for components, but most components will require custom footprints.

• Cadence
• Pcb

DC Motors 101

Watch the video mini-lecture on DC motor control from Dr. Jordan

What types of DC motors are most common?

• Brushed DC motors. Current flowing in one direction makes the motor turn one direction, and current flowing in the opposite direction makes the motor turn the opposite direction.
• Stepper motors - provide absolute position control but require a special controller IC
• Servo motors - PWM signal controls the position of the motor

How do I connect a brushed DC motor to a microcontroller?

DC motors are inductive loads and therefore cannot be directly connected to a microcontroller without damaging the microcontroller. There are two protection mechanisms that go into a successful motor interface:

• Circuit design
• Motors