Configuring Cadence (Standalone Installation)
Before using Cadence, configure it for optimal performance by following the instructions below.
Creating a Board Outline in Cadence PCB Editor
What is a board outline?
A board outline is the outermost boundary of a printed circuit board design. It is used by the PCB manufacturer to cut the printed circuit board to the specified size and shape.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Creating a Differential Pair in Cadence PCB Editor
What is a differential pair?
A differential pair is a pair of traces that together carry a signal between them. Because of the circuitry involved, these traces may be isolated from the surrounding circuit, and thus, it is necessary to keep them near each other. Why? Maxwell’s law says that a changing magnetic field through a loop of wire causes a current. In our cases, the pair of traces is a loop – because they are connected to each other (through circuitry) at the ends of the trace – the changing magnetic field could be from electromagnetic interference, and we are trying to keep a signal “clean” as it travels over our board.
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.
