Pulsonix 8.5 schematic capture/PCB design software now outputs in Gerber X2 and exports netlists in IPC-2581. New Panel Editor feature controls pre-fabrication processes, enabling multi-PCB designs to be panelized, and adds test coupons, fiducial markers, documentation and fabrication details. Defines tab-routing paths. Multiple group selection for design reuse has been added to enhance current reuse placement algorithm. When a selection has been made, this can now be applied to multiple groups in the design. Once placement has been made, multiple positional rearrangement options can also be applied to the existing design using a new placement pattern from the original design. Introduces dynamic graphical positioning tool for adding STEP models to the footprint, for accurate visual association between the two items.

Pulsonix, pulsonix.com

FloTherm XT software has thermal management capabilities for electronic systems, printed circuit boards and packages. Is an integrated mechanical design automation and electronic design automation electronics cooling solution. Has CAD-centric technology and a mesher that simulates complex geometries. Now supports transient analysis, component and board manipulation, Joule heating, parametric studies, extended EDA integration capabilities, and new modeling options, including an ability to represent copper for complex PCBs. Provides design virtual prototyping and “what-if” analysis for product quality and minimized design iterations. PCB copper nets and traces are represented in 3D.

Mentor Graphics, www.mentor.com

MCAD Co-Designer extension for Altium Designer facilitates collaboration between mechanical and electronic design with integrated design data, a managed change environment for design revisions, and lifecycle management for component creation. Is said to tightly integrate design data between ECAD and MCAD software environments. Integrates directly with Solidworks to allow mechanical and electrical collaboration without interruptions to existing workflow efficiencies. Features include:

• Managed design revisions, for making changes to component placement and board shape in their respective design environments. Changes are then pushed through a new ECAD/MCAD project collaboration server, which notifies the designer of changes made to a design and provides the option to accept or reject changes as desired.
• Integrated design data, linked between Altium Designer and a mechanical designer's software environment, for exporting board assemblies to MCAD software with included copper information, allowing thermal, vibration, and other mechanical simulations.
• Distinct workflows and lifecycles, to allow existing workflow productivity to be maintained with no interruptions to their design environment. Component models and electrical data can be worked on independently in both design environments, and completed design data can then be joined into a unified component model.

Altium, www.altium.com

CST Studio Suite – Student Edition is a free version of this electromagnetic simulation package designed to help with basics of electromagnetic theory. Allows students to visualize electromagnetic phenomena and their applications in 3D. Fully parameterized models allow students to adjust settings of the problem and perform virtual experiments to investigate field behavior. Contains high-frequency time domain and frequency domain solvers, as well as static and thermal solvers. Is supported by online examples showing how problems can be solved with simulation. Includes intuitive modeling interface, material library and field visualization features.

CST, https://www.cst.com/academia