Altium Designer 14.3 provides improved support and new features that facilitate design reuse and more efficient electronics design. Improved Component Variant Support designs the schematic and PCB for drop-in replacement and alternative parts.

Eases sourcing and manages multiple alternative parts from the supply chain. Features 3D STEP export of rigid-flex PCBs in the folded state, to better support 3D rigid-flex designs. Allows opening of the folded model of flexible PCB in mechanical design tools to ensure form and fit are correct. Runs detailed analysis on PCB, checking on connections and heat flow. Improves schematic wire dragging, with development focused on maintaining connectivity while improving productivity. 

Other enhancements include:

● Productivity and speed improvements to Altium’s Interactive Routing Engine and Length Tuning tools.

● Automatic Component Rotation on Polar Grid for circular component placements.

● Improved via stitching and via shielding tools to reduce manual placement and editing of shielding vias.

● Improved internal layer usage for high density designs with automatic, unused PAD removal.

● Updated Mentor Graphics PADS® and xDX Designer® Importers to make it easier to incorporate and maintain existing legacy design IP.

Altium, www.altium.com