Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - PCB Design Industry Timeline

Thermal Vias are Ineffective. Here’s Why.
Adding thermal vias can take up valuable board space with little benefit.
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Connecting the Industry, from Boards to Assemblies
HDP is embarking on new rounds of evaluations of laminates and lead-free solders.
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Exploring the Impact of AI
A special panel discusses the growth of AI tools and its possible effects on the industry.
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A Journey in Rigid-Flex Design
Overcoming the challenges of rigid-flex designs can be incredibly rewarding.
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Creating the Ultra Library
Building and maintaining what's said to be the world's largest CAD database requires strong relationships.
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1984
Premiere issue of Printed Circuit Design published in September by PMSI.

Omation Inc. (Schema) founded.

Pacific Numerix Corp. founded.

RedCAD system launched by Racal-Redac.

AutoTRAX Software founded.

Mentor Graphics acquires CADI; hires John Cooper from IBM (later of Cooper & Chyan).

1985

Lavenir Technologi Inc. founded by Max Henzi and Marius Matioc.

Mentor Graphics introduces Board Station.

OrCAD Systems Corp. founded.

Protel International Pty Ltd. founded by Nick Martin (above); later becomes Altium.

Racal-Redac releases Visula, a UNIX-based PCB design system.

Alan Finch (below) and three coauthors propose a gridless method for designing fine-line printed circuit board.

Alan Finch

Mid-1980s

Use of PCs to design PCBs is becoming a more common practice, although many saw CAD systems as cost prohibitive. Surface-mount technology (SMT) was seen as a technology for the 1990s.

Automatic digitizing systems become available.

Electronics industry takes a downturn.

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