Welcome to our brand new for 2017 series of Getting Started videos for CircuitStudio. Featuring CS v1.4 these videos will guide you from a first overview of the software through to creating a routed PCB and generating manufacturing output. The content is suited to new users and evaluators of CircuitStudio who already understand the basic PCB design process, these videos concentrate on introducing the basic features of the software for those not already familiar with the product.
CircuitStudio delivers a powerful design solution for those who create printed circuit boards on occasion, and require a professional-level tool at their fingertips with which to do so. With a streamlined interface built atop a powerful PCB Design engine, CircuitStudio provides the tools necessary to capture and layout your boards, and produce the manufacturing data with which to turn your ideas into physical reality. And all from within a single, powerful-yet-intuitive, unified design environment. A consistent selection and editing paradigm across different editors allows you to easily and smoothly switch between various design tasks within the CircuitStudio environment.
Function key F1 is your friend - context sensitive help, documentation and shortcut keys related to the task you are undertaking.
Also try SHIFT F1 when performing a command (e.g. routing, moving), context sensitive shortcuts presented in a different style.
The video series provides a walk through from starting a project to generating manufacturing data for your design. It is recommended to view the videos in order, however for those of you who are impatient feel free to jump directly to a topic of interest. The videos are available to all community users, and with each video you will find accompanying documentation.
| Video | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Workspace Overview | This first video of the series describes the main elements of the workspace. Your environment may not look exactly like shown because CircuitStudio adjusts the environment to suit the current editor mode you are working in (i.e. currently active document). Although not demonstrated on the videos, multi-monitor systems are supported, the various tool windows can be docked to the main window or floating and moved off to a second (or third) monitor. |
| #2 | Starting a Project | Create your first project. For this tutorial series a blank project is created with subsequent videos showing how to draw up a schematic and take through all the typical PCB design stages. |
| #3 | Creating a Schematic | Create your first schematic, a simple transistor multi-vibrator. The circuit is kept simple to allow you to follow through on your own copy of the software. Learn how to use the Altium Vault to find parts, place them on your schematic sheet and wire up the nets. |
| #4 | Compiling Your Project | A schematic is 'compiled' to create the necessary PCB data, you are walked through the process and shown how design errors can be caught at an early stage. |
| #5 | Creating the PCB | The PCB editor is introduced and a simple board outline created along with information on how to configure grids. |
| #6 | Setting Design Rules | Design rules play an important role in PCB editing, providing control and guidance for interactive placement, routing and editing in addition to batch checks to finalise your design. This video looks at some of the important rules and how to configure them. |
| #7 | Component Placement | The components for the example design are placed onto the board illustrating the ratsnest and component placement. |
| #8 | Interactive Routing | CircuitStudio includes a powerful interactive router, the basic features are covered here in order to route the example board that includes a mix of through hole and surface mount components. |
| #9 | Editing & Rerouting | The power of the interactive router is demonstrated when editing existing routes and re-routing previously placed tracks. |
| #10 | Running Design Rule Checks | An error free board is the aim of all PCB designers, the batch design rule checker is used to ensure electrical and mechanical constraints are adhered to, helping achieve a board without manufacturing difficulties such as insufficient copper track widths or track spacing violations. |
| #11 | Generating Manufacturing Data | Once your have achieved your prefect PCB design it is necessary to pass this data on to the fabricators. A brief overview of the process is provided in this final video of the series. |
We hope you enjoy the video tutorials and that they get you up to speed with evaluating CircuitStudio. Don't forget that you can ask questions on these forums and contact us directly at software@element14.com for technical support.
Still wanting more? A few different topics are covered by an older webinar series including multi-sheet designs, polygon pours and .STEP files. These were recorded using v1.1 software however you should find much of the content still applicable.
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