https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/Join members as we design, prototype and fabricate printed circuit boards, for fun and for practicality!en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235995Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:56:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:9b877e2e-34bf-4855-9bce-bee0f1c062e4beacon_dave[quote userid="521287" url="~/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235992"]i dont think i could visually inspect all 12 or more layer on the physical PC motherboard. [/quote] You could perhaps use the included Gerber files for each layer to achieve that ? Also looks like KiCad has a Gerber Viewer which can Export a Gerber to KiCad PCB. https://www.kicad.org/discover/gerber-viewer/ Note though: "....Converting to gerbers will not create a normal KiCad PCB design, it will be editable representation of the copper from the gerber..." So you could perhaps try exporting from KiCad PCB to EasyEDA.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235994Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:15:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:96aacec5-b3a8-47b5-8382-b98c5c3d41c0abtAmiti simple words. i am currently using EasyEDA for pcb designing. now i want to check the pcb layout of the SK-AM62P-LP. but the problem is i cannot import it directly in easyeda, thats why i thought if someone could convert that alg to pcbdoc file i could import and inspect it.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235993Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:03:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:8968cbcd-e5f6-4441-825b-06be8e45ff62shabazAre we supposed to guess your goal? Guessing from your response you've implied the goal is not to learn a CAD tool, but possibly to learn *something* at a level that you are unable to do from visual inspection. By importing from one format to another (and in your case across three formats it seems), you will almost certainly lose any layer attributes, distances between planes, probably even the link between the PCB and schematic (KiCad only imports the PCB as far as I can see) so you've straight away lost detail. You need a goal before a plan.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235992Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:52:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:22831410-f10f-49af-a21d-4cad482db6c2abtAmit[quote userid="123345" url="~/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235990"]you can learn a lot from visual inspection of existing PCBs; for instance, pick any PC motherboard and look at it.[/quote] i dont think i could visually inspect all 12 or more layer on the physical PC motherboard. i am using easyeda, my plan is to get the .pcbdoc file and import it in EasyEDA.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235990Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:13:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:a77ad0b4-280d-40a0-92b9-f2a83d63200dshabazHi, It's unclear what problem you're trying to solve. If it's to learn a CAD tool, then importing from one format to another is one of the worst ways (CAD tools will use basic primitives and won't pick the best way to convert shapes and holes from one system to another, whereas someone designing the footprints will pick more suitable features in their CAD system). If it's to learn about PCB features and not the CAD tool itself, then you can learn a lot from visual inspection of existing PCBs; for instance, pick any PC motherboard and look at it.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235989Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:53:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:0b4a2ee4-cc83-4936-ac30-924ac8dd3c29abtAmiti am using easyeda, my plan is to get the .pcbdoc file and import it in EasyEDA. i will try KiCAD as you suggested. which PCB design software do you use?https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235981Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:51:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:179c9b70-9c12-4f4a-b7da-6d22d2e35d7dwolfgangfriedrichI am taking a guess here, as I don't understand your workflow: you want to use the free Altium viewer. There are other options: 1) Use the .brd file from the TI project zip file, Allegro has a free viewer too. 2) Install KiCAD 10, it has a very capable Allegro importer and view the file in KiCAD. It is free and does not need a license. 3) Use the Gerber/ODB++ files to analyze the board with one of a the free Gerber/ODB viewers. There are too many to list them all.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235980Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:08:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:099cba62-5f89-4d51-b4b7-63fe6183e6b8abtAmitI don't have altium licence. So i can't convert it. I tried to get 15days Free trial but i haven't got any licence from Altium.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdoc/235979Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:29:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:563db91d-bb95-4d2c-a85d-4058e5eb9beewolfgangfriedrich.alg is not the native Allegro PCB format, it is an intermediate format used for transferring or migrating designs between Allegro and other PCB software. Altium should be the software to convert this. Normally PCB software companies don't supply exporters to support their competition. It is up to your favourite software of choice to rely on their import capabilities for other formats. Have you even tried the Altium import wizard? What problems did it have importing the .alg file?https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/57016/help-me-convert-allegro-alg-file-to-altium-pcbdocFri, 05 Jun 2026 09:28:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:cc124cc8-8383-467d-90aa-81ec793628d7abtAmitHi everyone, I recently came across the SK-AM62P-LP Evaluation board on TI.com. TI included the design files, and I thought analyzing them would be a great way to expand my knowledge of PCB design. The project seems to have been designed using Allegro, and the provided file has an .alg extension. Since I don't have the software to open or convert this, could someone who has Altium Designer do me a huge favor? I've attached the file. If anyone is kind enough to convert it into a .PcbDoc format and attach it in a reply, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance for the help!" community.element14.com/.../5873.PROC164E2_5F00_BRD.zipaltiumhelpallegrohttps://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56971/new-member-working-on-pcb-review-workflows/235714Thu, 21 May 2026 12:29:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:0b486768-5771-4ec2-b3bd-4e7def45e895EthanKang**Video walkthrough:** https://youtu.be/rAZ_lP4zfCohttps://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/m/managed-videos/151347Thu, 21 May 2026 12:29:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:3137f26a-7776-4ea3-9156-fe6429a6ea7eEthanKangA quick walkthrough of Pcb Atlas, a PCB viewer designed for the Apple ecosystem. This demo shows file and folder import, 2D navigation, layer and object visibility controls, selection filters, component and net search, 3D board preview, metadata v...https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56971/new-member-working-on-pcb-review-workflowsWed, 20 May 2026 16:28:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:f70ade6e-6675-4845-abe9-ab1e8b80a72fEthanKangHi everyone, I’m new to posting here, although I’ve been reading element14 on and off for a while. I’m a hardware/software developer, mostly working around board bring-up, PCB review workflows, and the software side of making hardware projects easier to inspect and share. For the past couple of years I’ve been building PCBAtlas, a PCB review workbench for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. It recently entered a public TestFlight beta. The basic problem I’m trying to work on is that PCB review often lives in too many places at once: EDA screenshots, Gerber viewers, revision folders, notes, chat threads, and informal checklists. PCBAtlas is an attempt to bring some of that review process into a single workbench — import board/manufacturing data, inspect the layout in 2D, keep revisions together, skim a board summary, and export something that can be shared before fabrication. It is not meant to replace KiCad, an EDA editor, or a CAM/DFM sign-off flow. It is much more limited than that: a review and communication tool for people who already have PCB data and want to inspect it more conveniently. KiCad `.kicad_pcb` files are where I’ve spent the most testing time so far, especially 2D inspection, 3D viewing, and project/schematic browsing. The beta also supports manufacturing-side imports such as Gerber and IPC-2581, but real-world files always expose quirks, so I’m especially interested in feedback on format compatibility and odd import behavior. I’d like to participate here as a normal member, not just drop a product thread and disappear. If anyone here regularly reviews boards and wants to try the beta on a real or non-sensitive project, I’d be grateful for blunt feedback on import issues, unclear reports, missing review information, or anything that feels awkward in the workflow. TestFlight: testflight.apple.com/.../k37Njgd9 I can share a site link, or a short walkthrough in the replies if useful, but I did not want to make the first post link-heavy. *Disclosure: I’m the developer of PCBAtlas. I’ll answer questions in this thread and won’t DM anyone or add anyone to a mailing list.*kicadpcbPCB designshttps://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56880/logic-gate-output-changes-when-nearby-relay-activates/235248Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:54:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:cc267f10-ad80-4576-98f1-845f77eb6db9DABNever underestimate the value of metal shielding. Also, ferrite cores can be very useful in reducing induced spikes.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56880/logic-gate-output-changes-when-nearby-relay-activates/235197Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:52:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:cdde6fe5-04e8-45d5-a226-6ee55e57361ccolporteurI've experienced the interference from relays in digital electronics. The components don't even have to be on the same board. Mostly working with Arduino's and raspberry pi. My fix was to code to simulate key bounce. relay contacts under heavy load do tend to generate emf. Its never seems to be good for the contacts and the surround environment. I can give you empathy but not a practical solution.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56880/logic-gate-output-changes-when-nearby-relay-activates/235173Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:05:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:41d78de0-634b-431c-a9a0-1cb7f5102b14robogaryDepends. Is the relay switching an inductive load ? If possible, you could remove the relay's load and cycle to see if that is related to misoperation. Relay coils should have a flyback diode (or a shottkey double back diode tvs) unless it effects any critical timing. Larger coils should also have RC suppression. If your relay switches an inductive load like a motor or solenoid, that load should also have suppression. The suppression will also ensure the relay contact life.https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56880/logic-gate-output-changes-when-nearby-relay-activates/235167Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:21:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:a6e4deea-29a9-465b-ad91-03268fd8d8c7acdc90is the gates powered on 5volts is the relays on 5v or 12v does the relay have diode across coil can we have a circuit ?https://community.element14.com/products/pcbprototyping/f/forum/56880/logic-gate-output-changes-when-nearby-relay-activatesMon, 27 Apr 2026 08:08:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:e2289307-38fd-4dcc-b623-03221cc79360eva_402Hi, I’m using a few AND/OR logic gates to generate enable signals before they enter a microcontroller. The logic works normally, but sometimes outputs change briefly when a nearby relay switches. The relay and logic ICs are on the same board. Questions: Is this more likely EMI coupling or supply disturbance? Should I add more decoupling or flyback suppression first? On the PCB, is physical separation between relay components and logic ICs usually enough?