Article: Three Piece Suite

EDA software supplier Electronics Workbench has packaged up its three PCB design software products into ‘suites’ which give the user complete simulation, design and layout capability – at an affordable price. AMANDA HORLEY reports.

No company has pioneered the more widespread use of PCB design software than Electronics Workbench with its widely-used Multisim, Ultiboard and Ultiroute products. Running on Windows PCs, with affordable price tags, they have allowed entire departments to be able to afford the ‘high end’ EDA capabilities which other software suppliers have tried to keep so exclusive.

Now comes the launch of the Electronics Workbench 'Professional' and 'PowerPro' suites, which integrate the Multisim 2001, Ultiboard 2001 and Ultiroute applications used by over 150,000 users worldwide. Electronics Workbench hopes this will make it possible for many more companies to equip entire PCB divisions with a full set of design tools on every desk, including schematic capture, simulation, layout/routing and computer-aided manufacture.

The PowerPro Suite supports PCB design requirements for programmable logic, co-simulation, RF, team design and computer-aided manufacture. It complements existing tools and can be used on an enterprise-wide basis for rapid prototyping and proof of principle.

The Professional Suite is ideal for PCB designers who need a solid simulation capability. Simulation assists in the determination of trace widths in PCBs and can take the guesswork out of trace width selection. Currently, a great many PCB tool suppliers cannot offer a solid simulation capability in their software and have to rely on mechanical constraints for trace width selection which consumes time and engineering resources.

By using the real world simulation results generated by Multisim 2001, PCB engineers can reduce the width of traces in certain designs and remain confident they are still capable of successfully operating at the required current flow. By using this approach across the entire board,
space can be saved which reduces manufacturing costs.

The Professional Suite also includes Ultiboard 2001, with GerbTool, (see panel) so designers can efficiently validate, optimise and prepare their layout data all the way through manufacture. Moreover, designs up to four layers and 1400 pins can be completed using Ultiroute, the third major element in the Professional Design Suite. These types of designs can be placed and routed using the latest combination of both grid and gridless routing.

Ultiroute is one of the most advanced autorouters in the world and the industry's only tool with both grid and gridless (or shape-based) routing. Ultiroute also includes unique auto-placement capabilities for intelligent part placement and improved routing results

For the power-user market, the PowerPro Suite supports users needing a no-compromise approach in their designs. PowerPro builds on the functionality of the Professional Suite with additional support for programmable logic (VHDL), co-simulation, RF design, and PCBs with up to 64 layers. The new PowerPro Suite not only provides excellent simulation, it goes one step further by co-simulating both programmable logic (VHDL) and Spice-based components in the design. This is extremely beneficial as more and more PCB designs are utilising mixed technology, which in the past has required separate design tools.

Adept Scientific will continue to supply Multisim 2001 and Ultiboard 2001 as stand-alone products.

What’s in the new Suites?
Pro Suite Multisim Professional Ultiboard Professional (1400 pins) Gerbtool Model Expansion Pack 2 Ultiroute Professional (4 layers) Model Maker ...saves £550 on the individual prices	Power Pro Suite Multisim Power Professional with VHDL Ultiboard Power Professional (unlimited pins, includes Gerbtool) Ultiroute Power Professional (12 layers) ...saves £1500 on the individual prices

Gerbtool - powerful desktop CAM
An intrinsic element of the new Electronics Workbench suites (and also available as a separate product), Gerbtool offers powerful CAM capabilities complete with DFM analysis, automatic error correction, netlist extraction and comparison, and an NC drill/mill editor.
Full data editing, data extraction/ reporting and data optimisation are just some of the features available, along with panelisation, silkscreen removal, and teardropping.

• Import Wizard detects and loads CAM files
• Netlist Extraction understands Blind/Buried Vias, Spilt Planes, etc
• Full Bi-directional DXF Converter
• Robust, Accurate and Multi-Pass DRC/DFM
• Complete Gerber Editor
• Track & Graphically View Changes
• Panelisation including optional Automatic Venting
• Automatic Silkscreen Removal from Pads
• Intelligent Polygon Pouring and Filling
• Remove Isolated and Buried Pad removal from Inner Layers
• Teardrops and Snowman Pads including Tee Junctions
• Film Optimisation
• Undo to the beginning of session