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PCB Walk-through 1: PCB Setup

April 20, 2023

This tutorial demonstrates how to setup the board configuration in OrCAD PCB Designer 17.4 (2021). After you complete this tutorial, you will be able to:

  • Setup and edit design parameters
  • Add a layer to the board stack up

If you would like to follow along with this tutorial, you can visit our walk-through page to view video tutorials and download design files.

To follow along, open the provided PCB TUTORIAL.brd file in the folder directory, PCB Walkthrough 1: PCB Setup.

  1. Select Display > Windows > Design Workflow from the menu.
  2. In the Design Workflow, select Setup > Design Parameters.

Note: In the Design Parameter window, you can specify parameters for display, design, text, shapes, routing, and manufacturing.

  1. Select the Design tab.

  1. Set the User Units to Millimeter.
  2. Click OK.
  3. In the Design Workflow, select Grids.

  1. For Non-Etch, set the Spacing to 1 for both X and Y input fields.
  2. Click OK.
  3. In the Design Workflow, select Colors.

Note: Here you can specify colors in the design for layers, nets and more.

  1. Leave the default settings and close the window.
  2. In the Design Workflow, expand Database Preparation.
  3. Select Board Outline > Create > Automatically.

Note: Make sure Create is checked in the Design Outline window.

  1. Enter 0.3 MM for the Design Edge Clearance.
  2. Select Place Rectangle.
  3. Enter 100 MM for the Width.
  4. Enter 50 MM for the Height.
  5. Click the design canvas to place the board outline.
  6. Click OK.
  7. In the Design Workflow, select Cross Section (Stack-up) > Create.

  1. Right Click in the name column and select Add Layers.

  1. Assign POWERPLANE as the Name Prefix.
  2. Select Below selected Dielectric as the New Layer Position.
  3. For Layer Type, select Plane.
  4. Click Add and Exit.

Note: This has added the plane and dielectric layer.

  1. Click OK to close out of the cross-section window.

Note: If you need to import a netlist, select Netlist > Import in the Design Workflow or Import > Netlist from the menu. Select Design Entry CIS and set the import directory as the folder location of your netlist. Click Import.

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