Common PCB design software introduction

As the saying goes: "Sharpen your tool before achieve your work." For PCB engineers, a suitable PCB design software can help them to complete PCB design more efficiently in great decree.The choice of PCB design soft ware will directly affect the progress of the learning work. Which software is suitable for beginners? What software can make PCB design masters  with might doubled? There are many types of PCB design software on the market. There are paid and free ones. The current relatively high popularity rate of software are three types: Altium Designer (abbreviated as AD), PADS, Cadence allegro, what are their advantages and disadvantages?

Altium Designer（AD）

The design software that most PCB engineers touch is basically starting from AD. AD is an easy-to-learn basic entry-level hardware design software. It is suitable for drawing simple single and double panels and four or six layers. Through the perfect integration of schematic design, circuit simulation, PCB drawing, signal integrity analysis and other aspects, making PCB engineers can easily design, if you are skilled in using this software, it will greatly improve the quality and efficiency of circuit design.

PADS

Relatively much more people use of this software, which is easy to use due to simple, relatively easier and easier to operate than Protel, this software is more suitable for mid and low-end design, called the king in the mid and low-end. His characteristic is that it is easy to interact with the schematic. Unlike Allegro, sometimes the schematic is not connected to the PCB. In addition, it also supports real-time modification of the network, which is suitable for small changing the routing or simple routing boards.

Cadence allegro