Affordable PCB design tools target innovators

2nd May 2017

DigiKey

Mick Elliott

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Two new printed circuit board (PCB) design solution offerings, PADS Maker and PADS MakerPro have been announced by Mentor and Digi-Key Electronics. These new offerings are targeted for the aspiring innovator who needs commercially proven technology at an affordable price point. The PADS Maker product is FREE while PADS MakerPro provides additional design capacity for $499.

Both feature direct access, through PartQuest, to Digi-Key's part catalogue for more than a million ready-to-use symbols and footprints, and to PADS AMS Cloud, a free, cloud-based, analog/mixed-signal circuit simulator.

“Since 2014 we have partnered with Digi-Key to deliver software solutions that empower innovating engineers to accelerate their electronic design cycle times," said AJ Incorvaia, Vice President and General Manager of the Mentor Board Systems Division. “With the introduction of PADS Maker and PADS MakerPro Editions, makers, start-ups, and small businesses will now have access to free and low-cost, professional-quality PCB design tools fully integrated with Digi-Key’s catalogue of over 5M parts.”

Enhanced features, include a complete desktop environment with no requirement for cloud storage or community IP sharing, QuickStart videos and documentation, FREE access to PADS AMS Cloud for analog/mixed-signal simulation and scalability to the full PADS Product Creation platform for unrestricted design and layout, including access to HyperLynx simulation and design verification.

In addition the new offerings deliver professional-quality schematic entry and layout for PCB design.

PADS Maker is offered through a free, annual, renewable license.

PADS MakerPro adds one year of enhanced support and increased design capacity, including additional layers and design size, for a one-time charge of $499.

"In response to the growing maker and start-up community, our users are demanding more capable and proven solutions to help them with their designs” said Randall Restle, VP, Applications Engineering at Digi-Key. "With this level of professional tools, our customers now have a greater ability to get the job done in less time, with less risk, and less cost. Mentor eliminated the annual license subscription for the new PADS MakerPro edition in favour of a ‘license once and use forever’ license and made the new PADS Maker edition a totally free license. Innovators will now have the best technology, at the lowest costs, to achieve their goals.”