Designers Notebook: Layer Stackup Planning for RF Circuit Boards
Connect the Dots: Involving Manufacturers Earlier Prevents Downstream Issues
Global PCB Connections: The Next Wave of HDI PCBs– How Design Engineers Can Stay Ahead
Freedom CAD Celebrates 15th Anniversary
May 15, 2018 | Freedom CADEstimated reading time: 1 minute
May 16, 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of Freedom CAD Services. Freedom CAD was founded on this day by Lou and Lauren Primmer, pioneers in the PCB CAD industry. They launched Freedom CAD when Plexus decided to divest the Nashua, NH design center in 2003.
The Primmers formed Freedom CAD with 11 other ex-Plexus employees to service a number of long time regional customers. Since then, Freedom CAD has grown to become one of the largest independent design services companies in North America.
Over the past 15 years they have more than tripled their staff of topnotch designers and now have designers working across the US. In addition to supporting Cadence Allegro, Mentor’s Xpedition and PADS and Altium PCB CAD tools, Freedom CAD also provides PCB electrical and mechanical engineering services, signal and power integrity analysis and prototype fulfillment services.
“In 2003, we had a vision to create the highest quality independent printed circuit board design service company in the country,” said Lou Primmer. “We believed we could leverage our ‘structured, large corporation’ experience and create a nimble, privately held company. I’m pleased to say that we were successful at accomplishing this and the fact that we are ITAR-registered and ISO9001-certified, both of which require structure and process control, are indicators of this accomplishment. And during this time we have leveraged this structure and nimbleness to expand our customer base from regional to national and include many of the Fortune 100 Electronics OEMs. I’m proud to see the vision become a reality and look forward to the next 15 years!”
Share on:
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Aster–Enhancing Design for Effective Testing Strategies
04/18/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOWill Webb, technical director at Aster, stresses the importance of testability in design, emphasizing early engagement to identify testing issues. This discussion covers the integration of testing with Industry 4.0, the need for good test coverage, and adherence to industry standards. Innovations like boundary scan testing and new tools for cluster testing are introduced, highlighting advancements in optimizing testing workflows and collaboration with other tools.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Emerging Trends in Design and Technology
04/16/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOAndy Shaughnessy speaks with IPC design instructor Kris Moyer to discuss emerging design trends. They cover UHDI technology, 3D printing, and optical data transmission, emphasizing the importance of a skilled workforce. The role of AI in design is highlighted, along with the need for understanding physics and mechanics as designs become more complex. The conversation concludes with a focus on enhancing math skills for better signal integrity.
Electronic System Design Industry Posts $4.9 Billion in Revenue in Q4 2024
04/15/2025 | SEMIElectronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 11% to $4,927.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 from the $4440.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2023, the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, announced in its latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.
Connect the Dots: Involving Manufacturers Earlier Prevents Downstream Issues
04/16/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsIf you have read any of my earlier columns, you know I am passionate about helping designers design for the reality of manufacturing. Designing for manufacturability (DFM) is a team sport. DFM is a design process that looks forward to the manufacturing process and integrates with it so that manufacturing requirements and capabilities can be accurately reflected in the design work.
Global PCB Connections: The Next Wave of HDI PCBs– How Design Engineers Can Stay Ahead
04/17/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsHigh density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit boards have come a long way from their origins as a niche technology for miniaturized applications. Today, HDI PCBs are at the forefront of innovation, driven by an insatiable demand for faster, smaller, and more powerful electronic devices. As consumer electronics, 5G infrastructure, and AI-driven systems advance, design engineers must stay ahead of the curve to ensure their PCB designs meet evolving industry demands.