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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Zuken Unveils CR-8000 2023 with Enhanced Design Efficiency, Analysis for High-Density, High-Speed PCB Designs
August 30, 2023 | ZukenEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
Zuken, a global leader in electronic design automation solutions, announces the availability of CR-8000 2023. The 2023 release is packed with new enhancements covering the entire design process and will empower users and enable them to tackle the challenges of high-density, high-speed PCB designs.
Notably, the CR-8000 2023 release places special emphasis on revitalizing and expanding the spectrum of signal integrity, power integrity, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis tools. These advancements are seamlessly integrated into the CR-8000 Design Force Analysis Advance bundle, offering an unparalleled avenue for enhanced design insights.
"We are excited to unveil CR-8000 Release 2023, which empowers designers to address the ever-increasing demands of high-density, high-speed PCB designs," said Kazuhiro Kariya, Sr. Managing Executive Officer and CTO of Zuken Inc. "Through the strategic enhancements made to our flagship CR-8000 tool suite, we are providing our customers with a comprehensive solution that boosts design efficiency and supports accurate analysis, ultimately enabling them to stay ahead in today's competitive market."
Empowering Engineers with Advanced Design Creation
Streamlined Design Sheet Integration
With the CR-8000 2023 release, the process of generating new designs becomes a seamless journey. Users can effortlessly merge sheets from diverse designs, enabling the incorporation of various elements or the utilization of template designs as a solid foundation. This innovative feature fosters creativity and accelerates the design timeline.
Enhanced Information Security
Privacy takes center stage with the introduction of a resourceful feature that allows sensitive information exclusion before external sharing. Tailoring resource files to distinct collaboration needs fosters a secure and collaborative design environment.
Efficiency through Design Reuse
The 2023 release introduces a groundbreaking feature that streamlines documentation by enabling the copying, editing, and seamless integration of circuits and text elements. This innovation enhances efficiency by eliminating redundant tasks and allows engineers to focus on design evolution.
Expanded Design Efficiencies in Layout
Reuse Template Routing
Identical areas of components and routing that are common in multi-channel designs can now be placed and routed based on one instance. This function recognizes component and topology similarities and propagates the master instance to the subsequent channels.
Expanded Contour Routing
An interactive contour routing feature aligns seamlessly with existing patterns and board shapes, ensuring design harmony and consistency.
Analyze Track Configurations
Users can examine the routing of a trace path by visualizing a cross-sectional view that showcases the trajectory across various layers. This capability allows for comprehensive inspection and evaluation of track arrangements, aiding in identifying potential issues and optimizing the design.
Powerful Analysis Capabilities
Enhanced Bundle and Functionality
The CR-8000 2023 Release consolidates signal integrity, power integrity, and EMI analysis tools into new bundles, with enhanced user interaction, MultiCore CPU support, and compatibility with extensive datasets. AI/ML-assisted modeling and new Power Integrity checks elevate design and analysis prowess.
Comprehensive Signal Integrity Analysis
Dive into Signal Integrity with the Design Force SI Advance bundle, encompassing features from Characteristic Impedance to IBIS AMI SerDes channel analysis. Comprehensive system-level analysis is ensured through the inclusion of IBIS, SPICE, and S-Parameter models in both domains.
Full-spectrum PCB-level EMI and Power Analysis
The Design Force PI/EMI Advance bundle focuses on EMI and Power Supply System Analysis. Critical functions include rapid estimations, integrity features, and an array of analysis tools designed to optimize designs. Capabilities include IC power pin impedance computation, Decap location and parasitic values determination, DC analysis, incorporation of Lossy Transmission Line models considering copper surface roughness, and integration of IBIS, SPICE, and S-Parameter models. Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and Eye Pattern analysis enhance design evaluation. A comprehensive HSPICE export and capability to calculate and export S-Parameter Touchstone data add versatility to the toolset.
With the CR-8000 2023 release, users will be able to explore innovations that redefine design excellence. The release underscores Zuken’s commitment to empowering users with tools that simplify the challenges of intricate electronic design.
For more information about CR-8000 Release 2023 and other Zuken solutions, please visit the CR-8000 section on Zuken.com.
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Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Nortech Systems Launches Power over Fiber Technology Platform for EMI-Sensitive Applications
04/08/2026 | Globe NewswireNortech Systems Incorporated, a leading provider of design and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical devices and electromechanical systems, has announced the launch of its Power over Fiber technology platform.
Flexible Thinking: Designing Flex Circuits for Dynamic Reliability
04/09/2026 | Joe Fjelstad -- Column: Flexible ThinkingFlex circuits flex. No surprises there. However, they are also very commonly designed into products because they are thin and offer consistent thickness and dielectric properties, attributes highly prized by present-day product designers of personal electronics. This would include smartphones and, increasingly, wearable electronics for medical monitoring and even fashion.
Understanding Tolerances in Flexible Circuit Design
04/01/2026 | Chris Clark, Flexible Circuit TechnologiesThe challenge with cumulative tolerances is meeting the dimensional requirements for items dimensioned on a drawing or specification for a flexible or rigid-flex circuit. It is critical to understand the fabrication processes and how features are defined when creating your tolerance requirements.
Target Condition: An Exploration of Flooding PCB Layers
04/02/2026 | Kelly Dack -- Column: Target ConditionThe concept of flooding PCB layers with copper has been around for so long, you’d think we’d have it mastered. We haven’t. (Oh, and by “we,” I mean design engineers and the software tools we depend on.) Years ago, PCB artwork was created by hand using light tables, with tape applied to Mylar. Signals were slow, traces were relatively wide, and high-current paths were simply “beefed up” with wider copper. Signal integrity wasn’t yet a driving concern. Today, solid return paths are fundamental to robust design. We understand the importance of continuous reference planes for signal integrity and EMI control.
New, Greener Solutions for Etch: Novel Copper Extraction
03/30/2026 | Richard Nichols, GreenSource Engineering“Novel” is a typical marketing phrase that implies new and unique, but often “novel” actually means an established technology being applied to a new field or application. This, in turn, is often driven by newly relevant external motivation. GreenSource has been working on just such a solution: novel copper extraction, offering a better and greener alternative to traditional LLE control systems for cupric chloride etch.