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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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EDA Tools and Unconventional Geometries - Designing Embedded Components
January 4, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: Less than a minute
Designing PCBs with embedded components has never been a simple task, and traditional EDA tools required designers to employ a variety of workarounds. Fortunately, the EDA software tools of today are much better equipped to work with embedded components than previous design tools.
We asked Stephen Chavez, senior product marketing manager with Siemens, to discuss the company’s approach to designing embedded components. He also explains how designers can take advantage of today’s ECAD tools, which feature greater integration with the MCAD tool environment.
Andy Shaughnessy: From an EDA tool company viewpoint, what are some of the biggest challenges your customers have in designing PCBs with odd or unconventional geometries?
Stephen Chavez: Today’s EDA PCB tools have come a long way in their capabilities of handling odd or unconventional geometries. Some handle this better than others in addressing issues such as:
- Board outlines with true arcs integrated
- Odd-shaped holes/cavities that go part-way or all the way through a board
- Any angle placement on any layer
- True-arc and odd-angle traces
- Rigid-flex nonuniform stackups
Continue reading the full conversation.
This article was originally published in the December 2023 issue of Design007 Magazine.
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Make the Smart Move
04/07/2026 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAIt’s incredibly easy to become fixated on shiny new EDA software, the latest high-speed routing algorithms, or the most advanced fabrication techniques. New tools and technologies are creating sophisticated simulation platforms that automate routing, check design rules, and simulate performance. However, they cannot replicate the nuanced judgment, imaginative solutions to space constraints, or collaborative spirit that define printed circuit engineering excellence. That is your most significant return on investment.
ASTER and Siemens: Design for Test Gets ‘Real’
04/02/2026 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007For more than 30 years, ASTER Technologies has been a leader in PCB assembly test verification and engineering software. Siemens Digital Industries Software and ASTER Technologies’ recent merger represents the third strategic acquisition by Siemens in the space between design and manufacture. We spoke with ASTER Technical Director Will Webb, Michael Alam, head of corporate development for Siemens’ Electronic Board Systems Group, and Patrick Hope, Valor marketing specialist at Siemens, about the strategy and vision that’s bringing all these post-layout tools into the design workflow.