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Facing the Future: Time for Real Talk, Early and Often, Between Design and Fabrication

07/08/2025 | Prashant Patel -- Column: Facing the Future
​​​​​​​There has always been a subtle but significant divide between those who design and those who build printed circuit boards. It’s not a hostile gap, but it is a real one, and in today’s high-speed, high-complexity, high-stakes environment, that gap is costing us more than time and yield. It’s costing us innovation.

Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen

06/26/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. Watson
There's a story about a young woman preparing a holiday ham. Before putting it in the pan, she cuts off the ends. When asked why, she shrugs and says, "That's how my mom always did it." She asks her mother, who gives the same answer. Eventually, the question reaches Grandma, who laughs and says, "Oh, I only cut the ends off because my pan was too small." This story is a powerful analogy for how many PCB designers approach routing today.

Cadence AI Autorouter May Transform the Landscape

06/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 Magazine
Patrick Davis, product management director with Cadence Design Systems, discusses advancements in autorouting technology, including AI. He emphasizes a holistic approach that enhances placement and power distribution before routing. He points out that younger engineers seem more likely to embrace autorouting, while the veteran designers are still wary of giving up too much control. Will AI help autorouters finally gain industry-wide acceptance?

Beyond Design: The Metamorphosis of the PCB Router

06/18/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond Design
The traditional PCB design process is often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Routing a complex PCB layout can consume up to 30% of a designer’s time, and addressing this issue is not straightforward. We have all encountered this scenario: You spend hours setting the constraints and finally hit the Go button, only to be surprised by the lack of visual appeal and the obvious flaws in the result.

Zuken Autorouters Embrace Collaborative AI

06/12/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 Magazine
Maybe you’ve never liked autorouters; if so, you’re not alone. As Andy Buja, Zuken’s technical account manager for PCB Solutions, admits, autorouters are not perfect. But today’s autorouters allow designers a greater level of control than ever before, especially routers that incorporate collaborative AI.
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