Beyond Design: The Metamorphosis of the PCB Router
Global PCB Connections: Embedded Components—The Future of High-performance PCB Design
Elementary, Mr. Watson: PCB Routing: The Art—and Science—of Connection
iCD Introduces New Materials Planner Software
July 2, 2018 | ICDEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd (iCD), Australia, developer of the iCD Design Integrity software, has released the new iCD Materials Planner software to add to the Stackup Planner functionality. This will be rolled out to iCD support customers as an update to their current software.
The Dielectric Materials Library, which complements the iCD Stackup Planner, has
- Over 33,000 rigid and flexible materials up to 100GHz
- Produced by over 60 different manufacturers
- Containing over 700 series of materials
So, it is often a daunting task to ascertain which is the best material for an application. The iCD Materials Planner allows you to compare dielectric materials based on manufacturer, fabricator, frequency, dissipation factor (loss) and dielectric constant. This enables the designer to make an informed decision on which material is best for his application.
Generally the selection metric, for dielectric materials, is the amount of loss that a transmission line can tolerate and this is proportional to the frequency and rise time of the signals. The iCD Materials Planner is subdivided into five default TABs which gives the novice high-speed PCB designer a heads-up as to what to select for his application.
- Ultra Low Loss (Df ≤ 0.005)
- Low Loss (0.005 < Df < 0.010)
- Mid Loss (0.010 < Df < 0.015)
- Standard Loss (0.015 < Df < 0.02)
- Basic FR-4 (Df ≥ 0.02)
This is similar to a typical competitive analysis that a material manufacturer may present for, say, Isola vs Ventec and Rogers, but it is far more comprehensive, with over 60 vendors and 700 series of materials to choose from. Alternatively, a profile for each PCB fabricator that you usually deal with can be set up. This will display the complete range of materials that each Fab shop stocks ranging from basic FR-4 to low loss materials. This also enables the comparison of competitive Fab shop capabilities.
Watch below for a quick demonstration video of the iCD Materials Planner:
About In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd
In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd, based in Australia, developer of the iCD Design Integrity software incorporating the iCD Stackup, PDN and CPW Planner software, is a PCB Design Service Bureau and specialist in board level simulation. For further information or to download a free evaluation of the software, please click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Cadence AI Autorouter May Transform the Landscape
06/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazinePatrick 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 DesignThe 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.
Robust AI Demand Drives 6% QoQ Growth in Revenue for Top 10 Global IC Design Companies in 1Q25
06/15/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that 1Q25 revenue for the global IC design industry reached US$77.4 billion, marking a 6% QoQ increase and setting a new record high. This growth was fueled by early stocking ahead of new U.S. tariffs on electronics and the ongoing construction of AI data centers around the world, which sustained strong chip demand despite the traditional off-season.
Cadence Advances Design and Engineering for Europe’s Manufacturers on NVIDIA Industrial AI Cloud
06/13/2025 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.At NVIDIA GTC Paris, Cadence announced it is providing optimized solutions for the world’s first industrial AI cloud in collaboration with NVIDIA.
Zuken Autorouters Embrace Collaborative AI
06/12/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineMaybe 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.