Altium Case Studies Revolutionizing Schematic Entry: A Case Study on Simulation Technologies, Inc. and Altium Designer

Edit This Case Study Record

	Revolutionizing Schematic Entry: A Case Study on Simulation Technologies, Inc. and Altium Designer Altium

Revolutionizing Schematic Entry: A Case Study on Simulation Technologies, Inc. and Altium Designer

Altium

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation Processors & Edge Intelligence - Microcontrollers & Printed Circuit Boards
Applicable Industries	Electronics National Security & Defense
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Virtual Reality Virtual Training
Services	Hardware Design & Engineering Services Training
Challenge	Simulation Technologies, Inc. (SimTech), a developer and manufacturer of advanced simulations for US military programs, was facing a significant challenge with its existing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool. The tool, which had been in use for approximately twenty years, was no longer capable of meeting SimTech’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB) needs due to declining product support and infrequent, insignificant upgrades. The company was under increasing market pressure to deliver smaller, more powerful technologies faster. SimTech needed a more sophisticated toolset that could deliver quick turnaround, comprehensive documentation, and parts management. However, as a supplier of military equipment, SimTech could not afford extensive downtime associated with toolset change. The new system had to be learned quickly, competently, and without error to maintain product integrity. Read More
About Customer	Simulation Technologies, Inc. (SimTech) has been a key player in the development and manufacturing of radar scene generation, infrared modeling, hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and real-time digital simulations for use in US military programs since 1983. SimTech’s technology includes polarization and aspect-dependent models used in military aircraft, missile and ground vehicle simulations. The company has been supporting military programs such as Joint Common Missile, Longbow, THAAD, PAC-3, iPAM, GMD, NLOS-LS, JAGM, and MRM. SimTech is known for its flexibility and technical expertise in the area of advanced simulation, threat signature analysis and target model validation. Read More
Solution	After careful consideration, SimTech chose Altium Designer as its new electronics design solution. Altium Designer offered three license levels (Foundation, Board, Unified), allowing SimTech to tailor the toolset to its development needs without paying for unnecessary extras. Altium does not limit its features or offer any entry-level products, providing engineers with an all-inclusive system for a much lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The transition to Altium Designer was smooth, thanks to its import and export functions and wizards. SimTech could easily transfer its previous designs and engineers could continue designs immediately with help from comprehensive online training and Altium support staff. Altium support staff involved themselves in the design process, using WebEx conference tools to determine where errors were and the reason for them, making it easier for the SimTech engineer to troubleshoot. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation

Processors & Edge Intelligence - Microcontrollers & Printed Circuit Boards

Applicable Industries

Electronics

National Security & Defense

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Virtual Reality

Virtual Training

Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services

Training

Challenge

Simulation Technologies, Inc. (SimTech), a developer and manufacturer of advanced simulations for US military programs, was facing a significant challenge with its existing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool. The tool, which had been in use for approximately twenty years, was no longer capable of meeting SimTech’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB) needs due to declining product support and infrequent, insignificant upgrades. The company was under increasing market pressure to deliver smaller, more powerful technologies faster. SimTech needed a more sophisticated toolset that could deliver quick turnaround, comprehensive documentation, and parts management. However, as a supplier of military equipment, SimTech could not afford extensive downtime associated with toolset change. The new system had to be learned quickly, competently, and without error to maintain product integrity.

About Customer

Simulation Technologies, Inc. (SimTech) has been a key player in the development and manufacturing of radar scene generation, infrared modeling, hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and real-time digital simulations for use in US military programs since 1983. SimTech’s technology includes polarization and aspect-dependent models used in military aircraft, missile and ground vehicle simulations. The company has been supporting military programs such as Joint Common Missile, Longbow, THAAD, PAC-3, iPAM, GMD, NLOS-LS, JAGM, and MRM. SimTech is known for its flexibility and technical expertise in the area of advanced simulation, threat signature analysis and target model validation.

Solution

After careful consideration, SimTech chose Altium Designer as its new electronics design solution. Altium Designer offered three license levels (Foundation, Board, Unified), allowing SimTech to tailor the toolset to its development needs without paying for unnecessary extras. Altium does not limit its features or offer any entry-level products, providing engineers with an all-inclusive system for a much lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The transition to Altium Designer was smooth, thanks to its import and export functions and wizards. SimTech could easily transfer its previous designs and engineers could continue designs immediately with help from comprehensive online training and Altium support staff. Altium support staff involved themselves in the design process, using WebEx conference tools to determine where errors were and the reason for them, making it easier for the SimTech engineer to troubleshoot.

Impact #1	The transition to Altium Designer brought about significant operational improvements for SimTech. The most notable improvement was the speed of design. The once laborious task of schematic entry was reduced from weeks to days, thanks to Altium Designer’s parts library and the wizards found in both the schematic and the PCB footprint editors. Board routing also became much easier, with completion rates rising from 85% to 100%. By using autorouting tools in Altium Designer, engineers found the board clean-up and manual routing much easier. As a result, engineers are now able to create more sophisticated designs in a shorter period of time.

Impact #1

The transition to Altium Designer brought about significant operational improvements for SimTech. The most notable improvement was the speed of design. The once laborious task of schematic entry was reduced from weeks to days, thanks to Altium Designer’s parts library and the wizards found in both the schematic and the PCB footprint editors. Board routing also became much easier, with completion rates rising from 85% to 100%. By using autorouting tools in Altium Designer, engineers found the board clean-up and manual routing much easier. As a result, engineers are now able to create more sophisticated designs in a shorter period of time.

Benefit #1	Schematic entry time reduced from weeks to days
Benefit #2	Board routing completion rates rose from 85% to 100%
Benefit #3	Engineers were able to navigate the software competently within one month

Benefit #1

Schematic entry time reduced from weeks to days

Benefit #2

Board routing completion rates rose from 85% to 100%

Benefit #3

Engineers were able to navigate the software competently within one month

Download PDF Version

Overview

Revolutionizing Schematic Entry: A Case Study on Simulation Technologies, Inc. and Altium Designer

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit