Easily learn OrCAD & Allegro Fundamentals

Do you want to learn the PCB design flow in OrCAD/Allegro with minimal training so that you can be more productive on the job? This course is exactly what you need to make the transition to design using Cadence software.
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What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you'll understand:

  • Schematic capture

    Learn the features of OrCAD Capture (or Allegro Design Entry HDL) to create a circuit drawing for simulation and for manufacturing

  • Circuit simulation

    Know how to verify circuit behavior using PSpice, the functional powerhouse embedded in OrCAD Capture

  • Footprint & PCB creation

    Learn how to create pad stacks, footprints from scratch and build a PCB design

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

  • 2

    Project #1: Fast Simple LED Circuit

    • Learn how to Create and Simulate a schematic in Capture CIS
    • LED Footprints and Setting PCB Parameters
    • LED Routing the PCB
    • LED Gerber and Drill
    • LED Recap
  • 3

    BREAK 1 - Overview of OrCAD Capture CIS

    • Projects and Design Hierarchy
    • Capture Part Libraries
    • Creating a Part in OrCAD Capture Part Editor
    • Capture Placing Parts
    • Capture CIS Wiring
    • Capture CIS Customization and Preferences
    • Capture CIS Annotations, Text and Smart PDF
  • 4

    Project #2 Phase 1 - 4 - Schematic and Simulation

    • 00 - Project 2 Overview
    • 00a - Overview of the phases in this section
    • Project1_01 - Starting a project and customizing your schematic template
    • P1_02 - What's in a schematic and the power of PSpice
    • P1_03 - Placing parts in a schematic
    • P1_04 - Wiring schematic parts to make the circuit work
    • 05 - Nets in your schematic
    • 06 - Use PSpice to see how your circuit will work
    • 07 - How to re-use a pre-existing schematic for PCB preparation
    • 08 - Get your circuit ready for a design rules check
    • 09 - How Capture can check your schematic electrical rules for you
    • 10 - Rename parts to make your schematic easier to read
  • 5

    BREAK 2 - Overview of Padstack Editor

    • What is a through-pin Padstack?
    • Getting started with Pad Stack Editor
    • Create an industry compliant through-hole pad stack for a resistor
    • Creating a surface mount pad using Pad Stack Editor (example)
  • 6

    BREAK 3 - Here's an overview of PCB Editor

    • PCB Editor Environment Setup and Grids
    • PCB Editor Add Lines, Shapes and Text
    • PCB Editor Constraints Manager and Vias
    • How to make a surface mount footprint from complete scratch in PCB Editor
    • Make your footprints in half the time using Package Symbol wizard
  • 7

    Project #2 Phase 5: Land Pattern (Footprint) Creation

    • 15a - Phase overview for this section
    • Footprints and Padstacks Information
    • 15 - Again, make sure you can find your custom footprints
    • 16 - PTH Resistor (R1, R2)
    • 17 - Through-hole capacitor (C2)
    • 18 - How to fix soldermask on a footprint (C2)
    • 19 - Test Point (TP1, TP2)
    • 20 - Header (J1)
    • 21 - 1 position header (J2, J3) & how to modify a footprint
    • 22 - (D1, D2) How to create, modify and edit a footprint and its pin numbers
    • 23 - (Q2) Reusing pads saves time
    • 24 - (Q1) Using the zig-zag land pattern
    • 25 - (R2, R3) Make a surface mount resistor footprint
    • 26 - (C1) Create a surface mount capacitor footprint
  • 8

    Project #2 Phase 6-7: Transfer and Layout your PCB

    • 27a - Phases Overview
    • 11 - Let OrCAD find your physical part symbols (footprints)
    • 12 - How to match your PCB footprints with your schematic parts
    • 13 - Do your PCB outline first
    • 14 - Transfer your schematic parts onto a PCB
    • 27 - Transfer your Schematic to a PCB
    • 28 - Set up custom colors to make layout easier
    • 29 - See how PCB represents your PCB work area
    • 30 - PCB layer stack up and copper planes
    • 31 - Make your life easier with custom hotkeys and shortcuts
    • 32 - (Almost) Every PCB needs mounting holes
    • 33 - How/Where to place your PCB components (part 1)
    • 34 - Making small changes to your footprints during PCB layout
    • 35 - Route the PCB (Part 1)
    • 36 - Finish routing the PCB (Part 2)
  • 9

    Project #2 Phase 8: PCB Production

    • 37 - Create text on the PCB
    • 37b How to create artwork color files for Gerber generation
    • 38 - Artwork films and how to capture your PCB image
    • 39 - How to change the origin of your PCB design
    • 40 - Create Gerber files for PCB fabrication
    • 41 - How to make a drill file for PCB drilling
    • 37a - Phase 8 Overview - Production
  • 10

    Project #2 Phase 9-10: Documentation

    • 42a - Phases 9-10 Overview - Bill of Materials (BOM) and Documentation
    • 42 - How to check and submit Gerber files for PCB fabrication
    • 43 - Communicate all the information about your PCB
    • 44 - Make a Bill of Materials to order your parts
  • 11

    Project #3 Phase 1: Design

    • 00 - Project overview (based on a reference design)
    • 01 - The blueprint to finish any PCB design
    • 02 - Finding a reference design
    • 03 - How to make use of a pre-built schematic from Texas Instruments
  • 12

    Project #3 Phase 2: Parts

    • 04 - Fix the diode schematic symbol
    • 05 - Fix the diode (part 2)
    • 07 - The 10 kΩ resistor schematic symbol
    • 08 - Fixing the 2.87 kΩ resistor schematic symbol
    • 09 - Updating the 11.5 kΩ resistor schematic symbol
    • 10 - The 10 nF capacitor schematic symbol
    • 11 - 100 nF Capacitor
    • 12 - Correct TI's 555 timer chip
    • 13 - Working with the Design Cache and how it can make your work easier
  • 13

    Project #3 Phase 3: Schematic

    • 14 - Eliminate confusion by organizing your parts and libraries
    • 15 - Managing schematic wire names
    • 16 - Check your schematic for electrical errors
  • 14

    Project #3 Phase 4: Simulation

    • 17 - How to set up a circuit for simulation
    • 18 - Choosing the correct voltage source for your circuit in PSpice (Vsin vs Vac)
    • 19 - Choosing the correct Ground symbol for PSPICE simulation
    • 20 - How to make a part simulate
    • 21 - What to do when PSPICE still doesn't simulate...
  • 15

    Project #3 Phase 5: PCB Land Patterns (Footprints)

    • 22 - 10 nF Capacitor footprint and 3D model
    • 23 - Land Pattern and 3D model for the diode
    • 24 - Land Pattern and 3D model for the resistors
    • 25 - IC footprint and 3D model
    • 26 - Land Pattern and 3D Model for the Test Turrets
  • 16

    Project #3 Phase 6: Schematic to PCB Transfer

    • 27 - Physical Design Rules Check (DRC) and seeing footprints in Capture
    • 28 - Troubleshooting netlist errors in Capture
  • 17

    Project #3 Phase 7: PCB Layout

    • 29 - An intro to the 7th Phase in PCB Design
    • 30 - How to check your footprints transferred properly
    • 31 - Choose your design setup
    • 32 - Working with spacing on the PCB layout canvas (the grid)
    • 33 - Customizing your color scheme for PCB layout
    • 34 - The PCB outline
    • 35 - Define a 4-layer stack-up
    • 36 - How to import schematic information from Capture
    • 37 - How to place mounting holes and connectors
    • 38 - Place the remaining parts
    • 39 - Set some rules before continuing (design constraints)
    • 40 - Why use shapes, planes and copper pours
    • 41 - routing the PCB
    • 42 - Document your work internally to make it more professional
  • 18

    Project #3 Phase 8: Production

    • 43 - An introduction to the production phase for PCB designs
    • 44 - Produce Silkscreen artwork
    • 45 - Create files for manufacturing the PCB
  • 19

    Project #3 Phase 9: Bill of Materials

    • 46 - Phase 9 - Bill of Materials
    • 47 - Create a bill of materials from the schematic
    • 48 - Upgrade your Capture BOM to to better BOM with Digi-Key
    • 49 - How to order parts using Digi-Key
  • 20

    Project #3 Phase 10: Documentation

    • 50 - Phase 10 - the Power of Documentation
    • 51 - Make a nice cover page for your schematic
    • 52 - 3D PDFs make it a lot easier for others to review your design
    • 53 - You also need a PDF of all the PCB layers
    • 54 - How to make a PDF for your schematic for other engineers
    • 55 - Add design notes for engineering changes
    • 56 - How to share your full project with other engineers
  • 21

    End of the Course and Next Steps

    • 57 - Course end and next steps
  • 22

    BONUS: Optimization Techniques to Speed Up Your Design

    • Make a Bill of Materials in Half the Time with 0 errors

A professional will walk you through every step

This course was put together by an experienced Allegro and OrCAD user. He will be on hand to guide you through the course and is available for office hour discussions, and via email/message for the duration of the course

Hear from some of our success stories

Find out what other learners are saying about this course!

by Sachendra Kumar

Helped me get a job in PCB design!

by Sachendra Kumar

I am so happy I took this course. I learned everything from the basic level. I love this PCB design Course. It helped me in getting a job in the field of PCB design. My branch is Electrical and Electronics (U.G.) and I live in India.
by Parian Golchin

I highly recommend this course

by Parian Golchin

I highly recommend this course. The instructor explains everything with details and it is a practical course. He is very responsive. I have had so many questions for various parts but every time he responded fast and completely. Thank you very much Kirsch Mackey for such an interesting course.
Quoc Tuan Duong

QD

Quoc Tuan Duong

I took a OrCAD PSpice course back in college. I never thought i would need it to reenter the job market! Great stuff, it brings me back. With the arrival of dirt cheap Microprocessor like the Arduino, it is a good time to reenter the job market as an electronics engineer or start my own company!

Meet your OrCAD and Allegro software expert

Kirsch Mackey

Instructor

Kirsch Mackey

Kirsch is an electrical systems engineer and is a technical trainer certified in OrCAD Capture, PCB Editor and PSpice. He is also a Ph.D. student in electrical and electronics engineering specializing in control system design for power electronics and power systems. One of Kirsch's greatest passions is teaching you the industry leading PCB design software easily so that you can finish your PCB design projects for work, school or business ventures. https://api.accredible.com/v1/frontend/credential_website_embed_image/badge/13615181

Bonus material

Include additional content to your course curriculum to provide further value to your students.

  • Feedback & Knowledge Library

    Get feedback on your circuit designs and access to the Knowledge Library, where we upload instructional tips and tricks for specific design problems and questions.

  • Round the clock support

    If you have questions regarding a certain design, step, or features with the software, send a message, email or a start a discussion and I will get in touch with you to find a solution.

  • 1 hour consultation

    Your challenges are specific to your situation. Let's set up an online video chat or phone call to help you reach your specific goals.

Is this course right for me?

Well, you get a 30-day money back guarantee to find out

Wondering if this course really is right for you? This is exclusive content not available on YouTube and you won't just find it anywhere for free and you get 30-day money back guarantee! Let's say you enrolled and it's not working out for you. Just request a refund, no risks! Enroll today and become awesome at OrCAD and Allegro.
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