Schematics define all electrical connections (and some special properties) within a PCB project. Components are placed and then wires are drawn to define connections. Further detail can then be added using classes, notes, and other tags.

CONTENTS

RETURN TO HOME PAGE: Altium Designer

Project Creation

At NER we have created a standard project template to set up new project with everything they need to get started. This means creating a new project is as simple as selecting the template:

1. X

2. X

3. X

4. X

5. X

{add images}

Basic Components and Wires

Fundamentally, all schematics consist of component symbols and wires connecting them. The following is an intro to working with these.

Placing Components

Components should be found via the component panel. It has the best organization structure and allows you to easily filter by parameter. More depth is available at https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/119111681/Vault+Organization#Components-Panel, but the process is summarized below:

1. Open the panel {image}

2. Select component type {image}

3. Filter results {image}

4. Select “Place” or just Click + Drag the component in {image}

5. Adjust component position as needed

When dragging a component you can:

• Spacebar to rotate

• X to mirror over X-axis

• Y to mirror over Y-axis

Placing Wires

Wires are quite intuitive to work with. A wire is started by hitting Ctrl + W and then clicking your start point. The wire will then follow your mouse as you click in between points, eventually reaching your end point.

When placing a (or dragging an existing) wire you can:

• Spacebar to toggle path

  • Basically if doing a right then left it will instead to a left then right

• {X?}

{}

Designators (Annotation)

To manage the link between schematics, layout, and BOMs all components require unique designators. These are letter-number pairs that indicate the type of part and which instance it is within a project. Fortunately, Altium can take care of designators automatically.

Updating Designators

{directions for using the designator tool}

Designating Hierarchical Documents

{further directions for using the tools needed in hierarchy}

Improving Readability

{Intro to why it’s important to improve readability (we’re many engineers who all have different paths of thought. Also projects may be finished and then revised 1-2 years later)}

{link to Altium standards and mention why it’s good}

Net Labels

{explain netlabels and how to add. Maybe direct to the Altium Standards and add something there?}

Notes

{explain notes and how to add. Do we want to add a color scheme? Tesla does a color for layout, color for purchasing/BOM, color for schematic, color for firmware, etc (if so we’d also add to Altium standards)}

Hierarchical Pages

{intro about how it works}

Setting up for Hierarchy

{show where to set strict hierarchy}

{show how to add sheet symbols and ports}

Tips on Hierarchy

{talk about how pages create component rooms automatically}

{talk about simple copiability (two instances of the same sheet}

{talk about stacked pages (as done in shepherd segment)}

Classes and Other Labels

{intro to more advanced annotations in Altium. Highlight how it enables automatic feature in Altium like differential pair routing, complex clearances and creepages and more}

Differential Pairs

{as title implies}

Placing Labels and Blankets

{as name implies}

Types of Labels

{bullet point all the types and benefits. If I realize this needs to be built out more I’ll do so}

Advanced Schematic Features

This section will encompass any features that we use frequently, but are beyond the scope of a basic introductory tutorial.

Busses

{talk about busses}

{More?}

{}

RETURN TO HOME PAGE: Altium Designer