System Architecture has been doing a bit of exploration and discovery this semester. Since the beginning of C2S2,we have been strictly using Altium Designer as our PCB Design Tool of choice. However, after having some conversations and reflecting on the nature of this team we decided it was prudent to see other software and compare it to Altium. We chose KiCad and we are going to do a quick comparison of our initial thoughts of each tool and see which one aligns more with your needs.

There are multiple PCB Design Tools or EDA Tools available on the market. The most notable being Altium Designer, OrCAD and Allegro, EAGLE and KiCad. These softwares help with schematic design and capture,creating component footprints, layout design, implementing design rule checks (DRCs) and more. These are all important aspects of the design process so it is important to choose a tool that works for you.

Accessibility

Altium

Altium Designer is a commercial PCB design software that comes with various subscription based licensing options. The perpetual license cost is 11,970 USD and the term-based license is 355 USD per month. However they do provide free annual licenses to students. Although Altium's software may be free for students, accessibility may be difficult for those who want access to PCB design software outside of an academic setting. In addition, Altium Designer is mainly intended for Windows, but it can run on macOS using virtual machines.

KiCad

KiCad is an Open Source EDA tool that is available for download on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is mostly used by electronic hobbyists and inexperienced users as it is free to the general public. It is part of their mission statement to balance between keeping the software approachable to new users but still having complex design features for professional users.

User-Interface

Altium

Altium's user interface may be daunting for beginners as there are many panels or options to choose from. However, once you overcome the steep learning curve, you can utilize its large library of components that exist in the real world! This is a major advantage of Altium because it avoids the hassle of searching for datasheets, and it neglects the need to check whether a component is in stock or not.

Figure 1
Here is the schematic layout of a Battery Voltage Monitor Circuit

As you can see from above, Altium labels each component with its part number corresponding to the part manufacturer. Aside from that difference, the general layout of the schematic is similar to KiCad.

Figure 2
Here is the PCB Layout of Battery Voltage Monitor Circuit

Importing the footprints from the schematic is very straightforward due to the fact that Altium has footprints associated with most of the manufactured parts. Notably, Altium has an auto router which can be used to assist users with routing. However, Altium's interface for routing is simple enough for anyone to learn.

KiCad

KiCad is a bit more user friendly than Altium and sets a lot of things up for you on the jump. When you create a new project, it automatically opens a schematic file and a layout file. From there, you can place and wire the symbols you need for your project. One thing to note is that there isn't a default footprint to each symbol so make sure you select the part or else there will be no footprint for layout.

Figure 3
Here is the schematic of the same Battery Voltage Monitor Circuit

As you can see, the schematics look similar but are using different symbols. KiCad has a bunch of shortcuts that are more intuitive than Altium. Everything you need to draw your schematic is on the right side of the screen and as seen in the picture the cursor is the intersection of two lines to make sure that when you place components or wires everything is well aligned. This makes KiCad slightly easier to use when designing compared to Altium.

Figure 4
Here is the PCB Layout of the same Battery Voltage Monitor Circuit

Just like in Altium, all the reference numbers and component names are transferred over from the schematic. Another cool feature is that when you draw a trace to connect one pin to another it highlights where it should go. This is extremely useful as your projects get more complicated, it gets harder to see where to route the traces.

Overall Features

Altium

There are an extensive number of features that Altium supports. As mentioned before, Altium has a comprehensive set of manufactured part libraries which streamlines the process of searching for the vendors, datasheets, and part design (both 3D and 2D). Altium also supports a 3D viewing tool which allows users to view their design in a spatial format that's easier to visualize than the traditional 2D layout. Another feature of Altium is Simulation and Analysis which allows users to perform signal and power analysis of their analog and digital circuits. This feature allows users to identify issues with their circuit before it is manufactured. The most helpful feature of Altium is the ability to collaborate with other people on designs. Altium utilizes a GIT system that can allow users to commit to the same project, and version control. Lastly, the documentation feature of Altium makes it convenient for users to compile resources such as assembly drawings and bill of materials (BOM) to support the fabrication and assembly processes.

KiCad

KiCad also has features unique to its platform. A really cool one is that it is integrated with SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) Simulation. One can create a schematic in KiCad and select parameters for your project. Then you can simulate it to see if you are getting your desired output. This saves a lot of time and money fabricating a prototype that doesn't work as designed. KiCad also has a thriving community of users and thorough documentation that are available if you have questions or need assistance. One can also download plugins to automate design tasks like autorouting, an interactive BOM (Bill of Materials) generator and quick order buttons to various PCB manufacturers.

Conclusion

Altiumely (Ultimately), the choice is yours depending on what you prioritize when designing your PCBs. Altium Designer is an expensive commercial product designed for industrial use, but offers numerous features and a sleek user interface that one can learn over time. It can be very helpful for those looking to do more complex and professional PCB designs.On the other hand, KiCad is an open source and readily accessible tool that also carries similar features and functionality to Altium in an intuitive user interface . However, KiCad may be inconvenient for hobbyist designers who plan to often send their designs to PCB fabrication plants as KiCad does not offer extensive component libraries from different manufacturers with the datasheets readily available. In the world of PCB design, the software skills are transferable so whatever you choose, you're one step closer to becoming a PCB designer.