• Contents:
• Introduction to CADSTAR
• The Basic Design Flow
• Design A
−
Step 1 - Schematic for Design A
−
Step 2 - PCB Placement for Design A
− Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design A
− Step 4 - Manufacturing Data for Design A
• Design B
−
Step 1 - Schematic for Design B
−
Step 2 - PCB Placement for Design B
−
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design B
−
Step 4 - Manufacturing Data for Design B
• Design C (for advanced users, based on P.R.Editor XR)
−
Step 1 - Schematic for Design C
−
Step 2 - PCB Placement for Design C
− Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design C
− Step 4 - Manufacturing Data for Design C
• Design D (single sided board design for advanced users, based on P.R.Editor XR)
−
Step 1 - Schematic for Design D
−
Step 2 - PCB Placement for Design D
−
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design D (adding Jumpers on the fly)
−
Step 4 - Manufacturing Data for Design D
• Conclusion
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
• Introduction to CADSTAR
 
Let me introduce CADSTAR to you. CADSTAR is a PCB Design tool allowing you to draw a Schematic 
Design and transfer the Design to a PCB Layout environment.  After an error-free transfer, CADSTAR 
helps to place the components into the board outline.   
 
Routing is an integral part of a PCB design process, and manual, semi-auto and automatic routing 
tools are available within the Embedded Route Editor, or P.R.Editor XR (Place & Route Editor) in 
CADSTAR. CADSTAR introduced the Embedded Route Editor for users who don’t use a PCB Design 
tool regularly, and P.R.Editor for more advanced users, who require more powerful solutions. For more 
advanced users (industry users), also high-speed design features can be provided as standard or 
optional. 
 
The completion of the PCB design will be followed by the generation of manufacturing output data for 
PCB fabrication. 
 
I will guide you through the basic design flow of a PCB design and through two very simple PCB 
designs using CADSTAR. Try them and have fun! 
 
• The Basic Design Flow
Library
Make sure that all the parts (schematic symbol & PCB footprint) required are available in 
library. 
Note:
the library provided with CADSTAR Express contains only a few parts essential
for the two PCB designs described in this 'Do-It-Yourself Book' and some examples of 
the on-line CADSTAR Exchange Library. More libraries are available on-line through 
CADSTAR Exchange
. The ready-to-download-and-use parts contain all the information
you require including manufacturers' part numbers. The libraries currently contain over
140,000 parts
and are updated and expanded regularly. If the part required is not
already available in these libraries, you can quickly and easily design your own parts 
using the supplied wizards and the Graphical Library Editor. 
The on-line CADSTAR Exchange Library is available to you as part of the maintenance 
contract. 
Schematic
It is always advisable to start with a schematic design before moving onto the PCB the
PCB
design.
PCB
After the successful transfer from schematic, components will be placed within the
(Placement)
board outline.
PCB
After placing all the components, we can start routing the critical nets manually and/or
(Routing)
through
automatic routing.
Manufactu-
The final stage of any PCB design. No matter what your manufacturer requires,
ring Output
CADSTAR can deliver Gerber, Ncdrill, Placement data, Bill Off Materials, IPC-D-356
test data, DXF, CADIF, GENCAD and ODB++
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
• Design A
 
 
Introduction to LED Flasher
 
 
This is a a-stable multi-vibrator circuit to 
alternately flash 2 LEDs. The Resistor 
and the Capacitor values determine the 
frequency, which is the flash rate.  The 
formula is as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LED Flasher
 
The design drawn has two 39 kOhm resistors and 10uF capacitors.  However, the two sides do not 
have to match.  Different values for R and C on each side can give a nice effect for a unique duty-
cycle.  The Flash-rate for this circuit is about 1 cycle per second. 
The 470 Ohm collector load resistor limits the current flow to ~20mA and also determines the 
brightness of the LEDs. 270 or 330 Ohm is recommended for green LEDs. Transistor in this design is 
not critical. 
Step 1 - Schematic for Design A
 
a. 
You shall start with going through the hand drawn schematic shown on the previous page.  The 
design is a simple LED flasher. 
   
b. 
You will then have to gather the components being used in the flasher.
 
c. 
From the hand-drawn schematic, you should be able to see twelve (12) components, they are:
- 2 x 2N3904 NPN Transistor
- 2 x 1N914 Diode
- 2 x LED HLMP-1585
- 2 x 470 Ohm Resistor
- 2 x 39 kOhm Resistor
- 2 x 10uF/10V Electrolytic Capacitor
 
d. 
You can also see a 9V power supply. You can use a 9V battery for this power supply.
e.
Once this information is available, you can start the CADSTAR Design Editor
 
f. 
Click on the Tool Bar (File New Schematic Design) and choose one of the templates- in the
box (I like Form A1)
 
 
[Time Off = 0.7 x R x C]  R in ohms and C in farads  
[Total Time Off = 1 / Frequency] Total Time Off being the total number of seconds that both 
transistors are off and Frequency is in hertz. 
[Time Half = Total Time Off / 2] 
[Capacitor = Time Half / ( 0.7 * R )] with Capacitor answer in farads. 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
g. 
If you don't like to work with a black background, you can also select in the toolbar a
 
 
h. 
You can now start calling out the symbols you require by using the Workspace on the left of the
window. Click the Libraries Tab
 
i. 
You can start to place 2 transistors onto the schematic template by using the Workspace and
search on
and choose 2N3904
 
j. 
Place 2 transistors on the template by simply dragging the transistor from the Workspace 
window, i.e. highlight 2N3904, click on it by using left-hand mouse button, without releasing the 
button - drag it out onto the design template. While dragging, you can use the right-hand mouse 
button for mirror and/or rotation. 
 
k. 
Do the same for the other 10 components (you can either select the through-hole or SMD 
components): 
-2x Diode>1N914 (or BAS19)
-2x
Led>HLMP-1585
-2x Resistor>470E-MRS25-1% (or 470E-r0805-2%)
-2x Resistor>39K-MRS25-1% (or 39K-r0805-2%)
-2x E-Capacitor>10uF-10V-EC (or 10uF-10V-c6032)
 
l. 
While selecting the appropriate components in the Workspace window --> Libraries (like 
2N3904), you can click on the right-hand mouse button to see Links --> Datasheet. 
The link is a hyperlink to an URL on the internet (or
intranet), but can also be linked to something different (i.e. PDF file or Word document).
 
m. 
You can connect two components simply by placing the connecting terminals onto each other.
 
n. 
After you have added all the components, you can add 3 AGNDs. To do so, simply click the
Add --> Global Signal Icon
and choose (AGND). You can connect the AGND terminal and
the terminal of the diode (cathode), by placing the terminals onto each other.
o.
After 3 AGNDs have been added, search on soldereye-1mm
and add 2 pins. The purpose of these 2 pins is the wiring connection to the Battery pads; hence 
a pad is connected as 9V and the other AGND. 
 
p. 
Change the pin names to VCC9V and AGND respectively. To change the name, select the pins
and click the Item Properties
icon.
 
q. 
Connect the symbols together in the same way as the hand-drawn schematic is connected
electrically. To connect, click the Add --> Connection
Icon. While connecting, you can also
use the right-hand mouse button to Change Default Net Route Code, allowing you to select a 
different Net Route Code (I like Power & GND thicker than signal tracks). 
r.
Change the net name connected to VCC9V to VCC by selecting the net
and clicking the
Item Properties
icon.
s.
When completed, save this schematic design
 
t. 
CADSTAR Express allows you to make pin names or numbers visible/invisible so you can see 
which pin is number 1 or 2. Select Tools 
Æ
Options
Æ
Display from the menu and
enable/disable Override Part Pin Names/Numbers Visibility.
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
u. 
In today's market it is important to deliver a B.O.M. (Bill Off Material, or in CADSTAR called 
Parts List) at an early stage. To create a Parts List, simply click on Tools --> Reports --> Parts 
List. 
v.
To print your schematic design, simply click on File --> Print Icon
and go through the Print
and Page Setup. Alternative if you have the Acrobat PDFwriter installed you can print your 
schematic design to a 
file.
Note: Enable Alternative text output in the print options, making text
searchable
when printing
to a file format such as
.
 
w. 
Finally, transfer the schematic to PCB through File --> Transfer to PCB, choose '
2 layer
1.6mm.pcb'
as PCB Technology.
Note: If you choose the PCB Technology '1 layer 1.6mm.pcb' during transfer to PCB, this 
default technology file is prepared for single sided boards (whereas I prefer larger solder-pads, 
thicker track-widths and more spacing). The advantage of the different technology files is that 
you still can make use of ONE library as you will experience in Design D. 
x.
If you didn't complete the schematic design as described above, just open
Example1.scm
and
transfer the schematic to PCB through File --> Transfer to PCB, choose '2 layer 1.6mm.pcb' as 
PCB technology. 
 
Step 1 showed how a schematic design can be drawn for Design A. In fact, any schematic capture can 
be drawn following the sequence shown. However, a more complicated design will require more 
complicated steps. There are many tools within CADSTAR Design Editor that will help designers like 
you to design a schematic. You can also add spacing classes, insert a component into a net without 
any disconnection, auto-connection of busses. Other tools like Align Symbol, Design Re-use, Design 
Variant, Hierarchical Design, etc are both important and user friendly for professional Design 
Engineers. You can try them out! 
 
Error free transfer, no netlist is necessary! CADSTAR Library, Schematic and PCB run on the same 
Graphical User Interface, guaranteeing a fast & problem free transfer. 
 
You can now move on to PCB Design. 
 
 
Step 2 - PCB Placement for Design A
 
a. 
You are now in the PCB Layout area with all the 12 components and 2 pins stacked onto each 
other. 
 
b. 
You should make sure that the unit is Thou (Thousandth of an Inch / Mil) by Setting --> Units or 
by double-clicking the units 
at the bottom of the CADSTAR window.
 
c. 
First, you will have to draw a PCB outline; this board outline can either be drawn within 
CADSTAR or imported via DXF format (File --> Import --> Format --> DXF). Select the DXF file 
Boardoutline.dxf.  
For the mapping-file, you have to select dxfio.map, which you can find in the User directory and 
just click OK. If you succeeded to import the board outline, then go to step g. 
 
d.
Alternatively you can draw the board outline manually. Click the Shape
Default icon
and select Board. Then click any of the drawing tool
icons
and begin drawing a rectangular outline (size
2000x1000 thou). Watch the absolute and incremental coordinates at 
the bottom of the CADSTAR window when drawing the board outline. 
From any point in the design you can reset the incremental coordinates 
by pressing the 'Z' key, followed by the return command. 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
e. 
To modify any outline (board, figures, component outlines etc) you can also use the Shape 
Properties Window by selecting the outline you can see, and by modifying the absolute or 
relative coordinates. 
 
f. 
You can also create screw holes or mounting holes if you like. To create any holes within the
board, click the Shape Default icon
and select Cutout. Click any of the drawing tool icons
, click at the board outline and begin drawing a Cutout within the board outline.
If you didn't succeed to draw the board outline or to import the board outline through DXF, just 
open 
Example1a.pcb
 
g. 
Once the board outline have been imported or draw manually you can set an interactive origin, 
displaying X and Y co-ordinates of all design items, and cursor positions, relative to the new 
origin. Select Settings
Æ Interactive Origin
and place the origin at the lower left corner of the
board. When you enabled Snap to Endpoint it will be even easier to place the Interactive Origin.
To enable Snap to Endpoint select Settings
Æ
Snap
Æ
Endpoint
Note: If the Snap toolbar is not visible, goto Tools
Æ
Customise
Æ
Toolbars and enable Snap.
h.
For the next step, select Actions --> Placement --> Arrange Components
in the menubar,
then select Place Around Board Outline --> Next --> Finish.  All components will be placed 
around the board outline that you created. 
 
i. 
You can now start to place the critical components inside the board outline.  In this case, the 
pins (for 9V and GND) and the LEDs are the critical components.  They should be placed first. 
 
j. 
For the next step, select pin VCC9V by clicking on the pin or just type in VCC9V followed by the
return command (it will be highlighted automatically), then click the Item Properties
Icon and
change the
X-position to 250,0 and Y-position to 875,0
.
 
k. 
Repeat this action for:
Pin AGND, change the
X-position to 450,0 and Y-position to 875,0
C
omponent LED1, change the
X-position to 250,0 and Y-position to 175,0
and rotate 90°
Component LED2, change the
X-position to 1750,0 and Y-position to 175,0
and rotate 90°
 
l. 
After the placement of all the critical components, you can now place the remaining
components by selecting Actions --> Placement --> Automatic Placement
in the menubar.
You can Enable all Auto Rotation angle in the Automatic Placement window before placing the 
components (depending on your design rules). Try the different settings and experience the 
different results. 
 
m. 
If components do not fit on the board because the board outline is not big enough, you can 
always increase the board size. 
 
n. 
If you didn't succeed to place the components, just open
Example1b.pcb
 
o. 
You can also move the components manually if you wish, and change to a smaller working Grid
to suit your placement needs (just double-click on the grid button on the bottom
of the window).
 
p. 
Note: you can select any footprint by simply selecting the particular symbol in the schematic. In 
CADSTAR, we call it Cross-Probing (No problem with this feature as everything is on the same 
GUI). To try it out, select Window --> Tile Vertically in the menu bar first. To continue with the 
next exercise, you should activate and enlarge the PCB Design window. 
 
q. 
Finally to create a partial power-plane, create a template by selecting the board outline,
choosing Actions --> Duplicate Shape -->
Template in the menu bar and changing the layer
to Bottom Elec.
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Note: Copper pour will be generated automatically in the Embedded Router or P.R.Editor XR 
(up to your choice) on solder side based on the template area. Copper shapes will be created 
to fill in the empty space within the template outline connected for example to AGND. 
 
r. 
After the template has been created, you should set the properties 
for this template. To do this, you will first highlight the template 
created by you. Then click on Item Property
icon.
You can set the properties as follows:
Name Template: use default name
Relief Copper Code: 10
Layer: Bottom Elec
Signal Name: AGND
Clearance Width: 10
Thermal Relief: Enable On Pads (Angle45°)
Note: Automatic Pour is ENABLED!
[These are the important parameters you need to set]
 
The steps that were mentioned in this chapter are again a typical sequence.  There are other tools 
such as Radial Placement, Gate and Pin swap, Replicate Placement etc. to help designers like you to 
achieve a correct placement of components. 
 
The completion of placement means you can now start to route the PCB.  
Select Tools --> Embedded Router or click the Embedded Router
icon in
the menu bar, to go to the routing environment. 
 
If you didn't succeed to create the template, just open 
Example1c.pcb
,
before going to the routing environment. 
 
 
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design A
 
a. 
You are likely to be at the Embedded Router by now, but before 
starting any routing we advise you to check the Routing Options. 
Setting the Routing Options is very important before any routing!   
Select  Tools --> Routing Options… in the menu bar or click the 
Routing Options 
icon.
 
The "Routing Options" box contains several options for the routing process: Route Width, 
Routing Parameters (for autoroute), Routing Angle, On-Line Design Rule Check, Push Aside, 
Activ-45 Degree Routing etc. Make sure that at least On-line DRC, Angled Autorouting, Angle 
45 Degrees, Activ-45 Degree Routing and Automatic Pour are Enabled. You can use these 
options to create the result you want. You can start with manual routing by clicking two icons on 
the tool bar, Item Focus
and Manual Route
as shown. Experience the ease-of-use of the
Activ-45 Degree Routing and Automatic Pour starting at the solderside (Bottom Elec), by 
selecting a net just once and moving the cursor to the other end of the net. 
 
b. 
You can change the active routing layer from Top Elec
to Bottom Elec
(by clicking the Top Elec button on the bottom of the window and changing the Current layer to 
Bottom Elec). 
 
c. 
While routing, you can insert a Via by using the right-hand mouse button and select Change 
Layer. 
 
d. 
Or you can change the route width on the fly from Optimal to Necked or Change Width (choose 
a width between Min and Max, depending on your Route Assignments). 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
e. 
You can also use the automatic routing features (usually designers like you will leave this step 
to the last, as manual or semi-auto routing is usually necessary for the critical 
nets/connections). The two icons used are Net Focus
and Autoroute
and you can auto-
route either net by net or just drag an area around the whole board outline.
 
f. 
Copper pour will be generated automatically on solder side (Bottom Elec), saving you a lot of 
time! 
 
g. 
Note: the copper poured into the template has followed the properties you have set.  The 
copper has also automatically avoided the cut-out of the board outline. 
 
h. 
After completion, you can go back to the PCB Design Editor window by selecting File --> Exit
Embedded Router in the menu bar or by clicking the Exit Embedded Router
icon. Don't
forget to rebuild the router results into the layout. You can now see a design similar to the PCB 
shown below: 
 
 
i.
At this stage, you can save the file
 
j.  
If you didn't succeed to route the design, just open
Example1d.pcb
to have a look.
 
This is probably the last stage of the PCB design. It requires some careful considerations as to how the 
board can be routed, what are the critical nets, what nets have to be routed manually etc. For 
advanced users, more routing features and High-Speed routing are to be considered. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Step 4 - Manufacturing data for Design A
 
At this stage, you can also create the manufacturing data (Gerber, N.C.Drill, Parts List, Placement data 
etc.) for the manufacturing of the PCB. You can select File --> Manufacturing Export --> Batch 
Process… in the menu bar or click the Batch Process
icon. In the Batch Process window you select
Open --> Manufacturing Output 2 Layer.ppf, which you can find in the User directory and click START. 
 
You can easily add more rows to create layers that 
you would like to post-process. In this design, since 
it is a 2-layer board, the layers that are to be 
generated are Top Elec, Bottom Elec, Top Solder 
Mask, Bottom Solder Mask, Top Silkscreen (all in 
Extended Gerber RS274-X format). Other 
additional manufacturing data that can be 
generated are Parts List, Placement Data, Drill 
Data Plated & Non-Plated (Excellon format), which 
is also necessary for manufacturing. All manufacturing data will be saved in the Output directory. 
 
There are other tools such as Associated Dimensioning (Orthogonal, Angular, Radial etc.), Snap, 
Component Rename etc. to help designers like you to create all necessary manufacturing data. 
 
Quite interesting?
 
 
Check 
CADSTAR 3D
, supporting Import/Export of STEPS AP203, AP214, ACIS and STL formats,
providing you an optimized solution for the placement and verification of a PCB Design in its 3D 
environment. Replace the board outline, component placements smoothly back annotated and import 
other PCB designs and housings, build it all together and run a complete collision check. 
It’s not just a viewer! 
 
More information you can find on:
http://www.cadstarworld.com/products_cadstar3d.asp
 
 
If you want to continue practicing, go to Design B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
• Design B
Transistor Audio Amp (50 mW)
formation on Design B - Transistor Audio Amplifier
ere is a little audio amplifier, similar to what you might find in a small transistor radio. The input stage
tep 1 - Schematic for Design B
Design B, you will have to decide what to do based on the knowledge you have gained from your
.
Study the schematic.
.
Collect and note information on the components.
.
From the hand-drawn schematic, you should be able to see eighteen (18) components, they
- 2 x 2N3053 NPN Transistor
- 1 x 470 Ohm Resistor (470E-MRS25-1%)
o (3E3- RS25 %)
EC)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In
 
H
is biased so that the supply voltage is divided equally across the two complimentary output transistors, 
which are slightly biased in conduction by the diodes between the bases. A 3.3 Ohm resistor is used in 
series with the emitters of the output transistors to stabilize the bias current so it doesn't change much 
with temperature or with different transistors and diodes. As the bias current increases, the voltage 
between the emitter and base decreases, thus reducing the conduction. Input impedance is about 500 
Ohm and voltage gain is about 5 with an 8 Ohm speaker attached. The voltage swing on the speaker is 
about 2V without distorting and power output is in the 50mW range. A higher supply voltage and the 
addition of heat sinks to the output transistors would provide more power. The circuit draws about 
30mA from a 9V supply. 
 
 
S
 
In
work on Design A.  I will guide you through it to give you some tips.  The sequence is the same as 
Design A.  
 
a
 
b
 
c
are:
 
 
- 1 x 2N2905A PNP Transistor
- 1 x 1.5 kOhm Resistor (1K5-MRS25-1%)
- 2 x 1N4148 Diode
- 1 x 5.6 kOhm Resistor (5k6-MRS25-1%)
- 2 x 3.3 Ohm Resist r
M
-1
- 1 x 47uF/10V Elec. Cap (47uF-10V-EC)
- 1 x 22 Ohm Resistor (22E-MRS25-1%)
- 1 x 1000uF/50V Elec. Cap (1000uF-10V-
- 5 x SOLDEREYE-1MM (for Input, Speaker and 9V supply)
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
d.
Create a new schematic sheet (I like Form A1)
e.
Call out components from the library
 
f. 
Place the components on the schematic sheet
.
Connect the components
g
 
h. 
Change any net information (remember I like a different Net Route Code for Power & GND)
Save the design
i.
 
j. 
Create the Parts List
.
Print the design
k
 
l. 
Transfer the schematic design to PCB (choose '2 layer 1.6mm.pcb' as PCB technology)
you didn't complete the schematic design as described above, just open
Example2.scm
and transfer
tep 2 - PCB Placement for Design B
assume that you completed the schematic design in a breeze. You can now start to place and
.
Check and/or change the Unit & Grid (25 mill is preferred)
.
Change Shape Default
 
If
the schematic to PCB through File --> Transfer to PCB, choose '2 layer 1.6mm.pcb' as PCB 
technology. 
 
 
S
 
I 
arrange the components on the PCB after the transfer. Again, I will give you some important points to 
follow in order to complete the PCB placement.   
 
a
 
b
and select Board.
.
Draw a board outline (size 2000x1500 thou). If you didn't succeed to draw the board outline,
 
c
just open
Example2a.pcb
.
Arrange components around the Board Outline
d
 
e. 
Manually place the critical components inside the board outline:
0,0
.
0,0
.
Fix the position of VCC9V, INPUTGND, INPUT, SPK and SPKGND
Place VCC9V at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 150,0
.
Place INPUTGND at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 105
Place INPUT at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 1350,0
.
Place SPK at
X-position 1850,0 and Y-position to 1350,0
.
Place SPKGND at
X-position 1850,0 and Y-position to 105
f.
 
g. 
Cross-probe if it is necessary
.
Automatically place the other components
h
. If you didn't succeed to place the components,
Draw one or more templates
just open
Example2b.pcb
i.
(remember Duplicate Shape and do not forget to allocate the
signal name AGND to the template). If you didn't succeed to create the template, just open
Example2c.pcb
, before going to the routing environment.
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
j.
Transfer the PCB to Embedded Router
 
 
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design B
ou are now at the final stages of the PCB design. Again, simply follow the steps and you will complete
.
Manually route any critical nets
 
Y
your PCB design very soon. 
 
a
b.
Automatically route all other nets
c.
Exit Embedded Router
 
If you didn't succeed to complete the design, just open 
Example2d.pcb
to have a look.
Design B after Placement & Routing
tep 4 - Manufacturing data for Design B
reate the manufacturing data
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
S
C
 
 
 
 
 
C
WELL DONE! You have now completed the PCB design
heck CADSTAR 3D, supporting Import/Export of STEPS AP203, AP214, ACIS and STL formats,
More information you can find on:
http://www.cadstarworld.com/products_cadstar3d.asp
providing you an optimized solution for the placement and verification of a PCB Design in its 3D 
environment. Replace the board outline, component placements smoothly back annotated and import 
other PCB designs and housings, build it all together and run a complete collision check. 
It’s not just a viewer! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
• Design C (Place & Route Editor)
esign C I have created for the more advanced users, making use of the P.R.Editor XR2000. Users,
tep 1 - Schematic for Design C
o keep it simple I have already draw the schematics of Design C for you. Just open
Example3.scm
tep 2 - PCB Placement for Design C
.
Before transferring to P.R.Editor XR2000 you can create a very rough placement manually.
b.
ome connections between U1 and U2 are crossing! To solve select Actions
Æ
Gate and Pin
 
D
who are making regular use of CADSTAR, do prefer more powerful features as available with the 
P.R.Editor XR2000, delivering placement and routing functionality within one environment. By the way 
all exercises as done for Design A and Design B in the Embedded Router, can be done as well in the 
P.R.Editor XR2000! 
 
S
 
T
and transfer the schematic to PCB through File 
Æ
Transfer to PCB, choose ‘Eurocard-160x100.pcb’ as
PCB technology. If you didn't succeed to transfer the schematics design, just open
Example3a.pcb
before going to Step 2. 
 
 
S
a
Place all IC’s with pin 1 to the north, place U1 at the left, U2 in the middle and U3 on the right of 
the board. SMD components can be easily placed on both layers, select capacitor C1 (you 
have many options to do so), move C1 to the preferred place, click the right mouse button and 
select ‘Mirror’ from the pull down menu. Place all capacitors at the solder side of the board. 
Note: The color of the components swapped to the other side of the board do change! If you 
didn't succeed to place the components, just open 
Example3b.pcb
before moving on.
 
S
Swap
Æ
Automatic Gate and Pin Swap
Æ
Start
. When saving the design a back annotation
file  *.RIN will be created automatically, contain g all the Gate and Pins swap information, 
which can be back annotated to the schematics design. If you didn't succeed to Gate and Pin 
Swap, just open 
Example3c.pcb
before going on.
in
.
Open the schematics design
Example3.scm
and select File
Æ
Back Annotation
c
and select
le
. Open
Example3c.pcb
and go to the P.R.Editor XR by selecting Tools
Æ
P.R.Editor XR
the  *.RIN from the Self Teach directory. After saving the design you should de te the back 
annotation file. 
d
When transferring to the P.R.Editor a RIF
Export Option window will be showed 
automatically. Ensure that 
Write Jumpers
from Library
is
disabled
.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design C 
.
You are likely to be at the P.R.Editor XR by now, but before
Î
.
P.R.Editor XR can not only be used for routing your design
Î
.
Setting the Placement is very
Î
.
Select a component and move
a
starting any routing or further placement we advise you to check 
the Routing Tool Options (CTRL-T). Setting the Routing Options 
is very important before any routing! Select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Routing Tool in the menu bar. Ensure the settings are equal
to the example. If you don’t like copper to be poured 
automatically disable it. If you don’t like routes to be pushed you 
can disable Push aside or reduce the Effort  in which case less 
routes will be pushed aside. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b
but as well changing your placement without the need to go 
back to the Design Editor, but before starting any placement we 
advise you to check the Interactive Move and Push Aside 
Options.  Setting the Interactive Move options by selecting 
Configure 
Æ
Interactive Move in the menu bar is needed to
control component placement.
c
important before any placement. 
Select  Configure 
Æ
Placement
Æ
Push Aside in the menu bar. Ensure 
the settings are equal to the example.  
 
 
d
it. Notice that other components are pushed aside, and when
enough space the selected component jumps over other components. Components can also be
swapped
to the other side of the board or rotated
.
As the board is a 4 layer board with 2 power planes GND & VCC, we will first start with Stub
e
routing for the GND & VCC. Select Whole Net Mode
, Auto route
and select the GND
signal (repeat the same for VCC). 
Note: By using the customizable Function Keys F5 or F6 you can scroll through the layers from 
The next step is to create a footprint. A footprint is a route template that can be applied to an
top to bottom or the other way around.
f.
SMD component. It enables routes to `breakout' from a surface mounted pad using a pattern 
that is efficient on space and gets the route to an inner layer as soon as possible. Footprints are 
often used and can be easily re-used for BGA’s, QFP’s or even SO-IC’s.  
Note: If the footprint toolbar is not visible go to View
Æ
Toolbars
Æ
Footprint
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Before creating the footprint, goto Configure
Æ
Routing
Æ
elect Routing
Æ
Footprint
Æ
Auto
Footprints in the menu bar. Ensure the settings are equal to the 
example. 
 
S
in the menu bar and drag
y using Y-Mirror Footprint
an area around the component U2 or just a number of pads. 
 
B
or any of the other Footprint
options (like Rotate Footprint) you can modify the footprint as you 
like. Once you are happy with the footprint you can save it, 
selecting Routing
Æ
Footprint
Æ
Save
and drag an area
around the created footprint, so you can re-use it within other 
designs. Save the footprint as ‘so20-l.fpt’. 
 
Zoom-in on component U3 and select Routing
Æ
Footprint
Æ
Create Exit Directions
in the
p
g.
or the next exercise you should open
Example3d.pcb
in the Design Editor and go to the
menu bar and drag an area around the component U3. A window ‘Input Footprint File’ ops up 
and you can select the ‘so20-l.ftp’ which you save earlier. You have re-used a footprint 
successfully. 
 
F
P.R.Editor XR by selecting Tools
Æ
P.R.Editor XR
The P.R.Editor XR will help you to complete your design step by step by using advanced auto-
What is Trunk Routing?
Trunk Routing introduces the concept of the intelligent Trunk object, allowing you to route any
route technologies.
Trunk Routing
will help you to complete data and address lines easier.
given set of signals in an intuitive manner and with as little effort as possible.
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
.
Selecting which connections are Trunk Routed
Busses of data and address lines can be
h
 
Í
already designated in a schematics design (as 
done in Example3.scm) and transferred to PCB 
and P.R.Editor XR. A bus (trunk) can be 
selected by the bus marker, zoom in on the bus 
marker before selecting Manual Route
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alternative you can double click on one of the
Î
pads as marked by the bus marker, before selecting
Manual Route
. Note: All pads as marked will be
selected and highlighted. 
 
When no bus marker is visible you can drag
 
 
 
Í
a multiple selection around a set of pins before 
selecting Manual Route
to start Trunk
Routing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
i.
efore starting any trunk routing we advise you
Î
B
to check the Trunking Options. Select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Trunking in the menu bar.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Simple manual routing of a Trunk on a single layer
order to aid routing, snap axes and trunk end routing areas will be drawn on the canvas
o start routing the Trunk you can place the Gather Point by clicking the left mouse button in
be added during Trunk Routing. This can
hen you have added in the required Trunk path, it is possible to finish Trunk Routing in
ey can be used in order to finish Trunk routing at the last added corner position
he
Trunking Options
dialog,
is also possible to restart the Trunk Router on a previously added Trunk. This can be easily
j.
 
In
around each of the target sets of pins for the Trunk.  You will see 
Twist Arrows
drawn on the
canvas showing the best entry angle for the Trunk to the target pins in order to minimize 
connections crossed at each end.  You will also notice that you have a Gather Point for the 
Trunk that is now dynamic on the end of your cursor.  The Gather Point defines the start for the 
Trunk where all of the parallel tracks will be considered as a single object. 
 
T
the position that you want to start routing the Trunk from.  Trunk segments are now introduced 
towards the cursor position as you move the mouse on the canvas. Use the left mouse button 
to confirm Trunk segments that you have added.  A corner can be added by changing direction 
of movement of the cursor after a left mouse click. 
Note: There are different styles of corners that can
be changed by using the Right Mouse Context Sensitive menu. 
 
W
several ways: 
The 
'Escape'
k
or using the Right Mouse Context Sensitive menu
Cancel
option.
With the
‘Single Click Finish on Snap Line’
option selected on t
a single click when positioned over a snap axis will also finish the Trunk. Remember Select 
Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Trunking in the menu bar.
 
It
done by selecting the manual routing icon
and then picking the Trunk on the canvas, or
selecting the manual routing icon
with the Trunk item already selected
Note: Try also the ‘
Backspace’
key (Remove Previous Item).
 
During routing of a Trunk the Trunk contents will dynamically reorder to maintain the least 
k.
dding Vias while Trunk Routing
o place a Trunk Via pattern while using the Trunk Router, you can double click the left mouse button or
l.
anual Reordering of Trunks and Via patterns
is possible to reorder the contents of a Trunk manually, by manual selection of a single track
m.
anual Trunk End Routing
ou can use the Manual and Activ-45 routers to interactively route the connections up to the
number of crossed connections at each of its ends.  This is done to give the best routing pattern 
for each end. This option can be configured using the 
Trunking Options
dialog
Minimise
Crossed Connection
setting.
A
 
T
choose a different layer using the Layer option on the Right Mouse Context Sensitive menu. It is also 
possible to change the 
Trunk Via pattern style
to a number of predefined styles using the
Right Mouse
Context Sensitive
menu during Trunk Routing or by pressing the
'Tab'
key in order to cycle through the
predefined Trunk Via patterns. 
 
M
 
It
inside the trunk using selection preview. Hold down the 
‘Shift’
key and press the Left mouse
button. It is possible to switch to one of the other items by pressing the
'Tab'
key. Each time the
'Tab'
key is pressed the next item will be highlighted. You can then drag this track interactively
to another position inside the Trunk. 
 
M
 
Y
end of the trunk. During the routing process you can still re-order the trunk if necessary. 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
n.
Automatic Trunk End Routing
 
While you are Trunk Routing, it is possible  
to automatically route the ends of a Trunk 
using the Trunk End Router.  Routing will 
be attempted for all Trunk Ends that are 
inside a Trunk End Routing target area. 
Select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Trunking in
the menu bar and ensure the settings are 
equal to the example. 
 
In some circumstances you may wish to 
decompose Trunk objects that you have 
added to your design into normal Track. 
For example, you may wish to split a 
segment of a Bus into Track so that you 
can route the Bus around another obstacle. 
In order to do this you first need to select 
the Trunk items that you wish to 
decompose and then use the Decompose 
option on the Right Mouse Context 
Sensitive menu. Once a Trunk has been 
decomposed into Track, it is not always 
possible to compose these items back into 
Trunks. 
 
 
You can use the Trunk Routing, Manual and Activ-45 routers to interactively route the 
connections up to the end and finish the board. 
 
 
If you didn't succeed exit the P.R.Editor XR without saving and you will automatically return to 
the Design Editor and open 
Example3e.pcb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
o.
Auto Routing
For the next exercise you should open
Example3f.pcb
in
the Design Editor and go to the P.R.Editor XR by
selecting Tools
Æ
P.R.Editor XR
Before starting any auto routing we advise you to
Î
change the Routing Tool Options (CTRL-T) again. 
Setting the Routing Options correctly is very important 
before any routing! Select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Routing Tool in the menu bar. Ensure the settings are 
the same as in the example.  
 
Note: Although Errors are allowed, you should first allow 
the router to make some errors. In combination with 
Effort 10 the router will continue routing till no errors are 
left. 
 
Select Routing
Æ
Autoroute
from the menu bar and
drag an area around the whole board outline or part of 
the board you would like to auto route. The auto router 
will stop automatically once all connections have been 
routed. But the routing is not yet optimal, and therefore 
you should run first a Smoothing pass. Before running a 
Smooth pass select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Routing
Tool in the menu bar and enable Smooth.
Select again Routing
Æ
Autoroute
from the menu bar
and drag an area around the whole board outline or part 
of the board you would like to smooth. 
Note: As a result of the smoothing pass the number of 
vias and segments will reduce. 
If you didn't succeed exit the P.R.Editor XR without 
saving and you will automatically return to the Design 
Editor and open 
Example3g.pcb
which I finished for you
manual, before going to the next step. 
 
p.
For test reasons you can decide to automatically
Î
generate a testpoint on every node (or as many as 
possible). Before starting any allocation of testpoints, 
select  Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Testpoints and make
sure the settings are equal to the example. Do not forget 
to select ‘(Bottom Elec)’ in the section Layers! 
Select
Select
Æ
All from the menu bar and note that all
will be highlighted. Select Routing
Æ
Testpoint
Æ
Allocate
and the testpoints will be added
automatically. Select Utilities
Æ
Reports
Æ
Testpoints to
create a testpoint report as in the example.
Note: Now that you have finished the design, you can 
select File 
Æ
Exit from the menu bar.
q.
If you didn't succeed to finish the testpoint creation, just 
open 
Example3h.pcb
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Step 4 - Manufacturing data for Design C
If you like you can create the manufacturing data for this design
 
 
 
 
 
WELL DONE!  You have now completed the PCB design and experienced 
several features of the advanced P.R.Editor XR2000 
Check CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR - Functionality Matrix on:
http://www.cadstarworld.com/products_routing_matrix.asp
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
•
Design D (Single Sided Board Design)
Transistor Audio Amp (50 mW)
esign D is based on the same schematics as Design B (a little audio amplifier). But this time you will
Step 1 - Design D
. Open
Example2.scm and transfer the schematic to PCB through File --> Transfer to PCB…, but
tep 2 - PCB Placement for Design D
ou can now start to place and arrange the components on the PCB after the transfer. Again, I will give
.
Check and/or change the Unit & Grid (25 mill is preferred)
.
Change Shape Default
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information on Design D - Transistor Audio Amplifier
 
D
create a single sided board and I will show you how to add jumpers on the fly. Typically, a jumper is 
used to bridge across other routes, the jumpers discussed here are non-functional jumpers and do not 
appear in the schematics.  I will guide you through it to give you some tips.  The sequence is the same 
as before.  
 
a
now choose '
1 layer 1.6mm.pcb
' as PCB technology instead. This default technology file I
prepared already for you and you will notice although I’m using the same library that the solder-
pads are larger, thicker track-widths and more spacing have been defined. 
S
 
Y
you some important points to follow in order to complete the PCB placement or you can go 
immediately to 
Step 2.i
. When creating a single board design a good placement is highly important to
avoid crosses in the connections, so take your time. If you don’t succeed 100%, don’t worry as you will 
be able in Preditor to add jumpers on the fly, just like adding a via 
 
a
 
 
b
and select Board.
.
Draw a board outline (size 2000x1500 thou). If you didn't succeed to draw the board outline,
 
 
c
just open Example4a.pcb
.
Arrange components around the Board Outline
d
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
e. 
Manually place the critical components inside the board outline:
0,0
.
0,0
.
Fix the position of VCC9V, INPUTGND, INPUT, SPK and SPKGND
Place VCC9V at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 150,0
.
Place INPUTGND at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 105
Place INPUT at
X-position 150,0 and Y-position to 1350,0
.
Place SPK at
X-position 1850,0 and Y-position to 1350,0
.
Place SPKGND at
X-position 1850,0 and Y-position to 105
f.
 
h. 
Cross-probe if it is necessary
Automatically place the other components
i.
. If you didn't succeed to place the components,
Before going to the routing environment check out Libraries
Æ
PCB Components
just open Example4b.pcb
j.
Æ
. Open
Example4b.pcb and go to the P.R.Editor XR2000 by selecting Tools
Æ
PReditor XR…
Jumpers. I have created already some pre-defined jumpers, which you will be able to select in 
Preditor on the fly. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
k
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
Step 3 - PCB Routing for Design D
ou are now at the final stages of the PCB design. Simply follow the steps and you will complete your
.
You are likely to be at the PReditor XR… by now, but before
Tip: By using the customizable Function Keys F5 or F6 you can
 
Y
PCB design very soon. When transferring to the Preditor a RIF Export Option window will be showed 
automatically. Ensure that 
Write Jumpers from Library
is this time
enabled
.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a
starting any routing we advise you to check the Routing Tool 
Options. Setting the Routing Options is very important before any 
routing! Select Configure 
Æ
Routing
Æ
Routing Tool… in the
menu bar (or use CTRL-T). Ensure the settings are equal to the 
example. If you don’t like copper to be poured automatically 
disable it. If you don’t like routes to be pushed you can disable 
Push Aside or reduce the Effort in which case less routes will be 
pushed aside. 
scroll through the layers from top to bottom or the other way 
around. Select in the menubar Layer, change the Current Layer 
to Bottom Elec and select OK. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: 2 layers have been added (Top Jumper and Bottom Jumper)! 
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
b. Manually
route
the net between resistor R2 and capacitor C2 as in the example
ide
.
In the next step you will add a jumper on the fly by manually routing
below on the solders
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c
the net between transistor TR1 and resistor R2 as in the
low on the solderside. Route to the location you want to
add the first pad of the jumper and double click, select Top Jumper. 
Now move the cursor to the location you want to add the second pad
of the jumper. Preditor will show you a thin line representing the pitch 
of the pre-defined jumpers depending on the available space. Double 
click again will add the jumper and you can continue routing. Preditor 
will show you only a list of pre-defined jumpers if more then one 
jumpers with the same pitch have been defined in the library. It’s 
 
example be
as ea
Now route all the connection on solder side and insert jumpers if necessarily till no connection
sy as adding a Via!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
are left. 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
.
Once you have finished the design you can select File
Æ
Exit from the menubar
.
All routing and jumpers will be nicely back annotated to the PCB Design. Running ECO update
If you didn't succeed to complete the design, just open Example4d.pcb to have a look.
Design D after Placement & Routing
Step 4 - Manufacturing data for Design D
t this stage, you can also create the manufacturing data (Gerber, N.C.Drill, Parts List, Placement data
d
 
e
won’t remove jumpers and the jumpers will appear normally in the Part list and Placement data.
f.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A
etc.) for the manufacturing of the PCB (as you did also for Design A). You can select File --> 
Manufacturing Export --> Batch Process… in the menu bar or click the Batch Process Icon
. In the
ou can easily disable the rows that you would not
k,
Drill
ich
n
lternative you might want to produce an ODB++ output file. ODB++ is one of the most intelligent
e
Batch Process window you select Open --> Manufacturing Output 2 Layer.ppf, which you can find in 
the User directory and click START. 
 
Y
like to post-process. In this design, since it is a 
single layer board, the layers that are to be 
generated are Bottom Elec, Top Solder Mas
Bottom Solder Mask, Top Silkscreen (all in 
Extended Gerber RS274-X format). Other 
additional manufacturing data that can be 
generated are Parts List, Placement Data, 
Data Plated & Non-Plated (Excellon format), wh
is also necessary for manufacturing. All manufacturi
 
g data will be saved in the Output directory.
A
CAD/CAM data exchange format available today, capturing all CAD/EDA, assembly and PCB 
fabrication knowledge in one single, unified database. The output produced by this option can b
viewed graphically on the viewer provided by Valor. 
 
 
 
WELL DONE! You have now completed the PCB design
 
 
 
For more information visit www.cadstarworld.com
 
Podsumowanie 
 
 
Po tych czterech ćwiczeniach powinieneś znać podstawowe zasady projektowania płytek drukowanych. 
W niedalekiej przyszłości być może będziesz projektować bardziej skomplikowane projekty PCB 
używając jednego z najbardziej zaawansowanych systemów EDA jakim jest CADSTAR.  
 
Wraz z tą broszurą otrzymałeś darmową wersję CADSTAR Express, która ograniczona jest do 300 pinów 
i 50 komponentów.  
CADSTAR Express możesz również ściągnąć z naszej strony 
 
Aby otrzymać pełną 30-dniową wersję ewaluacyjną CADSTAR prosimy o kontakt na emaila 
. Jest ona darmowa i uzyskać ją można podając swoje dane oraz adres
fizyczny komputera (physical address) 
 
Adres fizyczny można  znaleźć w następujęcy sposób: 
Start/run [wpisz polecenie] cmd     [enter]  
[wpisz polecenie] ipconfig /all       [enter] 
 
 
Istnieją również inne narzędzia CADSTAR, które pomagają konstruktorom w projektowaniu elektroniki.  
CADSTAR P.R.Editor XR2000/5000 S or HS - High-Speed Circuit Design Routing (trunking, stub, 
memory, track length, delay, differential pair, impedance controlled routing) & Placement 
CADSTAR P.R.Editor Rules by Area - Different technology-rules to different areas of the PCB 
CADSTAR EMC Adviser - EMC rule check on PCB layouts 
CADSTAR SI Verify - Post Simulation for reflection, cross-talk 
CADSTAR Variant Manager - One Schematics & PCB - many different requirements 
CADSTAR Design Viewer - To view all CADSTAR designs (free to download) 
CADSTAR 3D - 3D Verification, back annotation of changes, supporting STEP, ACIS & STL 
CADSTAR Exchange Library - Over 220.000 CADSTAR parts available for download from LinkZ (only 
available in combination with a valid maintenance agreement) 
CADSTAR Datasheet Publisher - Extracts parts information from library in HTML datasheet 
CADSTAR IDF Advanced 3D interfaces - between MCAD and PCB design systems 
CADSTAR SPICE A/D simulator interfaces – TopSPICE, PSpice & B2 SPICE 
CADSTAR MRPLINK - Synchronization, parts management, history management and BOM 
management 
CADSTAR Thermal Analysis Interface 
CADSTAR Microstrip Routing Option for RF Design 
CADSTAR Docsymbol Generator (Import BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG) 
CADSTAR Schematic Symbol Rename 
CADSTAR Signal Reference Annotation 
CADSTAR Assembly Name Generator 
CADSTAR Drill Table Generator 
CADSTAR Gerber reader 
CADSTAR GENCAD Output 
CADSTAR Panelizing, Editing 
CADSTAR Migration from P-cad, Protel or Orcad - Schematics, PCB design & Library 
 
Więcej informacji na stronie