Those new features include 3D creepage safety checks in the PCB design editor, improved bus management and sheet connector cross-references in the schematic editor and enhanced scripting in the COM interface.
The new creepage safety checking functionality makes eCADSTAR suitable for the design of power supplies. Using creepage checks in the eCADSTAR PCB Design Editor, engineers can analyse the electrical safety of nets and defined regions of a PCB design, measuring the distance between electrical items across an insulating surface in 3D (according to standards, like IEC-62368).
Creepage rules are controlled by the user in a common constraint browser in both the eCADSTAR Schematic and PCB Design Editor. Creepage safety checks are included in the eCADSTAR Advanced 3D and eCADSTAR Ultimate bundles.
“The fourth major release since the launch in September 2019 makes eCADSTAR one of the most modern PCB design solutions for SMEs bringing high performance at a competitive price," said Jeroen Leinders, eCADSTAR Business Manager Europe. "The next step will be the release of the eCADSTAR SPICE Controller linked with LTspice, a free electronic SPICE simulator provided by semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices, scheduled for the second half of the year with eCADSTAR 2021.1."
The eCADSTAR SPICE controller will provide a tightly integrated engineering solution for the easy simulation of analogue circuits within eCADSTAR Schematics, making eCADSTAR Schematic a single point for PCB design and simulation.
Engineers will be able to view graphical waveforms, conduct what-if analysis, change discrete values, and run parameter sweeps using an embedded version of the free high-performance simulation software, LTspice, from Analog Devices.
The eCADSTAR SPICE Controller is included in the eCADSTAR Advanced HS, eCADSTAR Advanced 3D, and eCADSTAR Ultimate bundles. It will be optionally available with eCADSTAR Schematic Editor (standalone) and the eCADSTAR Base bundle.
