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How to design a standard PCB layout using Altium Designer

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Altium Designer Notes and PCB Design Guidelines

How to design a standard PCB layout using Altium Designer
This document is currently in a work in progress.

Table of Contents

Shortcut Keys

All Altium Designer Shortcut Keys [Download]
+400 Shortcuts for Altium Designer [View]

Schematic Designer

  • General
    • Ctrl + M: Measure.
    • C Then C: Compile the active project.
    • D Then U: Update the PCB with any schematic changes.
    • D Then O: Open the “Document Options” window.
    • Q: Toggle the measurement unit system between metric and imperial.
    • T Then C: Cross-probe a net, pin or component between the schematic and the PCB.
  • Schematic Routing
    • P Then W: Start placing wires.
  • Component Placement
    • J Then C: Jump to component.
    • J Then N: Jump to net.
    • T Then A Then A: Open the “Annotate” window.
    • T Then A Then U Open the “Quick Annotate” window.

PCB Designer

  • General
    • D Then I: Import changes from schematic to PCB.
    • T Then D Then R: Run DRC (Design Rule Checks).
    • Q: Toggle the measurement unit system between metric and imperial.
    • T Then C: Cross-probe a net, pin or component between the schematic and the PCB.
  • Routing
    • P Then T: Begin routing a track.
    • Tab (while routing): Brings up routing options/properties windows.
    • Shift + Space: Change the track routing style (e.g. from straight to 45 to curved and back again).
    • Shift + W: Set the track width to something from the predefined track width list.
    • T Then G Then A: Repour all polygons.
  • Component Placement
    • L: Flip a component.
    • Spacebar: Rotate object by 90°.
    • J Then C: Jump to component.
    • Ctrl + Shift + C: Align horizontal centers.
    • Ctrl + Shift + T: Align horizontal tops.
    • Ctrl + Shift + B: Align horizontal bottoms.
    • Ctrl + Shift + V: Align vertical centers.
    • Ctrl + Shift + L: Align vertical lefts.
    • Ctrl + Shift + R: Align vertical rights.
    • E Then M Then M: Move component (useful for when you can’t select it because it’s ontop of other components).
  • Visualisation
    • Shift + S: Hide all but selected layer.
    • V Then B: Flip board.
    • MouseScroll: Move up/down.
    • Shift + MouseScroll: Move left/right.
    • Ctrl + MouseScroll: Zoom in/out.
    • Ctrl + M: Measure.
    • + / -: Increment/Decrement through the enabled layers.
    • *: Increment/Decrement through routing layers only.
    • S Then S / Ctrl + H: Enables you to select a section of connected copper. Stops the selection at a via, pad or intersection.
    • D Then T Then <letter>: Select a view configuration. These views and their key shortcuts are user configurable.
      • D Then T Then U: Selects the “up” configuration (all top layers).
      • D Then T Then D: Selects the “down” configuration (all bottom layers).
    • D Then O: Open Board Options window.
    • Ctrl + G: Open the Grid Editor window.
    • L: Show the Layers dialog box to adjust the visible layers and/or enable/disable layers.
    • G: Cycle through the predefined grids.

Schematics

  • Draw circuits from left to right and top to bottom.
  • Draw circuits in functional block and use Net Labels for connecting blocks to each other.
  • Use standard designators:
    • IC: IC or U
    • Resistor: R
    • Capacitor: C
    • Inductor: L
    • Transistor: Q or T
    • Diode/LED: D
    • Crystal: Y/XTAL
    • Pin headers: J
    • Jumper: JP
    • Fuse: F
    • Ferrite Bead: FB
    • Fiducial: FD
    • Test point: TP
  • Add the Cover Page to the schematic:
    • Project name
    • Date
    • Re/version number
    • All the names of schematics
    • Notes legend
    • Company information
    • Schematic status with date (Draft, Preliminary, Checked, Released)
      • Draft: Blocks, just the structure of the schematic.
      • Preliminary: Connections done, Quiet close to final.
      • Checked: No mistakes in schematic.
      • Released: PCB sent for fab.
  • Don't connect 4 wires at one junction.
  • Place all labels, designators, pins, text etc. horizontally.
  • Don't fill up the whole sheet.
  • Name schematics with clear and short name.
    • For example: Use CPU_HDMI and CPU_LVDS instead of CPU1 and CPU2.
  • Use "+...V..." for power nets
    • Never use "VCC" as net name!
    • For example: +12V, +5V, +3V3, +2V5, and etc.
  • Fill information in Title block.
  • Use distinctly and clear names for schematics.
  • Add useful Design Notes on the schematic.
  • If you suspect that there are parts in the circuit, place them. If you do not need them, you can remove them later!
  • Double check RX & TX pins.
    • Never use "TX" & "RX" as net name alone!
    • For example: Use MCU_TX or GPS_RX instead of TX or RX alone!
  • Put enough and useful Test Points (TPs) for circuit debugging.
  • Place components in the schematic close to the pins where they should be located on PCB.
    • For example: bypass capacitors.
  • Generate PDF of the completed schematic.

Setup Before Layout

Rules

  • Clearance
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Electrical > Clearance
    • Clearance = 0.2 mm
  • Routing
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Routing > Width
    • Min Width = 0.254 mm
    • Preferred Width = 0.3 mm
    • Max Width = 0.5 mm
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Routing > Width_PWR
    • Min Width (PWR) = 0.254 mm
    • Preferred Width (PWR) = 1 mm
    • Max Width (PWR) = 4 mm
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Routing > Routing Via Style
    • Via Diameter = 0.6 mm
    • Via Hole Size = 0.3 mm
  • Mask
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Mask > Solder Mask Expansion
    • Solder Mask Expansion = 0.1 mm
  • Manufacturing
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Manufacturing > Hole To Hole Clearance
    • Hole to Hole Clearance = 0.3 mm
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Manufacturing > Minimum Solder Mask Silver
    • Minimum Solder Mask Silver = 0.3 mm
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Manufacturing > Silk to Solder Mask Clearance
    • Silk to Solder Mask Clearance = 0.1 mm
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Manufacturing > Silk to Silk Clearance
    • Silk to Silk Clearance = 0.1 mm
  • Placement
    • D Then R > Design Rules > Placement > Component Clearance
    • Component Clearance (Vertical) = 0.2 mm
    • Component Clearance (Horizontal) = 0.2 mm
  • Via
    • DXP > Prefs > PCB Editor > Defaults > Via
    • Via Diameter = 0.6 mm
    • Via Hole Size = 0.3 mm

Stackup

  • Design > Layer Stack Manager
  • Change Layer Names to L1 and L2, and etc.
  • Thickness of Dielectric (PCB Thickness) = 1.6 mm

Set Net Colors

  • View > Panels > PCB
  • PCB Panel > <Net Name> > Right-Click > Change Net Color
  • PCB Panel > <Net Name> > Right-Click > Display Override > Selected ON
  • Net Color for GND = Blue (236)
  • Net Color for PWR = Orange (4) or Pink (1)
  • F5 = Toggle Net Colors

Placement

  • Plan layout first, then placement.
  • Start with BMC (Big, Main and Critical) components. e.g. MCU and clock devices.
  • Place predefined location of components and connectors.
  • Isolate analog and digital power supply sections.
  • Place clock driver close to clock oscillator.
  • Arrange components in rows and columns.
  • Arrange components with uniform orientation, e.g. diodes and polarized capacitors.
  • Indicate polarity on silk screen.
  • Place all components on top side of the PCB. On complex and compact designs place short height and/or low thermal dissipation components go on bottom, never place tall components on the bottom side else it will increase the total height of the PCB.
  • Keep 1mm (40mil) space between components and 2.5 and/or 3 (100mill and/or 120mil) from component to edge
  • Place bypass capacitors as close to IC as possible, use combination of 10uF and 100nF, place smaller cap closer to IC.
  • Place connectors on one edge of the board.
  • Place at least four mounting holes.
  • Make sure enough space around mounting holes for screw heads to sit on and try placing big components around PCB.
  • Keep more space around headers/connectors.
  • Place hot components on the top side of the PCB.
  • Must place test points on all power nets and optional critical signals and programming pins if needed.

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How to design a standard PCB layout using Altium Designer

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