FEDEVEL
Platform forum

Pavan Sai , 06-03-2025, 10:33 PM

Hi @Robert Feranec ,

I am new to the Altium Designer tool and PCB development workflows. I want to know how do people generally validate their schematics, layouts (functionally) before even fabricating the PCB? Does Altium Designer support such capabilities?
Also, I want to estimate & quantify the EMI/ crosstalk and other issues that might occur due to my PCB layout in Altium. How do PCB designers generally do that? The end goal is that after spending a whole lot of time on designing the PCB, I do not want to end up in a broken PCB that has bugs after I fabricate it. So, I want to know the testing aspects in the PCB workflows and the tools involved.

I don't find this to be part of any of your courses. Is it true? If not, can you please point me to the course that discusses these aspects, it'd greatly help!

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,
Pavan

QDrives , 06-04-2025, 01:37 AM

Validating schematic is in a YouTube Video. An old one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDAuCchchtI&pp
Naturally Altium has the ability to validate your layout. It is called "rules". 'Problem' is, **you** need to correctly set the rules and values.
Qualify EMI due to layout is gonna cost you a lot. Often cheaper to build and test/measure.
As for crosstalk: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yuriy-shlepnev-7b39136_pcbdesign-altiumdesigner-signalintegrity-activity-7335741174382481408-G05k

Robert Feranec , 06-04-2025, 05:58 AM

what kind of boards do you design? Sometimes it may be faster and cheaper to design, manufacture, redesign and manufacture again ... sometimes it is faster and cheaper to do proper checking, sometimes you have to simulate to make it work. So it may depend on what kind of boards you are designing.