Congratulations! You have completed a full design lifecycle using OrCAD 16.6. While the software has a steep learning curve, practicing small circuits—such as an LED flasher or a simple 555 timer board—will quickly build muscle memory for the keyboard shortcuts and tool menus. If you hit a roadblock during your design, tell me:
Open Capture and select File > New > Project . Choose the PC Board Wizard to ensure the project is configured for PCB layout later.
Use the Place > Part menu (shortcut: P ) to browse libraries for components like ICs, MOSFETs, and discrete parts.
| File Type | Extension | How to Generate | |-----------|-----------|----------------| | Gerber | .art | Manufacture → Artwork | | Drill | .drl | Manufacture → NC Drill | | Netlist | .net | Capture → Create Netlist | | BOM | .bom | Capture → Tools → Bill of Materials | | PDF schematic | .pdf | File → Print (to PDF printer) | orcad 16.6 tutorial
OrCAD 16.6 is a popular EDA software used by engineers and designers to create and simulate electronic circuits, and design PCBs. The software provides a comprehensive set of tools for schematic capture, simulation, and PCB design, making it an ideal choice for electronic design engineers.
Check the box for .
Enter the exact name of the Allegro footprint library part (e.g., RES_REXT_AXIAL_0.4 or SOIC8 ). Congratulations
Disable your antivirus during the first launch. Some security software falsely flags OrCAD’s inter-process communication (used for drag-and-drop netlisting).
On the Options panel, select your active routing layer (e.g., or Bottom layer).
The OrCAD 16.6 suite consists of two primary environments that work together seamlessly: If you hit a roadblock during your design,
The netlist file bridges the gap between your schematic and your physical layout. Select the root design folder. Go to . Ensure the PCB Editor tab is selected.
: He added a neat rectangular outline on the Silkscreen Top layer so he’d know exactly where the part sat on the board. Chapter 3: Bringing it to Life
Go to Constraint Manager ( Setup > Constraints ) to define trace widths and clearances. Route: Select Route > Connect (shortcut: F3 ).