I recommend that you create a benchmark matrix with all the catagories
that you feel are vital as well as those that you feel are nice to have,
but you could live without if you had to. Perhaps members of this forum
could provide in this area. After the matrix is developed, invite each
representative to bring a fully functional version of their software to
be viewed, used and critiqued for a full day by the PCB design group,
their supervision as well as the EE's of your company. Consider having
them design one of your boards, providing all reports, fab files, etc.
Have each member grade the scorecard on a scale of 1 to 10 and plan a
comprehensive review with each contributor on each topic. Here are some
suggestions concerning features to consider:
1) Ease of use in symbol creation, placement (including component symbol
swap and change on the fly), hand routing and post processing.
2) Smooth and flawless interaction with all related tools (autorouter,
schematic capture [don't forget to put the ECO process to the test],
synthesis, mechanical design [DXF I/O, for example], artwork export/
verification [RS-274X, Barco]). Partnership with any of these should be
considered a plus.
3) Report generation.
4) Intelligent split planes with full DRC & connectivity verification.
5) Non laborious, intelligent padstacks.
6) OS compatibility (NT, Wonders '95, UNIX)
7) Price (be careful here, as a huge shell game can exist in "optional"
features such as DXF I/O, max database size, photoplot export options).
8) Service bureau support
9) Available users
10) Confidence in the future existence, support and continued tool
refinement of you software developer.
11) Training cost
12) VAR relationship, availability, responsiveness.
13) Flexibility for growth.
>----------
>From: Khaled Hassan Fouad[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 1998 3:14 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [DC] what cad software is better.
>
>Dear designers,
>My company is establishing a new devision for PCB design, so we are
>goining to buy cad software,but we are confused with all the cad
>software on the market. I have to choose from these 4 alternatives:
>1. Mentor graphics Board station on windows NT
>2. ACCEL EDA
>3. PADS
>4. Ultimate
>
>So please help me with my decision.
>
>--
>Khaled H. Fouad
>PCB Design Engineer, R&D Department
>PCB Egypt , Member of BAHGAT Group Foundation
>http://www.bahgat.com
>Email : [log in to unmask]
>
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