Altium, a developer of Windows-based electronics design software, unveiled a product roadmap for P-CAD, the company's professional tools for board layout specialists.
 
The announcement comes on the heels of the January release of Service Pack 1 (SP1), which provided customer feedback contributed on Altium's P-CAD Forum. The company gives service packs free of charge to licensed users.
 
 "Altium is committed to the ongoing development of the P-CAD design system," said Nick Martin, founder and Joint CEO, Altium. "We are presenting our customers with a systematic, approachable and incremental way to realize value from their investments with Altium."
 
Service Pack 2 (SP2) for P-CAD is currently in beta testing and expected to release in the second quarter, with Service Pack 3 already planned for release in Q3.
 
Altium will deliver a variety of enhancements in SP2 designed to give greater power and control over the PCB design process. Productivity enhancements include Variants, which can now be defined in both schematic and PCB with full ECO support in both directions, as well as the ability to run multiple instances of all P-CAD applications.
 
The addition of backwards compatibility support facilitates staggered upgrades within companies and trouble-free interaction between internal and external organizations.  Efficiency has been improved with layer ordering for printing and important improvements to copper pours.
 
SP2 will also come with increased routing power due to improvements to glossing and hugging performance, and the Specctra/Situs Exporter.
 
 
Altium Ltd., altium.com

Series SDS850 Magnetically Shielded Surface Mount Power Inductors feature a ferrite core and shield. Designed in a compact package with maximum height of 0.190" (4.80 mm), offer low DCR with high-energy storage. Use for DC/DC converters, signal conditioning and filtering applications.

Offers 29 inductance values from 2.2 to 1000 µH, and current ratings from 150 to 2500 mA. Operating temperature range of -40 to +85°C, available on 24 mm tape and reel with 1000 pieces per reel. Samples are available and production lead time is stock to six weeks ARO. 

API Delevan, www.delevan.com

FLX2010-MK can automate all placement and dispensing tasks in the production of membrane keyboards or other flexible circuits. Two dispensing heads allow the application of glue, conductive glue or solder paste. LEDs and other SMD components are aligned optically for accurate placement. Even metal domes for keys can be placed automatically.

 

All placement and dispensing tasks can be programmed in any sequence, can place all SMT components from 0201s to QFPs at up to 5,000 cph.

 

The two available models vary only in the size of the placement range (MK: 500 x 300 mm; MKL: 800 x 600 mm"). The films can be even larger and are fixed on a flat vacuum table. Different size substrates can be combined; product-specific adapter plates can be used for double sided flex circuits - even in the reflow process.

 

Each dispensing head can be individually lowered and can be used in non-contact metering mode or with a standoff. A variety of feeding systems are available for SMD components supplied in tapes, sticks or trays. Metal domes are supplied as bulk material, taped or in sticks - the feeding system is selected accordingly.

 

ESSEMTEC

Bivar has announced a new line of snap-in and vertical standard-mount card guides, PCB ejectors and handles, all manufactured in compliance with WEEE and RoHS Pb-free materials and processes. Applications include the latest PCB packaging technologies in telecommunications, computer peripherals, test and medical diagnostic instruments and equipment, and plant system enclosures.

Products in a range of type and styles (including snap-in, circular, flame retardant and deep channel card guides) will accommodate a combination of 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8" PC boards.

VERT-O-GIDE offers a dual channel vertical guide for 1/16" PCBs with over 31 styles, eliminating card cages in applications where PCBs can be vertically mounted.

The new line also includes Bivar's ejectors, inserter/extractors, PCB handles and connector cutout covers.

 

Over 571 different styles and sizes are available, including the company's optional stainless steel channel inserts available for all standard 1/16" PC board card guide styles, to provide anti-static properties.

Bivar Inc., www.bivar.com