OrCAD 16.6 remains one of the most widely used versions of the Cadence PCB design suite due to its stability and comprehensive feature set. This tutorial provides a streamlined walkthrough for beginners to navigate the ecosystem, from initial schematic capture to the final PCB layout. Getting Started with OrCAD Capture
The journey begins in OrCAD Capture, the primary tool for creating circuit schematics. After launching the software, go to File > New > Project. Select Schematic under the project type and ensure you choose a directory where you have full read/write permissions.
Once your workspace is open, the first step is placing components. Use the P shortcut or the Place Part icon. If the libraries are empty, click the Add Library button and navigate to the tools/capture/library folder. Common components like resistors and capacitors are found in the DISCRETE library, while connectors are in the CONNECTOR library. Wiring and Netlisting
With components on the page, use the W key to activate the wire tool. Connect your pins carefully, ensuring that junctions are marked with a dot to signify a physical connection. To give specific names to your traces—essential for keeping track of power rails like VCC and GND—use the Place Net Alias tool (shortcut N).
Before moving to the PCB stage, you must perform two critical housekeeping tasks:
Annotate: This automatically assigns unique reference designators (R1, C1, U1) to your parts.
Design Rule Check (DRC): Run this to find unconnected pins or short circuits. orcad 16.6 tutorial
Create Netlist: This generates the file that tells the PCB editor how components are connected. Ensure the Create PCB Editor Netlist box is checked. Transitioning to OrCAD PCB Editor
Open the PCB Editor and go to File > New > Board. The interface here is different from Capture, focusing on physical geometry rather than logical symbols. Your first step is to import the logic you just created. Go to Import > Netlist and point the software to your Capture project folder.
Before you can see your components, you must define the board boundary. Use the Shape Add tool on the Board Geometry/Design_Outline layer to draw the physical size of your PCB. Component Placement and Routing
Use the Placement Edit mode to bring your components onto the board. A common tip for OrCAD 16.6 is to use the "Autoplace" feature for a rough start, but manual placement is always superior for optimizing signal integrity. Place bulky components like connectors first, then keep decoupling capacitors as close to their respective IC pins as possible.
Routing can be done manually using the Add Connect tool (F3). As you click a pin, the software will highlight the "ratsnest" line showing where that trace needs to go. For 16.6 users, the glossing feature is particularly helpful; it cleans up jagged traces to create professional, 45-degree angles automatically. Manufacturing Output
The final phase of any OrCAD 16.6 project is generating Gerber files. These are the universal files sent to fabrication houses. Navigate to Manufacture > Artwork. You will need to create film records for the Top, Bottom, Soldermask, and Silkscreen layers. Once defined, click Create Artwork. Finally, generate the NC Drill files via Manufacture > NC > NC Drill to define where the holes will be bored. OrCAD 16
By following this flow—Capture, Netlist, Layout, and Artwork—you can harness the full power of OrCAD 16.6 to bring your electronic designs to life. To help you move forward with your design:
What specific circuit type are you building? (e.g., power supply, microcontroller board)
Creating a complete PCB design in OrCAD 16.6 involves a multi-step workflow spanning schematic capture, simulation, and physical layout. This tutorial outlines the core process from project setup to generating manufacturing files. 1. Project Initialization & Schematic Capture
The first step is using OrCAD Capture CIS to define your circuit's electrical connections.
Project Setup: Open Capture and select File > New > Project. Choose the PC Board Wizard to ensure the project is configured for PCB layout later.
Placing Components: Use the Place > Part menu (shortcut: P) to browse libraries for components like ICs, MOSFETs, and discrete parts. Title: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for OrCAD PCB Designer 16
Wiring: Connect pins using the Place > Wire tool (shortcut: W). Assign net names to critical lines to simplify the layout process.
Footprint Assignment: Each component must have a valid PCB Footprint property (e.g., SOT23, R0805) to transition to the layout stage. You can find manufacturer-specific models on sites like Mouser or SnapEDA. 2. Design Verification (DRC & Netlist)
Before moving to layout, you must ensure the schematic is logically sound.
Design Rule Check (DRC): Run a DRC by selecting your project file and choosing Tools > Design Rule Check. This identifies unconnected pins or shorted nets.
Generate Netlist: Use Tools > Create Netlist to produce the .dat files that tell the PCB Editor which pins are connected. Ensure there are no errors, or the layout tool will not import the data correctly. 3. PCB Layout in OrCAD PCB Editor upgrade projects from Orcad 9.2 to Orcad 16.6 - PCB Design
In OrCAD Capture 16.6, "making a report" usually refers to generating a Bill of Materials (BOM), which is a list of components used in your schematic. However, you might also need a "Cross Reference" report to find where parts are located.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to generate the most common reports.
Author: [Your Name] Course: [e.g., Electronic Design Automation] Date: [Current Date]
Add > Line. Subclass: Board Geometry/Outline. Draw a rectangle 80mm x 60mm.Place > Manually.
Manufacture > Artwork...Film Control tab.Add Film.TOPETCH/TOPPIN/TOPVIA CLASS/TOPBOARD GEOMETRY/OUTLINEBOTTOM (use ETCH/BOTTOM).SILKSCREEN_TOP (add BOARD GEOMETRY/SILKSCREEN_TOP, REF DES/SILKSCREEN_TOP).SOLDERMASK_TOP (add BOARD GEOMETRY/SOLDERMASK_TOP).Create Artwork. Check the log for any missing films.