Today, I want to talk about a question that many beginners often ask. It's also a topic that has been frequently raised by small partners recently: with so many PCB design software available today, which one should you learn?
Currently, the three major PCB design tools dominate the market, and other less popular ones won't be discussed here.
1. Altium Designer (AD) is considered an upgraded version of Protel.
2. PADS
3. Cadence Allegro
Protel 99 is now outdated and can no longer handle complex boards. Besides these three, there are many other powerful software such as Cadstar, CR-5000, PCAD, Mentor EE, Mentor WG, Mentor EN, PADS Professional Edition, etc. While these tools are also very capable, their market share is lower, so they won’t be covered in this discussion. For a beginner, learning these might not be practical, as it’s hard to find job opportunities in companies that use them.
So we’ll focus on the three main software.
**1. Analysis of AD Software**
AD (including Protel 99) is typically used for simpler designs, such as single-chip microcontroller circuits or basic industrial boards. It's more of a low-end tool, commonly used for 2-layer or 4-layer boards. In mainland China, especially in less developed cities, AD still holds a significant market share. This is largely due to its widespread teaching in schools, where students studying electronics or electromechanics are often introduced to it. As a result, many engineers who graduated from school continue to use it in their jobs. Therefore, AD remains popular in the Chinese market because of its educational influence.
**2. Analysis of PADS Software**
PADS was originally called PowerPCB. It has a simple interface and is relatively easy to get started with. This may explain why it has a strong presence in the consumer electronics industry. In the past, PADS almost monopolized the market for products like VCDs, DVDs, MP3 players, USB drives, LCD TVs, and even early smartphones. Even now, it still dominates in areas like car electronics, digital set-top boxes, and Android TV boxes. Especially in mobile phone PCB design, PADS has a near-monopoly. While Allegro is gaining ground, PADS still leads in coastal cities like Shenzhen, making it a good choice if you're looking for work in those areas.
**3. Analysis of Allegro Software**
Cadence Allegro is known for its advanced features but is harder to learn and use. A few years ago, it had a smaller market share and was mainly used by large companies designing complex boards like computer motherboards or server boards. Its strength lies in handling large-scale designs efficiently. Although it's now being used in some tablet and smartphone designs, it's still primarily found in large industrial or high-end applications. In the long run, Allegro has a promising future.
**Learning Recommendations:**
If you want to draw simple boards, learn AD. If you're interested in consumer electronics, go with PADS. If you're aiming for large boards, choose Allegro. Learning PADS or Allegro opens up more job opportunities in coastal cities, while AD is more common in mainland cities.
Keep in mind that certain software is better suited for specific industries. For example, using AD to design a driving recorder or a smartphone is unlikely to lead to a job, as most companies in these sectors use PADS or Allegro. Similarly, using Allegro for small boards may not be practical, as fewer companies use it for such tasks.
In terms of salary, the type of board you design affects your earning potential. In some mainland cities, salaries for simple board design might be around 3,000 RMB, while in coastal areas, it could be much higher. From what I've observed, Allegro users tend to earn slightly more than PADS users, though this varies by region and company.
When choosing a software, consider where you want to work and what kind of products you'd like to design. This will help you make a more informed decision.
To find out which software is popular in your area, check job listings on recruitment websites. Look at the requirements and see which software is most commonly mentioned. By reviewing a few hundred job postings, you'll get a good idea of the dominant tools in your city.
Software is just a tool. What matters is understanding how to use it effectively. However, if you're looking for a job, it's best to focus on the software that is widely used in your target region. After all, the goal is to find a good job after learning the skills.
KW3-Basic Micro Switch-Lever Type
Micro Switch,KW3 Basic Micro Switch,Lever Type Switch
Ningbo Jialin Electronics Co.,Ltd , https://www.donghai-switch.com