We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Robert Feranec

Learning a basic board design is essential for everyone who would like to work in electronics or who would like to design electronic boards or products. Learning board design in the right software can open you door into many companies, help you to get a well paid job and can be used to design very complex and advanced boards.

Design a simple board in OrCAD and Allegro PCB

- Draw a schematic - Route PCB- Generate the essential files for PCB manufacturer

Cadence software is very powerful

Read more

Learning a basic board design is essential for everyone who would like to work in electronics or who would like to design electronic boards or products. Learning board design in the right software can open you door into many companies, help you to get a well paid job and can be used to design very complex and advanced boards.

Design a simple board in OrCAD and Allegro PCB

- Draw a schematic - Route PCB- Generate the essential files for PCB manufacturer

Cadence software is very powerful

During this course you will learn the basics of using Cadence software. OrCAD and Allegro are professional software used to design the most advanced electronics boards. This software is used in the biggest companies. Learning OrCAD and Allegro is useful for everyone planning or already working in electronics.

Contents and Overview

You will create a simple LED circuit. The course videos are step-by-step and even if you are new in electronics or you have never used OrCAD or Allegro before, by repeating these steps, you will design your board. By the end of this course, you will learn all the most essential information to be able to start using and discovering Cadence by yourself.

Within 1 hour you will learn how to:

- Draw schematic- Create and update schematic symbols- Create and update footprints- Place components into your PCB- Route simple PCB- Print from PCB and schematic- Create Bill of Material (BOM) - Generate Gerbers and Drill file

For everyone who would like to learn how to start with OrCad and Cadence Allegro PCB.

Enjoy this course :)

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Drawing Schematic and Creating libraries
Introduction
What you will learn during this course
Starting a new project
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches OrCAD and Allegro PCB, which are professional software used in many companies to design advanced electronics boards, making it useful for those planning or working in electronics
Course videos are step-by-step, which means that even if you are new to electronics or have never used OrCAD or Allegro before, you can design your board by repeating these steps
Covers generating essential files for PCB manufacturers, which is a core skill for turning designs into physical products and prototypes
Focuses on the basics of using Cadence software, which allows learners to start discovering Cadence by themselves and build a foundation for more advanced projects
Requires access to OrCAD and Allegro PCB software, which may require a license or subscription, potentially posing a barrier to entry for some learners

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Basic pcb design with orcad/allegro

According to learners, this course provides a positive introduction to PCB design using professional software like OrCAD and Cadence Allegro. Many appreciate the step-by-step approach and the focus on completing a practical project, taking them from schematic design through to generating manufacturing files. Students find the course effective for gaining foundational skills needed to start using these complex tools, highlighting its value for beginners. Some mention the challenge or cost associated with accessing the software itself, which is separate from the course content.
Learners need access to OrCAD/Allegro software.
"Accessing and setting up the OrCAD/Allegro software itself can be a challenge for newcomers."
"Remember you need to have the software installed and licensed separately to follow along."
"The course content is good, but finding the right version or trial of the software was difficult."
"It would be helpful if there were more explicit instructions on obtaining the software."
Best suited for absolute beginners in the software.
"As a complete beginner to Cadence tools, I found this course perfect for getting started."
"If you have previous experience with PCB design software, this might feel a bit basic."
"It delivers exactly what it promises - starting with OrCAD and Allegro basics."
"It lays a solid foundation but doesn't go into advanced topics or complex designs."
Covers essential basics of industry-standard software.
"Good introduction to using OrCAD and Allegro, which are important professional tools."
"Learning these tools is essential for an electronics career, and this course gets you started."
"Provides a solid base for anyone looking to get into professional PCB design."
"Using Cadence software was intimidating, but this course made it approachable."
Learn by doing a complete, simple board design.
"Very helpful as it walks you through a real project from start to finish... gives confidence to try my own designs."
"The focus on designing a simple LED board provides a great hands-on experience."
"Completing the project and generating actual manufacturing outputs was the most valuable part for me."
"I enjoyed building the circuit and seeing the final board layout come together."
Offers clear, structured lessons for beginners.
"The course is very good and step by step explained about how to draw a schematic, how to make the symbol for the components... I like it."
"Loved how the instructor breaks down each step from schematic to gerber file generation... makes learning complex software achievable."
"This step-by-step guide is excellent for absolute beginners wanting to grasp the basics of PCB design using Cadence tools."
"Following along was easy thanks to the clear instructions provided in each video module."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Starting with OrCAD and Cadence Allegro PCB with these activities:
Review Basic Electronics Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental electronics concepts. A solid grasp of these concepts is crucial for understanding circuit design and PCB layout.
Browse courses on Ohm's Law
Show steps
  • Review online resources and tutorials on basic electronics.
  • Solve practice problems related to Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws.
  • Familiarize yourself with common electronic components like resistors and LEDs.
Read 'Practical Electronics for Inventors'
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive electronics reference. This book covers a wide range of topics relevant to PCB design.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to basic circuit components and analysis.
  • Work through the example problems and exercises.
  • Refer to the book for clarification on any concepts you find challenging.
Practice Schematic Capture
Improve your proficiency in schematic capture. Repeated practice will make you more efficient and accurate in creating schematics.
Show steps
  • Redraw existing schematics from datasheets or online resources.
  • Create schematics for simple circuits you design yourself.
  • Focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice PCB Layout
Enhance your PCB layout skills through repetitive exercises. This will help you develop a better understanding of component placement and routing techniques.
Show steps
  • Replicate PCB layouts from existing designs.
  • Experiment with different routing strategies.
  • Pay attention to design rules and constraints.
Document Your PCB Design Process
Solidify your understanding by documenting your design process. Explaining your choices will help you identify areas where you need further clarification.
Show steps
  • Create a blog post or video tutorial explaining your PCB design process.
  • Describe the steps you took, the challenges you faced, and the solutions you found.
  • Share your content with others and solicit feedback.
Design a Simple Breakout Board
Apply your knowledge by designing a breakout board for a common electronic component. This project will give you hands-on experience with the entire PCB design process.
Show steps
  • Select a component for your breakout board.
  • Create a schematic for the breakout board.
  • Design the PCB layout.
  • Generate the manufacturing files.
Read 'Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference: Basics'
Deepen your understanding of PCB design principles. This book provides a comprehensive reference for best practices.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to PCB design principles and best practices.
  • Pay attention to the sections on component placement, routing, and signal integrity.
  • Use the book as a reference when working on your own PCB designs.

Career center

Learners who complete Starting with OrCAD and Cadence Allegro PCB will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
PCB Designer
A PCB Designer is responsible for creating the physical layout of electronic circuits. This course helps build a foundation in using Cadence software, specifically OrCAD and Allegro PCB, which are widely used in the industry for designing advanced electronics boards. You will learn to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, place components, route PCBs, and generate essential manufacturing files. By learning to design a simple LED circuit in this course, you can gain practical skills necessary for a career as a PCB Designer. For anyone looking to become a PCB designer, this course stands out due to its direct application of industry-standard Cadence software.
Electronic Drafter
An Electronic Drafter creates detailed schematics and diagrams for electronic equipment. This course helps build a foundation for a career as an Electronic Drafter. The course teaches how to use OrCAD and Allegro PCB to create schematics, create and update schematic symbols, and create footprints. The course also covers PCB layout, generation of manufacturing outputs, and BOM. This course stands out because it focuses on OrCAD and Allegro PCB, which is essential for understanding how to create detailed schematics and diagrams for electronic equipment.
Design Engineer
A Design Engineer is responsible for the design and development of new products or systems. This course helps build a foundation for design engineers who specialize in electronics. The course focuses on using OrCAD and Allegro PCB to design electronic circuits. This includes drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, routing PCBs, and generating manufacturing files. This course, with its emphasis on industry-standard software, can greatly enhance your ability to design and develop electronic products. You can gain invaluable skills in PCB design.
Electronics Technician
Electronics Technicians repair, maintain, and install electronic equipment. This course helps build a foundation in understanding how electronic circuits are designed and manufactured. This course focuses on the basics of using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, professional software used to design advanced electronics boards. You will learn to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, place components, and generate manufacturing files. This course is excellent preparation for anyone serving as an Electronics Technician, and stands out as an accessible introduction to PCB design using industry-standard tools.
Electrical Engineering Technician
An Electrical Engineering Technician assists electrical engineers in designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing electrical equipment and systems. This course helps build a foundation in PCB design, specifically using OrCAD and Allegro PCB. You will learn how to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, place components on a PCB, and route the board. It also covers generating files for PCB manufacturing. Successfully completing circuit design in this course can improve one's ability as an Electrical Engineering Technician. This course is particularly relevant for Electrical Engineering Technicians who wish to broaden their skillset with hands-on PCB design experience.
Hardware Engineer
Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test computer systems and components. This course may be useful for hardware engineers wanting to gain proficiency in PCB design. This course teaches the fundamentals of using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, professional software used in the design of advanced electronics boards. The course covers drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, component placement, PCB routing, and generating manufacturing outputs. This course stands out as a practical introduction to PCB design, which is a valuable skill for hardware engineers. The course's focus on real-world applications makes it an ideal starting point.
Electronics Engineer
An Electronics Engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic components, products, and systems. This course may be useful for electronics engineers needing to understand PCB design using industry-standard software. The course focuses on using OrCAD and Allegro PCB to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, and route PCBs. It also covers generating manufacturing files. This hands-on experience in Cadence software can enhance your skills as an Electronics Engineer, particularly when involved in product development. This course stands out as a practical introduction to PCB design using OrCAD and Allegro PCB.
Test Engineer
A Test Engineer develops and implements testing strategies and procedures for electronic systems and components. This course may be useful for test engineers as a way to gain a deeper understanding of PCB design. The course focuses on the basics of using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, professional software used to design advanced electronics boards. The course covers drawing schematics, creating and updating schematic symbols and footprints, component placement, PCB routing, and generating manufacturing outputs. This course stands out as a practical introduction to PCB design, which is a valuable skill for understanding the systems they test.
Product Development Engineer
A Product Development Engineer is involved in the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception to market release. This course may be useful for product development engineers who want to improve their understanding of PCB design and manufacturing. The course focuses on using OrCAD and Allegro PCB to design electronic circuits. This includes drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, routing PCBs, and generating manufacturing files. The practical skills learned in this course can enhance your ability to oversee and contribute to the development of electronic products. This course stands out due to its hands-on approach to learning PCB design with widely used Cadence software.
CAD Technician
A CAD Technician uses computer-aided design software to create technical drawings and models. This course may be useful for CAD technicians who want to specialize in PCB design. Using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, you will learn to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, place components, and route PCBs. The course also teaches how to generate manufacturing files, which is essential for PCB production. This course stands out due to its focus on industry-standard Cadence software and PCB design. Learning to create technical drawings and models using OrCAD and Allegro PCB can boost one's career as a CAD Technician.
Embedded Systems Engineer
An Embedded Systems Engineer designs, develops, and tests embedded systems, which are computer systems with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system. This course may be useful if you are looking to deepen your knowledge of PCB design. This course emphasizes the use of OrCAD and Allegro PCB for designing electronic circuits. The course covers drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, routing PCBs, and generating manufacturing files. The course gives valuable hands-on experience with industry-standard Cadence Software, which is useful for embedded systems design.
Quality Control Inspector
A Quality Control Inspector examines products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications. This course may be useful for quality control inspectors who want to broaden their understanding of PCB design and manufacturing processes. The course teaches the fundamentals of using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, professional software used in the design of advanced electronics boards. It covers drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, component placement, PCB routing, and generating manufacturing outputs. This practical knowledge can enhance your ability to identify potential issues in electronic products. The course's hands-on approach makes it a solid choice for Quality Control Inspectors.
Biomedical Engineer
A Biomedical Engineer applies engineering principles to healthcare and medicine, designing medical devices and equipment. This course may be useful for biomedical engineers interested in designing and developing medical devices with custom PCBs. This course teaches the fundamentals of PCB design using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, industry-standard software. Learning to draw schematics, create and update schematic symbols and footprints, and route PCBs can be invaluable in developing specialized medical equipment. This course stands out as it provides practical skills in PCB design using software commonly used in professional settings.
Firmware Engineer
A Firmware Engineer develops the software that controls embedded systems. This course may be useful for firmware engineers looking to understand the hardware aspects of embedded systems. This course focuses on the basics of using OrCAD and Allegro PCB, professional software used to design advanced electronics boards. The course covers drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, component placement, PCB routing, and generating manufacturing outputs. This practical introduction to PCB design can provide valuable insights into the hardware that their firmware interacts with, and because of this, allows one to be a more effective Firmware Engineer.
Robotics Engineer
A Robotics Engineer designs, builds, and tests robots and robotic systems. This course may be useful for robotics engineers who want to broaden their knowledge of the electronic design aspects of robotics. The course focuses on using OrCAD and Allegro PCB to design electronic circuits. The course covers drawing schematics, creating and updating symbols and footprints, routing PCBs, and generating manufacturing files. Learning these skills can enhance your ability to design and integrate electronic components into robotic systems, by giving them a foundational knowledge of the software that is required for schematics and diagrams. The hands-on focus of this course makes this a great choice for those designing robots and robotic systems.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Starting with OrCAD and Cadence Allegro PCB.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electronics, covering both theoretical concepts and practical applications. It's a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles of circuit design. It can be used as a reference text throughout the course. It provides more depth than the course itself.
Provides a detailed overview of PCB design principles and best practices. It covers topics such as component placement, routing, and signal integrity. It useful reference for understanding the complexities of PCB design. It adds more depth to the course.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser