Introduction
Altium Designer is a widely-used electronic design automation software that is revered by engineers and designers worldwide. Its powerful features and intuitive interface make it a go-to tool for PCB design, schematic capture, and much more. If you’re looking to enhance your skills or gain industry recognition, online courses and certifications can provide you with the knowledge and credentials you need. In this article, we’ll explore the ten best Altium Designer courses and certifications available online, helping you choose the best option to suit your needs.
1. Altium Designer – Schematic (Electronics for Novices)
If you’re new to Altium Designer or electronics design in general, this course is a perfect starting point. You’ll learn the basics of schematic design using Altium Designer’s interface, tools, and libraries. From understanding the schematic capture process to creating hierarchical designs and component placement, this course covers it all. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the fundamental knowledge required for PCB design.
2. Altium Designer – Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design
This course dives deeper into Altium Designer’s PCB design capabilities, focusing on creating and editing board layouts. You’ll learn how to define board shape and size, place components, route traces, and perform design rule checks. The course also covers advanced topics like multi-layer PCBs, differential pairs, and high-speed design considerations. Upon completion, you’ll have the expertise to create professional-grade PCB designs.
3. Altium Designer – Advanced Library Creation Techniques
Building an extensive and well-organized component library is crucial for efficient PCB design. This course teaches you how to create, edit, and manage component libraries within Altium Designer. You’ll explore advanced techniques such as creating custom components, adding variants, and incorporating footprint models. By the end, you’ll possess the skills to maintain a comprehensive library for streamlined design processes.
4. Altium Designer – FPGA Design with Verilog HDL
For those interested in FPGA design, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of integrating Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) into Altium Designer. You’ll learn how to create and modify Verilog hardware description language (HDL) files, simulate designs, and implement them onto FPGAs. The course also covers debugging techniques and verification processes, ensuring your FPGA designs are error-free.
5. Altium Designer – Signal Integrity Simulation
Signal integrity is a critical aspect of high-speed PCB design. This course introduces you to Altium Designer’s signal integrity analysis and simulation capabilities. You’ll learn how to analyze and mitigate signal integrity issues like reflections, crosstalk, and electromagnetic interference. Through hands-on examples and real-world scenarios, you’ll develop the skills necessary to optimize your designs for signal integrity.
6. Certified Altium Designer Associate (CADA)
If you’re seeking professional recognition for your Altium Designer skills, the Certified Altium Designer Associate (CADA) certification is a valuable credential. This certification validates your proficiency in using Altium Designer for schematic capture, PCB layout, project management, and design collaboration. CADA demonstrates your ability to work efficiently and effectively with Altium Designer, enhancing your employability and professional reputation.
7. Altium Designer – Scripting with Delphi
Altium Designer offers powerful scripting capabilities for automating repetitive tasks and customizing the software’s functionality. This course focuses on using Delphi scripting within Altium Designer, teaching you how to write scripts, create custom menu commands, and develop powerful automation tools. By mastering scripting, you’ll save time and effort in your design workflow, boosting your productivity.
8. Altium Designer – Advanced PCB Layout Techniques
Building upon the basics of PCB design, this course delves into advanced techniques to optimize your designs. From controlled impedance routing and differential pairs to high-speed design considerations and thermal management, you’ll gain invaluable insights into designing high-quality PCBs. By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to create robust and reliable PCB layouts.
9. Altium Designer – System Design with Platform Designer
This course focuses on utilizing Platform Designer (formerly known as Qsys) within Altium Designer for system-level design. You’ll learn how to integrate Intellectual Property (IP) cores, connect different system components, and configure and test your designs. With Platform Designer’s intuitive interface, you’ll be able to create complex systems efficiently and effectively.
10. Altium Designer – Rules-Driven Design
Ensuring adherence to design rules and industry standards is essential for manufacturing successful PCBs. In this course, you’ll learn how to implement and verify design rules using Altium Designer’s rule-driven design capabilities. You’ll explore different rule types, design constraints, and rule checks to minimize errors and improve the manufacturability of your PCBs.
Conclusion
Investing your time in Altium Designer courses and certifications can significantly enhance your knowledge and skills in electronic design automation. Whether you’re a novice looking to master the basics or an experienced professional aiming to expand your expertise, these online resources provide valuable insights and credentials. From schematic and PCB design to advanced topics like signal integrity analysis and scripting, there’s an Altium Designer course or certification to suit every need. So, take the next step in your design journey and enroll in one of these top-quality courses to unlock the full potential of Altium Designer.
