Cadence OrCAD and Allegro
also: OrCAD · OrCAD X · Allegro · PSpice
Cadence's PCB design tools: OrCAD for schematic capture, simulation, and mainstream boards; Allegro for complex, high-speed, constraint-driven layouts.
OrCAD is widely used for schematic capture, PSpice circuit simulation, and PCB layout; Allegro handles larger, denser and high-speed designs with constraint-driven routing and is common in large companies and design service bureaus.
Where it bites: cost and complexity, the expertise needed to set up constraints properly, and translation effort when collaborating with teams on other tools.
Outside help is worth it for schematic reviews and simulation, high-speed constraint setup, translating designs to or from other EDA tools, and resolving fabricator questions.
Common requests
- Schematic reviews and PSpice simulation
- High-speed layout and constraint setup
- Translating designs to or from other EDA tools
- Manufacturing outputs and fabricator questions
Founder takeaway
If a customer or acquirer requires Cadence formats, plan for it early; translating complex boards late is costly.
official site: cadence.com/en_US/home/tools/pcb-design-and-analysis.html · Cadence
engineer review pending