Tips for Schematic Design

Schematic Design

  1. Configure the following parameters: Company, Project and VersionRevision in Project -> Project Options -> Parameters. This variables are global to all sheets.
  2. Rename the sheet's name with a number like this: "[0X] - description.sch".
  3. Power with + Tag, It's useful for locale the net.
  4. Test points in bottom for testing process. Later you could use a needle bed.
  5. Junctions with only three lines, never four lines.
  6. No design with hierarchical mode.
  7. Use Net names to identify the important nets.
  8. Mechanical Page: fiducials, test GND points, PCB like an object (included in BOM), firmware,... etc; No Boom.
  9. Use NF tag to identify the components which are not placed.
  10. To show the numbers page in tags: Reports -> Port Cross Reference -> Add to Project.
  11. Design one component for each part number.
  12. When a new component is created, it's necessary add to extra parameters: .SchCheck [Check pin numbers, pin names and numbers of pins] and .PcbCheck [Check pin numbering, dimensions, compare printed footprint with a real component] with the initials of the person who has checked the component.
  13. You can add parameters automatically from parameter manager [tool -> parameter manager].
  14. With PCB designer use the mechanical layer 29 and 30 with a text of the designator to get the bottom [Mechanical layer 30] and top [Mechanical layer 30] assembly drawings. It's very useful in tiny designs where you can put the components tag's.
  15. Uses variants to decide what components have to be assembly.
  16. Make report outputs like Bill of Materials, BOM for 1 PCS, BOM for 1000 PCS, library check Component reference (for assembly company),... etc;
  17. Place the status of the schematic on the cover page: DRAFT, PRELIMINARY, CHECKED, RELEASED.