Electronics used for industrial systems need to be especially durable and rugged to hold up in harsh conditions, all while maintaining long service lives. At the same time, you need to follow strict industrial SIL and IEC standards, and create unique design features and form factors for an industrial setting. How do you overcome all of this while differentiating your product in the electronics marketplace?
Designing Products for Harsh Conditions
You wouldn’t design for an industrial environment in the same way as you would any other. You have to worry about producing boards that can hold up in these harsh conditions, and that means a whole slew of additional considerations, including shock and vibration, temperature extremes, moisture and dust. How can you design your products to meet the demands and rigors of an industrial environment?
Tools to Design for Any Condition or Situation
Visualize and design your boards for the real world
- Visualize and design your board in Native 3D to see exactly how it will appear in the real world.
Learn More about Native 3D PCB Design - Comprehensive 3D clearance checking will let you verify that the mechanical aspects of your designs function properly.
Learn More about 3D Clearance Checking - Integrate mechanical STEP models directly onto your board for housings and component bodies.
Learn More about STEP Model Integration
Creating a Product That Can Last
Industrial electronics might be in service for several years, or even decades. Some of the parts you designed in might be obsolete the next time you need to revise your PCB, costing you extra time trying to find suitable alternatives. Not to mention the time you’ll spend updating your service and part documentation over the product’s lifespan. Isn’t there a better way to prepare your designs for the long term?
Supplier Links to Always Keep Your Designs and Documentation Accurate
Updating your parts and documentation is simple and streamlined
- Maintain links to suppliers for every part in your designs, with real-time information to let you easily swap out parts if they become obsolete.
Learn More about Supplier Links - Quickly update your documentation through each iteration and lifecycle change.
Learn More about Output Jobs - Ensure data integrity for all your designs and components in the Altium Vault, and track their entire history through comprehensive revision and lifecycle management.
Learn More about Lifecycle Management
Overcoming the Unique Challenges of Designing for Industrial Systems
Industrial applications are difficult to standardize. On the one hand, you have systems that require custom solutions for every phase, often requiring exotic materials and complex features such as flexibility. On the other hand, you need to design boards that fit standard form factors such as PXI, VITA, PC104 and others. How do you create customized products for new and innovative applications, while still promoting standardization for redundancy and easy serviceability?
Features to Design for Unique and Advanced Electronics
Design complex features quickly and easily
- Rigid-flex design tools let you easily create flexible electronics, and visualize folding and clearance in 3D.
Learn More about Rigid-Flex - Specify exotic materials and substrates to a manufacturer using detailed and organized layer stack management features.
Learn More about Layer Stack Management - Hundreds of templates and reference designs are included with Design Content to give you standard form factors used in industrial applications.
Learn More about Altium Design Content