Creating computer-aided design (CAD) models is a time-consuming and error-prone process. SnapEDA provides engineers with ready-to-use CAD models, aiming to save engineers time, while allowing them to create more impactful products. Currently, over a million engineers use SnapEDA's search engine each year, with Autodesk's user community making up over 20% of that audience, according to SnapEDA.
The Autodesk Fusion 360 app integrates SnapEDA's database directly within Fusion 360, enabling electronics engineers and designers to search and place millions of electronic component models - including symbols, footprints and 3D models - directly within the Fusion 360 environment.
Fusion 360 unifies schematic capture, PCB design, library management, simulation, and mechanical design into a single development platform. As a result, Fusion 360 provides a native 3D experience when designing electronics, eliminating the need for interchange between file formats, and ensuring that mechanical constraints are considered at every stage of the PCB design process.
"Over the last few years, we’ve noticed that engineers are increasingly relying on 3D models when designing circuit boards. In fact, over 75% of engineers now use 3D models in their design process, according to the SnapEDA 2020 Annual User Survey. Fusion 360 is on the forefront of MCAD and ECAD integration. Autodesk is rethinking the electronic design experience from first principles, breaking down barriers we previously accepted as status quo. This resonates with us at SnapEDA, where we are taking a similar approach as we pioneer the electronics design data space. We are honored to jointly serve Fusion 360 users with this complementary offering," says Natasha Baker, Founder and CEO of SnapEDA.
"As products get more sophisticated and complex, it's increasingly critical that the process of designing integrated electronics and PCBs be efficient, accurate and seamless," says Srinath Jonnalagadda, Autodesk's VP of Business Strategy & Marketing for Fusion 360. "Our collaboration with SnapEDA puts its robust libraries of part models easily at the fingertips of Fusion users, immediately benefiting the engineers and designers who are building the future."
Using the app is simple. Engineers simply search for the part they need, either using the manufacturer part number, or a keyword, such as 'usb type c connector.' After selecting a part, they can either place it directly in their designs, or add it to their library. The library is then synced with Library.io, to enable corporate sharing, or syncing with other Autodesk tools such as EAGLE.
The new SnapEDA for Autodesk Fusion 360 app features thousands of electronic component manufacturers and is updated with new supplier content each day. Notably, the SnapEDA database includes over 500,000 complex connector models from Samtec, a global manufacturer of interconnect solutions. Its connector models are especially beneficial to engineers because connectors often take many hours or even days to define, due to their custom-shaped bodies, custom solder stencils, fine pitches, irregular pad shapes, and cutouts.
The SnapEDA for Autodesk Fusion 360 app is free and available for download now at www.snapeda.com/plugins.
ExpressPCB, DipTrace and Proteus PCB
SnapEDA also just announced a collaboration with ExpressPCB, the free, easy-to-use PCB design software. SnapEDA’s parts libraries are now searchable and placeable directly within ExpressPCB. The new integration aims to further simplify the PCB design workflow by eliminating the time-consuming and error-prone task of creating CAD models.
The San Francisco, CA-based company has also collaborated with DipTrace, a popular schematic capture and PCB design tool that prides itself on its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. With this integration, available in DipTrace version 4.1.2 and later, engineers can now search and download SnapEDA models, directly from DipTrace’s design environment for instant use in their printed circuit board designs.
To ensure the best user experience, SnapEDA surveyed DipTrace user community to understand its preferences before developing the integration. Based on the feedback received, the DipTrace community preferred the native .eli binary format in contrast to the ASCII format which is more commonly available. As a result, the two companies worked directly to ensure they could support this new format together via SnapEDA. With this new format, the CAD models are also forward compatible with later versions of the software.
And finally, SnapEDA is now available within Proteus PCB software. Labcenter Electronics is the creator of Proteus Design Suite, a PCB design tool known for its easy-of-use, simulation capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. Over a period of six months, the two companies worked in collaboration with the aim of fully integrating SnapEDA search, import, and library management within this popular software.
With the new integration, users can now search for parts to use in their designs, and find design resources including PCB footprints, schematic symbols, and 3D models for millions of electronic components, directly from Proteus. From there, the parts can then be imported straight into their library, or placed directly onto a schematic. The new SnapEDA integration is available in Proteus v.8.12 and later.
SnapEDA created a search engine for electronics design. By providing ready-to-use building blocks for design, including symbols and PCB footprints, its library shaves days off product development, allowing designers to focus on optimization and innovation. SnapEDA's models are created using proprietary and patented, creation, verification, and translation technology.
www.snapeda.com
