Microcontrollers (MCUs) have come a long way since the pioneering 4-bit Intel 4004 hit the market back in the 1970s. Today, they’re the heart of most embedded systems, from automotive engine control systems, medical devices, toys, and more, serving as low-cost, compact, single chip computers. The beauty of MCUs is that they reduce the size and cost of the alternative:…
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New Symbol and Footprint Filter to Find CAD Models Faster
Read morePCB designers often tell us that they select electronic components for their designs based on whether they can find symbols and footprints for them. To some extent it makes sense: the investment that goes into making CAD models is significant, and can instantly derail progress on a design. Of course, it’s also human nature to prefer the path of…
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Introducing the SnapEDA EAGLE Plugin: Find Symbols and Footprints From Within EAGLE (Alpha Release)!
Read moreWhen we initially launched SnapEDA, the goal was to make it as easy as possible for engineers to find CAD models (PCB footprints, schematic symbols, 3D models) for their electronic design tool of choice, in a way that provided them with unprecedented transparency into standards and quality. Our vision was to give engineers the freedom to innovate and optimize their designs, with…
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Easier ways to give feedback on CAD parts
Read moreIt it now easier to view or add feedback on CAD models with our new commenting system. When we initially launched the Comments section, it was required to down-vote a part in order to be able to enter a comment. However, the feedback we received was that it would be useful to be able to point out certain…
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How to Merge Eagle Library Files Downloaded From SnapEDA Into a Single Library
Read moreI am often asked how to merge individual Eagle library files downloaded from SnapEDA into existing libraries, or into one big library. Although this is available as a feature included in SnapEDA’s Premium version (ie. the ability to batch together parts and bulk download them into a single Eagle library file), there are also several other ways to…
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The IPC-7351 Specification Explained: SOIC Components
Read moreOne of the most common questions designers have while creating printed circuit board (PCB) footprints is: what are the correct dimensions for the pads? Increasingly, designers are adopting the IPC-7351 standard, which provides guidelines for calculating pad dimensions. In general, following standards is a good idea since it helps maintain consistency, accuracy, and reliability — all…
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Tutorial: How to Create a New CAD Library Part in Eagle
Read moreCreating CAD parts can be tedious and time-consuming, but if you can’t find the CAD symbol or footprint you’re looking for and you’re on a tight timeline, sometimes it’s an essential task. SnapEDA has hundreds of thousands of CAD symbols and footprints that can be downloaded instantly for Cadsoft Eagle (as well as other design…
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Security at the Hardware Level: No Longer Optional — It’s Required
Read moreWhile emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications are heralding in exciting new products, they’re equally raising security concerns as the points of access to a system continue to grow, and devices fail to comply to basic security best practices, such as demanding strong passwords, using encrypted data transmissions, and…
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5 Interesting Wearable Startups to Keep An Eye On
Read moreToday we are one step closer to transforming into cyborgs with the advent of wearable technology, which is turning what was science fiction only a few years ago into a reality. From augmented reality goggles to smart watches (possibly holographic in the near future) and fitness trackers, the industry is evolving at an incredibly fast pace.…
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What Design Engineers Should Know About Procurement in Automotive Electronics
Read moreIf there’s one take-away from my recent visit to the 2014 Canadian International Auto Show, it’s that the automotive industry is one of the most glamorous and innovative industries in existence today. Along with computing and electronics, the automotive industry is consistently at the top in terms of R&D spending, according to statistics from the…