Recently, I participated in the three-day, in-person instructor-led training the “Altium Designer Advanced Course with Altium 365“. An intensive program designed to deepen understanding and expertise in advanced PCB design using Altium. This will be short review of the training, highlighting things I liked within curriculum, the hands-on exercises, and the practical benefits it offers for professionals aiming to enhance their PCB design skills.
Course Material
The curriculum was remarkably comprehensive, covering a wide array of topics relevant to modern PCB design workflows. From the outset, I was impressed with how the sessions were structured, systematically introducing us to the advanced features of Altium Designer while ensuring that even the most nuanced details were covered.
Following were the topics covered:
- Introduction to Altium Designer & Altium 365 advanced environment
- Project Templates: Creation, management, and best practices for consistency and efficiency in project delivery
- Schematic Capture enhancements and workflow improvements
- Harness Design: Creating wiring harnesses, organizing wiring diagrams, documentation, and outputs
- Variant Management: Managing hardware variants within a single project for different product versions
- Rigid-Flex PCB Design: Advanced setup, stack-up planning, bend region management, and design documentation
- System Preferences & Project Options: Customizing the work environment for productivity
- Design Rule Implementation and Project-level best practices
- Hierarchical and Multi-channel design approaches
- Board Level Annotation and Snippet creation
- PCB Queries & using the PCB Filter Panel for advanced search and editing
- Pin swapping, length tuning, and differential pair routing
- PCB Layout techniques including clearance checking in 3D, via stitching, and re-routing
- Multi-board assembly and management in Altium 365
- Advanced version control and project collaboration tools within Altium 365
- Design history, audit trails, and reporting
- ECAD/MCAD collaboration features and lifecycle management
- Output generation for manufacturing and documentation
My experience
The hands-on aspect of the training was truly instrumental in deepening my understanding of the advanced features covered.
The course was exceptionally well-structured, with a clear progression that allowed us to focus on one topic at a time without feeling rushed.
Each module began with carefully designed Altium Projects files that aligned perfectly with the topic at hand, ensuring that all participants were on the same page from the outset.
Our instructor dedicated ample time and attention to every participant, fostering an inclusive learning environment where questions were welcomed and individual progress was supported.
Moreover, the team at Altium provided all participants with trial licenses well in advance, not just during the training days but also a week before and after. This thoughtful approach gave us the flexibility to familiarize ourselves with the tools ahead of time and to continue practicing new skills after the course concluded.
Additionally, having the course materials available for download both locally and on Altium’s servers guaranteed uninterrupted access to resources, eliminating any technical hiccups and allowing the focus to remain on learning throughout the training.
I was unable to fault any aspect of Altium team’s process throughout the training.
Topics I liked the most:
Template Creation
The practical exercises embedded into each session were not only engaging but also crucial in reinforcing complex concepts. Specifically, the module on project template creation stood out. We learned not just how to set up and organize templates, but also why they matter: templates act as a springboard for new projects, encapsulating best practices and standards, and ultimately saving precious engineering hours. This consistency across projects translates to greater productivity and fewer errors.
Harness and Variant Creation
Another highlight was the deep dive into harness creation and variant configuration. The training demystified the process of wiring complex systems within Altium’s design environment. Showcasing how harnesses simplify managing interconnections while enhancing documentation.
The module on variants, meanwhile, provided tools to manage different editions of the same project, ideal for when products branch into several hardware versions. I can already see the value these tools will bring to my future work, enabling easier customization and more streamlined revision control.
Rigid-Flex PCB Design
While I have previously worked on flex design with stiffeners. Designing rigid-flex PCBs was an exciting new frontier that this course opened up. We explored stack-up planning, bend region management, and documentation. Crucial skills as electronic products become more compact and sophisticated. Gaining hands-on experience in this area has equipped me to take on more ambitious and challenging design tasks.
In conclusion
Completing the “Altium Designer Advanced Course” course has been an enriching and rewarding experience. I am especially grateful to our trainer, Madhesh Perumal, for his expert guidance, clear communication, and for sharing practical insights that extended well beyond the curriculum. The hands-on approach and supportive environment made a significant difference in my learning journey.
Given the depth of the material, the practical expertise gained, and the immediate impact on efficiency and project quality, I wholeheartedly recommend this training to all professionals looking to elevate their skills in PCB design and Altium.
