Translators simplify migration of PCB CAD

New translators enable migration of Protel, P-CAD and OrCAD designs and libraries to PADS PCB design solutions.

Mentor Graphics has released new translators that enable migration of Protel, P-CAD and OrCAD designs and libraries to PADS PCB design solutions.

The release of the translators makes it even easier for companies to switch over to PADS, bringing over all current libraries, databases and other existing legacy data through the push of a button.

Designers wanting to take advantage of PADS superior depth of functionality, routing, ease of use and deployment can now do so with minimal effort, loss of data or time.

"We were looking to standardise our design flow to reduce the amount of time we spent recreating parts that would work with one design tool but not another", said Dave Wolf, Electrical Engineering Supervisor at Haas Automation, the largest machine tool builder in the USA.

"We had concerns about losing all of our previous designs and libraries".

"However, after evaluating several vendors, we discovered that with PADS, we were able to get done what we needed to do quickly and cleanly".

"When the PADS reseller showed us how the new translators could bring over our Protel and OrCAD designs and data, PADS became the obvious solution", added Wolf.

PCB designers and engineers are no longer trapped using older, legacy tools due to the lack of bandwidth and associate costs available to recreate their libraries.

The PADS advantages of ease of use, performance and price, combined with the new PADS translators, mitigate risk and significantly improve a user's ROI.

These translators reduce the cost of migration by virtually eliminating the need to recreate prior design data and libraries.

This allows designers and engineers to take advantage of PADS extensive schematic design, powerful layout, interactive and automatic routing, as well as design for test and design for fabrication capabilities, all without leaving behind the intellectual property they have spent years building up.

"Mentor Graphics continues to experience a growing number of companies switching to PADS from other PCB solutions", said Dan Boncella, Director of Marketing for Systems Design Division, Mentor Graphics.

"These translators are making it easier and more reliable to transition library and design data into the PADS flow, while significantly lowering the risk and providing a much faster return on investment".

"Mentor will continue to develop additional translators and updates to make switching to PADS a seamless and easy process".

The new translators are available immediately and at no cost.

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