copy footprints between libraries altium

Templatizing a PCB layout or schematic drawing eliminates the need to redraw boards, logos, title blocks, or other features in your other design documents.Īll of this is much easier when you store and share your design data through a managed cloud platform. Templates: Design templates are a natural method for reusing design data.PCB block reuse can involve reusing specific components in any design, or reusing specific libraries in new projects. Components and libraries: This goes along with layouts/schematics as component data in a schematic or PCB layout needs to be carried into new designs.However, there are functional blocks in a PCB layout that can be easily reused and replicated, for example, using rooms or snippets in Altium Designer. PCB layouts: If you change out a schematic, then you’ll need to change out components in the layout.We’ll create schematic sheets for different functional blocks in one design and we can build around these in a new design for a similar product. Schematics: I’ve found this to be most common for my designs.There are a few portions of a design project that are prime candidates for PCB design reuse: Similarly, electronics companies might reuse blocks of an old PCB design when developing a new product or upgrading an existing product. On the flip side, service bureaus that design a limited product range with standard form factors, common interfaces, or functional blocks may need to reuse designs when engaging with clients. Service bureaus that do a lot of one-off designs with fully custom engineering probably aren’t reusing their designs unless they are doing multiple revisions for a client. Not every company will require PCB layout design reuse. If you’re working with a remote or on-premises design team, placing your old designs on the cloud is the easiest way to reuse old PCB designs in new projects while keeping your team productive. PCB design tools already allow users to open old designs and start modifying them, but the best software platforms like Altium Designer allow you to enforce a structure to your old design documents that is ideal for PCB design reuse (sometimes called block reuse).

It’s all about making sure the knowledge you’ve gained from building great products can be adapted to new designs without constantly rebuilding the wheel. PCB design reuse practices are great for cutting down design time and ensuring all your products live up to the same level of quality. Isaac Newton once said 'If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.' Not all designs need to be remade from scratch, and if you organize your designs properly you can easily reuse your old design data in a new project.

Copy footprints between libraries altium