Digi-Key Corporation today announced an expanded, comprehensive suite of EDA tools. The new and updated software options enable design engineers to streamline the entire (PCB) design process – from prototype to production. Ranging from Digi-Key's free Scheme-It tool to new higher-end design options co-developed with Mentor Graphics, the global distributor is the first to offer a complete ecosystem of product design tools.
"We're in the business of giving design engineers everything they need to simplify and accelerate product design," said Randall Restle, Director of Applications Engineering for Digi-Key. "Digi-Key is a one-stop-shop supporting the process from concept to prototyping to production. Most importantly, these tools are linked directly to hundreds of thousands of in-stock components, further simplifying the process. We're ecstatic about having all of the tools necessary to pave new roads for the design engineer."
The Digi-Key design tool ecosystem features a suite of tools created by Aspen Labs – Scheme-It, PartSim and PCBWeb – complementary diagraming, simulation and PCB design environments that simplify the entire product design cycle. Customers have already created over 37,000 designs in the popular Scheme-It online diagramming tool and have run over 400,000 circuit simulations in PartSim. PCBWeb has a newly enhanced feature set and is now a fully integrated desktop-based PCB design and layout environment. Not only does PCBWeb enable engineers to easily complete printed circuit board design and layout, but they may now order PCBs from leading manufacturers and purchase their entire bill of materials through Digi-Key directly from within the tool.
In addition, Digi-Key partner Mentor Graphics co-developed a set of professional-level EDA tools based on the EDA provider's popular DxDesigner and PADS series. The software includes free access to Mentor Graphics' PartQuest™, a fully integrated website that merges Digi-Key part numbers with symbols and footprints, reducing manual errors and saving time and cost.
New jointly developed Designer Schematic and Designer Layout tools are available at a 30-percent discount, starting at $199 and $449, respectively. The product licenses are sold as an annual subscription, exclusively from Digi-Key. Also, for a limited time, the software is available for a 15-day evaluation period, free of charge.
Today's announcement is part of Digi-Key's news roll-out strategy around electronica 2014, the leading international trade fair for electronic components, system and applications, which will take place next week in Munich, Germany. Digi-Key is located in Hall A5, Booths 565, 576 and 578.
