CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
24 April 2008
Product News
Arena Solutions Announces New EDA Adapter Designed to Integrate Arena PLM's Centralized Product Record With Schematic Design Tools
Arena Solutions announced a new electronic design automation (EDA) adapter for integrating Arena PLM's centralized product record with engineering's schematic design tools, so engineers can make better design decisions, maximize reuse of preferred company parts, accelerate design completion, and easily generate manufacturing-ready bills of materials (BOMs). With this integration, design and engineering groups can consolidate electronic component databases and get access to constantly updated component information such as preferred parts, descriptions, parametric information, symbols, footprints, and datasheets. The complete EDA integration solution from Arena PLM includes all necessary configuration tools and works with Altium Designer, Mentor Graphics' DxDataBook, and CADENCE's OrCAD Capture CIS, among others.
Currently concluding beta-testing, with a full version available in early June, Arena Solutions is now pre-selling The Arena PLM EDA Adapter at a discounted, promotional price for those who purchase it before June 1, 2008. More information about Arena PLM integrations can be found in the Integration section of the Arena website. For further questions or to pre-purchase the adapter, contact Arena PLM integration professionals at 1.866.937.1438, or email them at sales@arenasolutions.com.
Companies from around the world are participating in The Arena PLM EDA Adapter beta-testing program. They include:
-- North America-based Openpeak, Inc., which creates, designs, and
develops communication systems and devices that enable simple
user control of VoIP telephony, digital media, Internet content, messaging
applications, and consumer electronics. The company is using the EDA
Adapter to connect to CADENCE OrCAD Capture CIS.
-- Australia-based Structural Monitoring Systems, the developer of
proprietary crack-detection technology for use in a broad range of
commercial, military and industrial applications, is using the EDA Adapter
with Altium Designer.
-- iRex Technologies BV, the Netherlands-based inventor of electronic
paper -- and some of the most innovative electronic readers and digital
sketchbooks on the planet -- is using the EDA Adapter to connect with
Mentor Graphics' DXDatabook.
The Arena PLM EDA Adapter offers a number of benefits, including the ability to:
-- Make better design decisions that are based on complete information
Arena PLM captures, organizes and centralizes product data -- cost and
technical performance parameters along with lifecycle status
information -- so engineers always have current part and assembly
information. The Arena PLM EDA Adapter supports rapid part selection
with part browsing by type as well as part querying. Attribute links
within the schematic design software provide direct online access to
supplementary information like component datasheets within Arena PLM.
-- Fully cost BOMs early in the product lifecycle
Once functional design is complete, a BOM can be imported into Arena
PLM to generate a fully costed BOM. Arena's advanced cost management
tools provide rolled-up cost BOMs for prototype and production runs,
based on existing estimated costs or on active quoted cost data in
Arena PLM. The software's costing module also provides cost breakdowns
to help identify the most effective opportunities for cost improvement.
-- Instantly share board layouts
The Arena PLM EDA Adapter makes it easier for design engineers to
initiate the board layout process. Because the BOM is generated
directly from the schematic linked to Arena PLM part numbers, the
design engineer can import the netlist to Arena PLM and share it with
the board design firm. With Arena's advanced sharing tools, suppliers
and partners always have correct and current information for cost
quotes and design work.
-- Easy transfer of information for prototype or production runs
After board layout, the board design team can add Gerber files directly
to the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and generate complete
documentation for quoting a prototype run. With one click, the entire
package can be shared securely with multiple fabrication houses to
quote a prototype run based on desired turn-time. Arena PLM's
purchasing view generates flattened and net BOMs with complete AML/AVL
information that fabrication houses can use to obtain current cost data
and provide quotes by line item or at the assembly level.
"Design engineers can make better design decisions when they have access to up-to-date information on each part," said Craig Livingston, chief executive officer of Arena Solutions. "Engineers can rely on the fact they're seeing current product information because the Arena PLM EDA Adapter ensures that the schematic design software's part library is automatically and constantly updated."
Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.
CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.