Orcad 16.6 — Tutorial

OrCAD 16.6 is a powerful software tool used for designing and simulating electronic circuits. It is widely used in the field of electronics engineering for creating schematic diagrams, simulating circuit behavior, and laying out printed circuit boards (PCBs). In this tutorial, we will guide you through the basics of OrCAD 16.6 and provide a step-by-step approach to get you started with using this software.

Navigate to the default library path (typically C:\Cadence\SPB_16.6\tools\capture\library\ ).

By default, your workspace might look empty. You need to attach OrCAD's default component libraries to search for parts. orcad 16.6 tutorial

Type your desired component (e.g., RESISTOR or CAPACITOR ) into the search bar, select it, and click double-click to place it onto your schematic sheet. Press Esc to stop placing components. 3. Wiring the Circuit

Before routing, you must define track widths so the factory can manufacture your board safely. Go to > Constraints > Physical . OrCAD 16

In the Options panel, set the class to and choose your layer (e.g., Bottom ).

Go to Add > Line . In the options panel on the right, set the Active Class to Board Geometry and the Subclass to Design_Outline (or Outline ). Click on the canvas to draw the closed perimeter of your physical board. 2. Placing Components Go to Place > Components Manually . Type your desired component (e

Click to place anchor points and change routing direction. OrCAD automatically enforces 45-degree angles by default.

Highlight your project folder name in the project manager tree. Go to > Annotate .

Group components by function. Place connectors, high-speed ICs, decoupling capacitors near power pins, and keep analog/digital sections separate.

Before drawing, you must set up a project file to manage all related design files. Open . Go to File > New > Project .