Mentor Graphics Pads Version History [verified] -

Improved routing, 3D visualization, and design rule checking (DRC). PADS VX.2.10 (2021)

Mentor Graphics PADS Version History: The Evolution of PCB Design

Starting with VX 2.2 in 2019, the product line officially separated into Standard, Standard Plus, and Professional editions. The VX 2.x series saw regular quarterly updates, with VX 2.10 (2021) being notable as the first version rebranded under Siemens ownership.

PADS Professional / PADS Standard (mid–2010s)

Implemented 3D visualization capabilities. It added physical design reuse features and enhanced thermal pad management. mentor graphics pads version history

Enabled native layout of rigid-flex boards, complete with bend areas, flex layers, and 3D folding validation.

: To compete with high-end tools like Altium, Mentor launched PADS Professional. This was a radical shift, as it was built on the high-end Xpedition technology rather than the legacy PADS code. 4. Siemens and the VX Series (2017–Present)

The first version of PADS, version 1.0, was released in 1985 by PADS, a company founded by John Davis and others. At that time, the software was a simple, text-based PCB design tool.

For nearly four decades, PADS has remained a cornerstone of printed circuit board (PCB) design, evolving from a simple DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions. Now part of Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), the PADS version history reflects the industry's shift from manual drafting to high-speed, automated, and cloud-integrated design. The Early Era: 1985 – 1997 Improved routing, 3D visualization, and design rule checking

This release emphasized performance and advanced design capabilities, including:

Mentor transitioned to the VX (Virtual Extensible) platform. Following Siemens' acquisition of Mentor Graphics in 2017, the software was rebranded as Siemens EDA . Summary of Major Releases Mentor Graphics PADS 9.3 Tutorial - Introduction Part 1

: Launched as a high-tier offering, this version utilized Xpedition's layout engine rather than the classic PADS code base. The Siemens Era (2017–Present)

Sketch routing, rigid-flex, cloud integration, and supply-chain visibility. : To compete with high-end tools like Altium,

The mid-1990s brought a complete transformation of the PADS platform. In 1995, the software was rebranded as , designed specifically for Windows 95. This marked a significant departure from the command-line-based DOS versions, introducing a graphical user interface that would define the product for years to come.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, PADS-PCB and PADS-2000 operated entirely within the Microsoft DOS environment. These early iterations introduced core concepts still used today, such as the separation of schematic capture and physical layout, basic design rule checking (DRC), and netlist importing.

Today, Mentor Graphics PADS remains a popular EDA software solution for designing and manufacturing PCBs. The current version, PADS 9.5, offers a comprehensive set of features and tools for designing, simulating, and manufacturing complex PCBs.

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