Modern electronic products—from consumer devices to industrial systems—depend on precise schematics, accurate simulations, and manufacturable PCB layouts. As complexity grows, engineers must master a complete EDA workflow to ensure designs function correctly on the first build and meet industry standards. This course delivers practical, production-ready training in OrCAD for schematic capture, PSpice simulation, and PCB layout. Through hands-on labs and guided demonstrations, you’ll create professional schematics, validate circuit behavior with simulation, and design PCB layouts that follow electrical rules, fabrication constraints, and reliability needs. Real engineering scenarios show how early design mistakes lead to costly failures—and how OrCAD’s workflow prevents them.
This course is for electronics engineers, PCB designers, students, and hardware developers who want practical experience using OrCAD for schematic design, simulation, and PCB layout.
A basic understanding of circuit theory and schematic reading is required. Prior experience with EDA tools is helpful but not necessary.
By course completion, you will confidently execute the electronic design process: selecting components, applying ERC checks, analyzing circuits with PSpice, routing layouts, resolving DRC issues, and generating manufacturing outputs. Whether preparing designs for production or building a professional workflow, you’ll gain the expertise needed to move from concept to manufacturable hardware.
Master the fundamentals of schematic capture using OrCAD Capture, the industry-standard tool for creating professional circuit diagrams. Students will learn to navigate the OrCAD interface, work with component libraries, place and connect components, and validate designs using design rules. This foundational module establishes the skills needed to create clear, manufacturable schematics that serve as the blueprint for all subsequent design stages.
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 35 minutes
Welcome to OrCAD Electrical Design•3 minutes
Introduction to OrCAD Capture Interface•5 minutes
OrCAD Capture User Guide: Best Practices•4 minutes
Demo: Building a Simple Schematic Step-by-Step•22 minutes
2 readings•Total 10 minutes
Welcome to the Course: Course Overview•5 minutes
How to Create a Schematic in OrCAD•5 minutes
1 peer review•Total 20 minutes
Hands-On-Learning: Design a Power Supply Schematic for TechCorp•20 minutes
Circuit Simulation and Analysis with PSpice
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
Master the fundamentals of circuit simulation using PSpice. This module teaches learners how to set up realistic simulations, configure various analysis types (DC bias point, AC frequency response, transient time-domain), and interpret results to optimize circuit performance. Through hands-on simulation exercises, learners will gain confidence in predicting circuit behavior before physical prototyping.
Running Transient Analysis: A Step-by-Step Demo•8 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
Five Reasons to Use SPICE Simulation•5 minutes
1 peer review•Total 20 minutes
Hands-On-Learning: Simulate and Validate an Amplifier Circuit for AudioCorp•20 minutes
PCB Layout and Manufacturing with OrCAD PCB Editor
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
Master the art and science of PCB layout and design rules that determine manufacturable boards. Learners will import schematics into OrCAD PCB Designer, understand the relationship between schematic components and PCB footprints, place components strategically to optimize signal paths and thermal management, and route traces while respecting design constraints. Through understanding design rule checks and signal integrity considerations, learners will create professional PCB layouts ready for manufacturing, generating essential output files like Gerbers, drill files, and bills of materials.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 31 minutes
Introduction to PCB Layout and Design Rules•6 minutes
Component Placement and Routing Fundamentals•6 minutes
Demo: Complete End-to-End PCB Layout•16 minutes
Course Wrap-Up•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
PCB Design Layout Guidelines: Best Practices•5 minutes
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What is the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow in this course?
In this course, the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow means building an electronic design through connected stages: schematic capture, circuit simulation, and PCB layout. The focus is on using that linked process to produce designs that are checked, layout-ready, and suitable for manufacturing.
When would you use the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow?
You would use this workflow when you need a circuit design to move cleanly from schematic entry into simulation and then into board layout. It is especially useful when you want to catch electrical, behavioral, or layout issues before a physical build.
How does the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow fit into a broader design process?
It sits in the main build-and-validate phase of electronic design, after the circuit idea is defined and before fabrication. In this course, it connects schematic creation, circuit verification, and PCB layout into one repeatable process that leads to manufacturing outputs.
How is the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow different from handling schematic, simulation, and layout as separate tasks?
The workflow keeps the design connected across stages, while separate tasks often leave checks and fixes until later. In this course, schematic decisions, simulation results, and layout rules are meant to inform each other throughout the process rather than being reconciled at the end.
Do you need any prerequisites before learning the OrCAD schematic-to-PCB workflow?
A basic understanding of circuit theory and schematic reading is expected before starting this workflow. Prior experience with EDA tools is helpful but not required, since the course teaches how the stages fit together inside OrCAD.
What tools, platforms, or methods are used in this course?
The course centers on OrCAD Capture, PSpice, and OrCAD PCB Editor. It emphasizes simulation-based validation and rule-driven design checks as part of one connected design flow.
What specific tasks will you practice or complete in this course?
You practice creating schematics, validating designs with rule checks and simulation, and turning verified circuits into PCB layouts. You also work on placement, routing, and preparing standard manufacturing outputs so the workflow ends with a fabrication-ready design package.