altium changes to library footprint update

Components sometimes go obsolete, they are simply out of stock, or there are functionality changes to the design that rely on new components. Whenever I need to update an old design, there will always be a few parts updates. Whether or not this is possible depends on which parts are being updated or swapped. This means that, whatever changes need to happen, they don’t result in a change in PCB footprint or 3D model. If you want to keep your updates clean and concise, try to confine changes to the schematic if possible. However, a change to the PCB layout is likely to force a corresponding change in the schematic. In general, there are updates that might appear in the schematic that won’t result in changes to the PCB layout (e.g., swapping a part number for a standard SMD passive). Sometimes, design updates are simple enough that you only need to make changes to components in the schematic. Here are some questions to consider as you prepare to update an old PCB design. This all relates to the extent of the required updates, what the goals of the project are, and where in the project the updates will appear. What to Keep in Mind when Updating Old PCB Designsīefore you jump into a design update, there are some important points to keep in mind. Here’s what you can do to update your old designs successfully and how your PCB design features can help. If done correctly and when armed with all the right information up front, you can cut down the total design time while preserving the best parts of your design in a new iteration. No matter what the situation is, there are times where updating old PCB designs with new parts makes sense. Have you ever opened up an old design and wondered how much of it was still usable? Maybe you were contacted by an old client, and they want you to provide some updates on an old design.

Altium changes to library footprint update