Issue link: https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/i/1518553
OrCAD X – Unified PCB Design Without Compromise 4 www.cadence.com designers to work simultaneously in the same database. Any edits made to the layout are reflected instantly in the cloud-hosted server, enabling teams to collaborate in real time without merge conflicts or manual reconciliation. The concurrent workflow extends to a wide range of design tasks, including 3D visualization, power-delivery shape design, footprint placement, etch editing, impedance and coupling analysis, silkscreen annotation, and full or windowed DRC updates. By supporting both core layout tasks and global interruptions such as netlist updates, MCAD-driven changes, or constraint modifications, OrCAD X ensures that collaboration is seamless even in the face of evolving design inputs. Because the platform is cloud-hybrid, it avoids the need for specialized hardware or costly IT infrastructure. This lowers the barrier to adoption while enabling distributed teams, whether across offices or with external contractors, to co-develop layouts in real time. The result is a workflow that accelerates project schedules, reduces idle time, and enables faster design closure. MCAD Codesign OrCAD X includes robust 3D visualization tools that allow engineers to evaluate the mechanical form, fit, and clearance of the PCB directly in the layout environment. Switching between 2D and 3D views is instantaneous and avoids the performance lags often seen in competing solutions, making it practical to perform mechanical checks continuously rather than at isolated milestones. To synchronize electrical and mechanical domains, OrCAD X integrates with industry-leading MCAD platforms, including Autodesk ® Fusion™, Dassault Systèmes ® SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, Siemens ® NX, and PTC ® Creo. Exchange is handled through the IDX standard, which supports incremental, collaborative updates where engineers can accept, reject, or roll back changes as needed. This reduces miscommuni- cation and ensures that both ECAD and MCAD teams stay aligned on the latest board geometry, component placement, and enclosure design. Beyond point-to-point integration, OrCAD X supports direct platform-to-platform connections with Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE ® and Autodesk Fusion cloud ecosystems. This makes it one of the first PCB platforms to enable true cloud-level ECAD/MCAD collaboration, enhancing visibility, traceability, and control across design domains. By reducing the iteration loop between mechanical and electrical engineers, OrCAD X shortens development cycles and lowers the risk of mechanical interference issues discovered late in the process. Data Management OrCAD X manages work-in-progress designs and libraries with integrated version control, providing check-in, check- out, and rollback capabilities across all managed objects. Every change is captured in a complete revision history, ensuring that modifications can be traced, audited, and reversed if needed. This traceability is essential for teams working in regulated industries or those following ISO 9001 or automotive compliance processes, where design accountability must be documented. The platform offers flexible workspaces (private, public, and region-specific) that help organize and share data across distributed teams. Internal design groups can collaborate in a controlled environment while external partners, such as contractors or manufacturers, can be granted limited, role-based access. Security is reinforced with multi-step user authentication and automatic file locking to prevent simultaneous edits, protecting against conflicts and ensuring that only authorized users can commit design changes. By embedding security and traceability into everyday workflows, OrCAD X enables teams to collaborate efficiently without compromising intellectual property or project integrity. Library Management A unified component information system (CIS) lies at the core of OrCAD X library management. This system centralizes part metadata, schematic symbols, PCB footprints, 3D mechanical models, and simulation/analysis models, ensuring that all representations of a component remain consistent. Designers can quickly create or manage new parts while ensuring they are linked to the correct physical and electrical definitions across the toolchain.