Orcad 16.6 Tutorial May 2026

Whether you are a student or a seasoned engineer, OrCAD 16.6

remains a powerhouse for schematic capture and PCB design. This version is known for its stability and deep integration with for simulation and for high-end layout.

Below is a breakdown of the core workflow to get you from a blank screen to a finished board. 1. Project Initialization & Schematic Capture The first step in any design is creating the schematic in OrCAD Capture Start a Project : Launch OrCAD Capture and select File > New > Project

. Ensure you select "PC Board Wizard" if you plan to move to a physical layout later. Adding Parts Place > Part menu. If a component is missing, you can create a in your own library by right-clicking your file and selecting External Libraries : For complex parts, use tools like Ultra Librarian (accessible via Accessories > Ultra Librarian in Capture) to download pre-built symbols and footprints. : Connect pins using the Place Wire Net Aliases

(keyboard shortcut 'N') to name specific signals, making the layout phase much more organized. 2. Preparing for PCB Layout

Before jumping into the board design, you must "prepare" your schematic data. Annotation Tools > Annotate

to automatically assign unique designators (e.g., R1, C1) to all components. Design Rule Check (DRC) Tools > Design Rule Check

to catch errors like floating pins or shorted nets before they reach production. Generate Netlist Tools > Create Netlist orcad 16.6 tutorial

. This generates the logic file that tells the PCB editor which pins are connected. University of Benghazi 3. PCB Design in Allegro Once the netlist is ready, switch to OrCAD PCB Editor Board Setup : Define your board shape and layer stack-up via Setup > Cross-section Component Placement : Import your netlist ( Import > Netlist

). Place components logically—keep high-speed signals short and group related parts together.

tool to draw your traces. A standard signal width is often around , but high-power lines will need more. Footprints : Footprints are stored by default in C:\OrCAD 16.6\share\pcb\pcb_lib\symbols

. Ensure your parts in Capture have the exact footprint name matching these files. 4. Manufacturing Output

Your design isn't finished until you have the files for the factory.

OrCAD 16.6 remains a staple in electrical engineering for its robust schematic capture, simulation, and PCB layout capabilities. This tutorial provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the design flow, from initial project setup to manufacturing output. 1. Getting Started: Project Setup

The first step in any OrCAD design is creating a structured project environment. Whether you are a student or a seasoned engineer, OrCAD 16

Launch OrCAD Capture: Open the software and navigate to File > New > Project.

Naming Conventions: Use only alphanumeric characters; avoid spaces and special characters like ampersands or dashes.

Project Types: Select Analog or Mixed A/D if you intend to use PSpice for simulation. Use PCB Wizard for standard board layouts.

Directory Management: It is recommended to create a dedicated subfolder for each project to manage the generated .OPJ (project) and .DSN (design) files. 2. Schematic Capture

Schematic capture is where you define the logical connections of your circuit.

Placing Parts: Use the Place Part tool (shortcut: P) to browse libraries. Standard libraries like DISCRETE and CONNECTOR contain common components like resistors, capacitors, and headers.

Wiring: Connect component pins using the Place Wire tool (shortcut: W). Step 1

Net Aliases: Assign names to wires using Net Aliases (shortcut: N) to simplify complex designs and create logical connections between distant points.

Annotation: In OrCAD 16.6, use Tools > Annotate to automatically assign unique reference designators (e.g., R1, C1). 3. Preparation for PCB Layout

Before moving to the physical board design, you must ensure the schematic is ready for the PCB Editor.

Since OrCAD 16.6 is no longer officially supported by Cadence, I’ll focus on core workflows, key differences from newer versions, and practical tutorial steps.

Step 1.2: Configuring Capture CIS

  1. Open Capture CIS.
  2. Go to Options > Preferences > Paths.
  3. Ensure your library path includes the standard Cadence libraries:
    C:\Cadence\SPB_16.6\tools\capture\library
  4. Add your custom library path: C:\OrCAD_Projects\MyFirstBoard\Lib

Pro Tip for 16.6: Unlike newer versions, 16.6 does not auto-refresh libraries. After adding a new part, you must restart Capture or use File > Refresh.

Step 2.3: Wiring and Net Naming

Step 2.2: Placing Components

  1. On the right sidebar, open the Place Part menu (or press P on your keyboard).
  2. The default library is Discrete.olb. Drag a RESISTOR (value 1k) and a CAPACITOR (value 0.1uF) onto the schematic grid.
  3. To add an IC, click Add Library and navigate to C:\Cadence\SPB_16.6\tools\capture\library\pspice.
  4. Select TEXT parts or use Analog.olb for an op-amp (e.g., uA741).

Step 2 – Generate netlist & import

Step 5 – Annotate & DRC

Step 3.5: Routing Traces

Now the real work begins.

  1. Zoom into the 7805 pins.
  2. Select Route > Connect (Shortcut: F2).
  3. Click on the input pin of the regulator. A rubber-band line (rat) appears.
  4. Click to place vias (if multi-layer) or click to change direction (45-degree corners are best).
  5. Finish routing all connections:
    • Input header → Input cap → Regulator IN
    • Regulator OUT → Output cap → Output header
    • Ground pours (will do later)

OrCAD 16.6 Routing Trick: Press F11 while routing to change the trace width on the fly.

5.3 Importing Netlist and Footprints

  1. File > Import > Logic.
  2. Import method: “Design entry CIS” (or Allegro).
  3. Browse to the netlist directory. Click Import Cadence.
  4. Common error: Missing footprint. Ensure each schematic part has a PCB Footprint property (e.g., 0805 for resistors, LED_5MM).

3.3 Component Placement