Case Study: G5 Engineering saves weeks in PCB design time with OrCAD

Minimizing Routing Iterations on Complex, High-Density PCBs with OrCAD Tools

G5 Engineering, a Tallahassee-based full-service engineering design firm, needed a faster and more reliable way to route and lay out complex, high-density PCBs while meeting aggressive time-to-market goals. Its designs included a system on module, a rugged handheld military device, and an industrial wireless data collection unit, all with demanding constraints such as dense BGA fanout, differential pairs, rigid-flex sections, EMI concerns, and frequent design changes. To address these challenges, G5 used OrCAD PCB Designer Professional, OrCAD Capture CIS, and OrCAD Component Information Portal.

With OrCAD, G5 was able to immediately see DRCs, minimize routing iterations, and quickly modify vias, saving about a week on a three-week routing project and turning a projected two-to-three week via change into one week. OrCAD also helped the team deliver a military-grade rigid-flex design within four months and speed up onboarding for new engineers thanks to its intuitive interface and integrated part library. Overall, OrCAD helped G5 shorten design cycles, reduce cleanup work, and meet fast turnaround timelines more consistently.

G5 Engineering

Brian Ruck

Director of Electrical and Systems Engineering