The Circuit Design ECOsystem Launches Comprehensive eCommerce Website

The Circuit Design ECOsystem has announced a new collaborative eCommerce website that facilitates faster and smarter PCB prototyping and ordering for design engineers. From parts research, to design, to fabrication, to test, design engineers now have the streamlined integration tool they need to make their design flow easier.

The Circuit Design ECOsystem exists because R&D is a risky business; there are no guarantees that a good idea will translate to good implementation, and design teams are continually challenged to do more with less. Design engineers are in need for a design philosophy that both lowers their risk and increases productivity while being cost-effective. The new Circuit Design ECOsystem eCommerce website helps make this a reality. The collaboration between Digi-Key® Corporation, National Instruments®, NXP Semiconductors, Screaming Circuits® and Sunstone Circuits® provides a cost-effective path to prototyping for those organizations forced to work without the resources to support a classic, high-investment, enterprise-level design flow. And, with the launch of the new eCommerce online ordering system, the design engineer can have confidence that each step in the process will be seamless and reliable, from start to finish.

“The members of the Circuit Design ECOsystem strive to be at the forefront of innovation and creativity in the industry in order to meet the needs of our customers,” said Sunstone’s Director of Marketing, Diane M. Economaki. “We’ve spent the last several months bringing the Circuit Design ECOsystem eCommerce website to life. This industry-leading online resource is one more way that we show our commitment to support design engineers from the time their project is conceived up until it is completed, from quote to delivery.”

By using the new comprehensive eCommerce website from the Circuit Design ECOsystem, design engineers can successfully:

Ensure accurate physical design with certified-correct parts from NXP and Digi-Key

— Top quality semiconductors, system solutions and software from NXP
— Up-to-date availability and pricing information using Digi-Key’s superior electronics components database

Design quicker, and with fewer errors using design tools from Sunstone Circuits and National Instruments

— Create PCB design from schematic to layout with Sunstone’s PCB123® CAD software
— Design with National Instruments Multisim for intuitive capture and powerful simulation
— Export designs directly to Sunstone Circuits and Screaming Circuits for complete board fabrication and assembly

Experience the best in circuit board fabrication and assembly from Sunstone Circuits and Screaming Circuits

— Easy and complete online quote and order process, from PCB fabrication to assembly
— 24/7/365 access to sales, technical support and customer service with Sunstone Circuits
— Industry-leading quality, turn-times and on-time delivery to protect your project schedule

Integrate your design analysis with National Instruments’ test and product validation

— Design with the leading mixed-mode simulation of NI Multisim and then correlate values with real-world prototype measurements from LabVIEW
— Unique integration powered by LabVIEW means that real measurements from prototypes can be brought into the design flow earlier.

From its inception in 2007, the partners of the Circuit Design ECOsystem have continually collaborated to provide a holistic approach to design and manufacturing of printed circuit boards. Each ECOsystem partner has developed an expertise in the design flow; by working together, engineers are offered an integrated transition from idea, to schematic, to fabricated PCB, to assembled prototype while leveraging the services of established EDA experts.

“By providing reliable information and getting components in front of engineers quickly, Digi-Key’s supporting service in the Circuit Design ECOsystem fosters innovation in both the PCB manufacturing industry and in our customers’ work,” said Randy Restle, Director of Design Support Services at Digi-Key. “The environment created in the ECOsystem delivers a quick and precise process for gathering up-to-date availability and pricing information ultimately getting your design to market quicker.”

From NXP’s perspective, there has been a historical disconnect between the parts available through normal sales channels, and the access engineers need to the library definitions, datasheets and simulation models to support design with those parts. NXP sees the future of bringing chip performance characterizations into the parts research and the physical design process. “The parts for a design are fully specified before the design ultimately leaves the CAD tool,” said Jeff Blauser, Director, Field Applications Engineering (Computing), NXP Semiconductors. “Through participation with the Circuit Design ECOsystem, NXP strives to move chip information more deeply into the designer’s natural environment.”

National Instruments is a world leader in circuit simulation software with NI Multisim, and graphical system design with the LabVIEW platform. “The Circuit Design ECOsystem bridges the gap between our design customers, responsible for prototyping leading edge devices and the world of manufacture”, says NI’s Global Business Development Manager, Vincent Accardi. “By leveraging the expertise of the companies of the ECOsystem we can ensure a smoother transition from our layout environment to a fully assembled PCB, saving our customers time and money in the process. The result is a more productive, and successful NI customer. ”

“The idea of the ECOsystem is in complete alignment with the mission at Screaming Circuits,” said Screaming Circuits’ Marketing Manager, Duane Benson. “As a pioneer in online, quick-turn PC board assembly, we serve our customers by being flexible and adaptable, focused on prototypes, and consultative. We represent the final step in the process of design and manufacturing. And working inside the ECOsystem means that we make our strengths even stronger.”

Digi-Key Corporation
www.digikey.com

National Instruments
www.ni.com

NXP Semiconductors N.V.
www.nxp.com

Screaming Circuits
www.screamingcircuits.com

Sunstone Circuits
www.Sunstone.com

::Design World::