Frequently Asked
Questions

PCB design automation uses software algorithms to handle repetitive layout tasks like component placement, trace routing, and design rule checking. Instead of manually placing each component and routing every trace, automation tools analyze your schematic and generate placement and routing based on defined constraints.

This reduces design time for routine boards while freeing engineers to focus on critical design decisions that require human judgment.

AI PCB autorouting analyzes your schematic to understand circuit relationships before routing. The system identifies functional blocks, signal types (power, analog, digital, differential pairs), and applies appropriate routing strategies for each.

Unlike traditional autorouters that work purely from netlists, AI-assisted routing considers design intent from the schematic structure to make better placement and routing decisions.

It depends on the design. Automated routing works well for routine embedded boards where placement and routing patterns are relatively standard. Manual intervention typically helps to stare the results

Yes. AutoCuro works with KiCad through Python scripting integration. You provide your KiCad schematic files (.kicad_sch) and board file with the outline defined, and the automation handles placement and routing within KiCad's native environment.

The output is a standard KiCad PCB file you can open and modify in KiCad. No special export formats or conversions needed.

Yes. AutoCuro integrates with Altium Designer. You can export your schematic and constraints from Altium, run automated placement and routing, then import the results back into Altium for final review and refinement.

The workflow preserves your Altium design rules and constraint definitions.

Yes. AutoCuro supports workflows with Cadence tools such as Allegro PCB Designer. You can export schematics, constraints, and board outlines from Cadence, run automated placement and routing, and then bring the results back into the Cadence environment.

You need:

• Schematic files in supported format (KiCad, Altium, Cadence)
• Board file with outline and Component footprints
• And miscellaneous data

Automation works best for:

• Embedded hardware boards
• IoT devices and microcontroller-based designs
• Boards with standard interfaces (USB, SPI, I2C, UART)
• 4 to 6 layer boards with mixed-signal circuits

Time savings vary significantly by design complexity. Please refer to the case studies below for analysis of time savings.

Yes. You can pre-place critical components like connectors, mounting holes, or specific ICs before running automation. The system respects your manual placements and optimizes the remaining components around them.

Yes. The automation identifies differential pairs from the schematic naming conventions and routes them with appropriate spacing and length matching. You specify target impedance in your design rules, and the system uses trace widths and spacing calculated for your stackup.

Design files remain on your local machine. The automation runs locally on your desktop.

Minimum requirements:

• 8-core CPU
• 16GB RAM
• Internet access for licensing
• Windows

More complex designs benefit from additional RAM and CPU cores. Your EDA tool (KiCad, Altium, etc.) must also be installed for file import/export.

Contact us to schedule a demonstration with your own design or a sample project. We will walk through the workflow, show how automation handles your specific design type, and discuss whether automation is a good fit for your projects.

There is no commitment required to see the tool in action.