PTC Announces Direct Integration of Onshape and Altium to Streamline ECAD-MCAD Collaboration

PTC (Headquarters: Boston, MA; CEO: Neil Barua) has announced a new integration between its cloud-native CAD and PDM platform, Onshape®, and Altium. This integration allows printed circuit board (PCB) designs to be imported directly into Onshape, enabling real-time synchronization of changes between electrical and mechanical engineering teams.

Developing electronic products requires close coordination between electrical and mechanical design teams. However, relying on email file attachments or manual updates leads to inefficiencies, version conflicts, and late discovery of defects, such as boards not fitting into enclosures. The Onshape Altium Connector eliminates these frictions by establishing a direct link between the platforms.

Key features of the Onshape Altium Connector include: - Fully Cloud-Based: No file conversion, downloads, or manual data transfers required. - ECAD-MCAD Synchronization: Changes made in either platform are automatically reflected in the other. - Early Issue Detection: Validate whether circuit boards fit correctly in enclosures at an early stage. - Built-in Version Control: Design histories are managed in their respective platforms but linked in real-time. - Browser Accessibility: Review, comment, and markup from anywhere without software installation.

Nikolay Ponomarenko, Vice President of R&D at Altium, called the collaboration a milestone in cloud-native engineering, emphasizing the reduction of risks associated with manual file sharing. David Katzman, General Manager of Onshape and Arena at PTC, noted that connecting these workflows is a critical step toward complete digital product development.