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Your entire PCB flow in one tool, from schematic to 3D layout and simulation.
Try for free for 30 daysYour entire PCB flow in one tool, from schematic to 3D layout and simulation.
Try for free for 30 days SYSTEM-LEVEL DESIGN
They fail as heat, vibration, warpage, or a cracked solder joint. The consequence of an electrical design decision is physical — and system-level design means it is calculated while the design can still be modified.
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The challenge
The solution
THE CHAIN
Three steps, one dataset. Each step provides input to the next, ensuring temperature is not estimated and loads are not assumed. That is the difference between three separate analyses and a single chain.
PCB and package in Allegro X, RF and antennas in AWR Design Environment. This is where design decisions are made.
Result: geometry, stack-up, and component placement.
Signal and power integrity in Sigrity X, 3D electromagnetic analysis in Clarity 3D Solver, and electrothermal analysis in Celsius. The electrical design is converted into power loss and temperature.
Outcome: power loss, temperature distribution, and thermal loads.
Flow and cooling in Fidelity CFD. Structural, vibration, and motion analysis in MSC Nastran, Marc, and Adams, with models built in ANSA. And the entire system operating as a digital twin.
Result: verified reliability before tooling is ordered.
disciplines
Each tab represents one type of physics in your product. Start where your errors typically appear.
The chain begins with signals and power. Here, the electrical design translates into the power loss that every subsequent step builds upon.
Heat is the consequence that appears first. This is where most teams identify the issue they would otherwise have encountered in the test laboratory.
Temperature turns into a mechanical load. Mechanical issues are identified before tooling is ordered — not on the shaker table.
Noise can be calculated before it is heard, and a mechanism that holds at rest will not necessarily hold under operation.
A structure that holds at rest will not necessarily hold under operation. Loads must be calculated throughout the entire movement cycle.
A virtual model of the finished system, allowing changes to be tested before equipment is relocated or added.
Getting started
EXAMPLE
A practical engineering workflow demonstrating how the three steps interact on a standard product.
The baseline
A control unit for outdoor machinery mounting. Sealed aluminum enclosure without a fan, a power module on the board, and four screws fastened directly to the machine frame. Designed for a 10-year lifespan, operating from -25 to +50 degrees Celsius.
The power module is placed close to the connector to keep traces short. Sigrity X confirms that power integrity is sound — while simultaneously providing the power loss for each component.
Celsius calculates the board and enclosure together. The power module stays within the datasheet limits, but with a narrow margin at 50 °C, and heat accumulates in the corner where the enclosure is fastened.
The thermal loads are transferred to the structural analysis. Daily thermal cycling causes board warpage at that exact location, and the solder joints beneath the power module are the first to suffer fatigue. Simultaneously, vibration from the machine coincides with a natural frequency in the same area.
The power module is moved toward the center of the board and fitted with a thermal pad against the enclosure lid. This takes an afternoon in layout. Without the chain, the issue would typically have been caught in a thermal cycling test — after the enclosure tooling had already been ordered.
Compare
A local partner who knows your software and your challenges makes all the difference when things get critical.
| What you get | Nordcad | Standard reseller |
|---|---|---|
| EDA and simulation solutions from CadenceCelsius, Sigrity X, Clarity, and Fidelity CFD consolidated with one partner. | ||
| Local hotline with real peopleYou speak with a specialist who knows your software. No ticketing systems or waiting queues. | ||
| Training and webinars in DanishOpen courses, on-site sessions, and webinars in your own language, tailored to your level. | ||
| Support for migration and setupWe assist with installation, license rehosting, and library and design migration. | ||
| Response within one business dayUrgent cases are prioritized by a human, so you rarely wait more than a few hours. | ||
| A single partner for the entire flowTools, support, and guidance in one place. |
Resources
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FAQ
It means that the physical consequences of an electrical design decision are calculated in context rather than in isolation. Power loss from the layout translates into temperature, temperature becomes mechanical load, and load leads to warpage or fatigue. This chain typically only becomes visible once the prototype is tested.
Likely not the tools, but how they connect. Most teams already perform thermal assessments and structural analyses — just on separate models with separate sets of assumptions. System-level design means the output of one step serves as the direct input to the next, eliminating guesswork.
Early on, while multiple design alternatives are still viable. The value decreases as more of the design is locked in — and drops to near zero once tooling is ordered. This is why we recommend starting with a single link in the chain rather than waiting for the perfect time.
Not necessarily. The chain integrates directly into your existing design flow. Mechanical geometry is imported from your current CAD system, allowing you to adopt one stage at a time. There is no technical need to replace your entire toolset to benefit from the initial link.
Allegro X, Sigrity X, and Celsius are Cadence solutions. Nastran, Marc, Actran, and Adams come from MSC Software, which Cadence acquired in February 2026. This allows the chain to integrate across electronics and mechanics — they now belong to the same portfolio.
Yes. Celsius can be used without structural tools on top, and the structural tools can be used without changing your ECAD. The chain is an option, not a requirement.
It stays where it is. The structural tools read standard CAD formats, and the electrical design comes from the ECAD side. The chain connects what you have rather than replacing it.
No, not to get started. The initial coupling can be handled by whoever already performs the thermal evaluation. A dedicated setup only becomes relevant when multiple disciplines need to run together as a regular routine.
With a single link and one concrete task — typically a product where you already know heat is a challenge. That is enough to see if the coupling provides a different answer than what you calculate today, and it is a decision that is easy to roll back.
It depends on which links in the chain you need and how many engineers will use them. The tools are licensed individually, so a single link does not cost the same as the full chain. We provide a specific figure once we know your exact requirements.
The same specialists who work with the tools daily, providing support by phone in your local language. This applies across the entire chain — you do not need to call one place for thermal analysis and another for structural analysis.
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