WHAT WE OFFER
 

Customized Training - 2 to 5 Days




We have delivered over 500 training courses in PCB and ECAD courses throughout our careers and here at Nine Dot Connects. Some of these we developed others from our prior experiences at other companies. As a result, we have detected trends and needs so apparent that they are not obvious.

  • In particular, there is no reason to be tethered to a room full of desktop computers. That is why we purchased our own traveling equipment, allowing us to hold training where it is best suited for our customers.
  • Also, we have found that training is much like jamming a square peg in a round hole for many customers. Beyond introducing training to toolsets, finding training that meets the needs of the design team is difficult. Is it worth sending a group of designers to training where only 75% of it applies? What about topics of keen interest that are not covered?
  • On top of all of this, there is a gamble. Are you willing to take a schedule or cost center hit in the hopes that the training will yield fruit? Unfortunately, there's a cost for travel, and these costs for the schedule hit.


Though we offer coaching and consulting services, the focus is on the specific needs of a tool, process, or project. Therefore, we realize that some clients may have some specific training needs that just aren't going to get adequately addressed, even with our various course offerings. This is especially true regarding tool flow, cabling, libraries, and process flow.

This is precisely why we offer customized private training customized to meet your organization's needs.

For Mix and Match

Consider this Scenario:

Your organization just switched from a tool such as OrCAD, Eagle CAD, or PADS to Altium Designer within the last year or two, and your group has produced several PCB projects. However, you feel you are missing out on efficiency and productivity due to a lack of in-depth tool knowledge. Or you may have experienced several respins due to a lack of tool experience and expertise.

You have reviewed the agendas for the Boot Camp and Spec Ops Altium Designer classes. Still, you are frustrated that each training contains lessons of great interest and lessons of little interest.

With Nine Dot Connects "mix and match," you can select modules from both syllabuses to assemble a 3 to 5-day training that meets your group's needs. We can help you determine what modules and topics would best suit your needs in the time frame you are interested in with our experience. And remember, this is done on your site!

For Topics that Aren't Covered in Courses

Consider this Scenario:

You feel that your group is pretty experienced in using Altium Designer. Like most designers, the path well-worn is the safe path to take. What about those features you know exist yet aren't being used because of the time investment in learning them? Or what about features you may not even be aware of, such as SI (signal integrity) analysis, the SPICE simulator, collaborative PCB, auto-routing, back drill, wiring/cable drawing, etc.?

Using our Spec Ops course as the basis, we can customize training by adding some of the features you desire to master on top of the existing syllabus. Conversely, we can also trim the number of training days by removing some modules that you are already familiar with. And remember, this is done on your site!

For Best Practice and Maximizing Reuse Concept

Consider this Scenario:

You have been developing products for years, and your team has grown in numbers too. You have heard much about how productivity can increase and reduce board respins with the well-organized library, re-use of proven circuits, standardized templates, Bill of Material (BOM), etc. You have wondered what might be considered the "best practice" for using a tool like Altium Designer and its vast number of features and options.

Our trainers are intimately knowledgeable not only with the tool but also with what an EE or PCB designer has to face in their daily activities. Our trainers can assist you and your organization in developing a standard template, BOM, Outjob configuration, etc. They can review your component library situation and recommend an optimal setup. They can also provide insight into the "best practices" in using Altium Designer suitable for your company. This training can be combined with materials from the Altium Boot Camp and Spec Ops classes; workflow-related topics of interest can also be extracted from our PCB Fundamentals course. And remember, this is done on your site!


Tell me more




"We had three days of some of the best training I can remember in my career. The instructor handled all questions, maintained a formidable pace that covered many territories, and ensured no one got left behind. I have received several positive comments from the attendees. Things like I wish I had had this training 3 years ago or spent days trying to figure this out, and it can be done in just a few clicks! All in all, it was a very valuable experience."

Jeffrey Milsap, P.E. - Medical Device Electrical Engineer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals


"Nine Dot Connects provided the Altium Designer Boot Camp private onsite training. The instructor was successful at keeping the entire class engaged, and while working through the exercises, he worked with us on an individual basis. I thoroughly enjoyed this training class? One of the best classes I have ever attended. My goal for attending the class was to understand how everything fits together and have the ability to incorporate part changes as the product matures. I feel I have a good understanding of the material as it relates to my job function."

Configuration Manager - Harris Corporation


"Nine Dot Connects performed training for 5 people for three days at our facility, and it was absolutely worth it. By the end of the third day, all persons under training could design from a sketch to a PCB layout. The training was absolutely worth every penny, and the instructor's industry knowledge and expertise in PCB design was the key to this success."

Scot Shermer, Senior Engineer - GE Oil & Gas


"Thanks for an awesome private training on PCB layout this week. I learned a ton. Now that I'm back, I think I have to pretty much trash a layout that I was working on. I basically designed an un-buildable board. It's not ALL bad, though. I am happy with my component placement, and I have a pretty good sense of how routing has to flow for the design."

Mike Frank, Sr. Electrical Engineer


"The instructor explained the subject very well. His pace was smooth even when stopping to discuss historical PCB issues shared among the students. He hit all the marks when it came to preventing PCB respins - make sure to have requirements and specifications nailed down. Seeing the actual PCB manufacturing process was golden. I was very happy to learn about PCB fabrication advancements - why so many layers, backdrilling, via in pad, microvias. Thank you, Roy and Nine Dot Connects, for a great experience."

Jason Zeman - Electronics Engineer, PdMA Corporation


"The PCB Fundamentals class was great for me as an experienced EE but without experience in PCB design & fabrication. I would recommend the class to anyone interested in learning more about how PCBs are made and the process for getting [that circuit] onto a PCB. Do not be intimidated by the technology; the instructor and this class will educate you no matter your current familiarity with PCB design."

G. Brandon Jordan - Altria Client Services, Staff Engineer


"The combination of a structured training course and flexible coaching hours for diving into detailed questions has greatly increased the value we extract from Altium Designer. Nine Dot Connects gives us the experience of having an in-house Altium expert to bounce questions off, but at a much lower cost than trying to hire someone with this experience."

Colin O'Flynn - CTO, NewAE Technology Inc.


"Taking a design from start to end in the proper order. I took this course (another provider) a couple of years ago. (it was) taught out of sequence - didn't get around to talking about library parts until day 3. Complete waste of time. Your course was far more valuable."

Ken Gott - Development Engineer, Sciton Inc.


"Nine Dot Connects' instructor was an outstanding instructor. Deep understanding of and experience with the material and ability to tailor the course to the class's skill level made it an enjoyable 3 days. The course material flow was logical and easy to follow, building on the lessons and days before."

Michael Rodzinski - Mechanical Test Systems Engineer, Tesla Motors, Inc.


"Nine Dot Connects' trainer is the best software instructor that I have seen in my 30-year engineering career. I have never seen an instructor familiar with every feature of such a complex software product like Altium Designer. His extensive experience in using the software for numerous PCB designs allows him to impart extremely practical knowledge about the trainees' pitfalls while using the software. There was no question that Dan could not answer. Outstanding course!"

John Tarmas - Electronics Engineer, Department of the Navy


"Nine Dot Connects' instructor provided an onsite 3-day Altium class in Jacksonville from 9/6 to 9/8. He did an excellent job. I have not had such a good training class in a long time. I had to leave before he finished the PCB routing section, so I did not get to say thanks for a job well done."

Robert Loe, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE)