Mentor Graphics Pads: Version History

: Modernized the installation process and updated database/ASCII formats for Layout and Router The VX Release and Siemens Acquisition (2014–Present) What’s new in PADS VX.2.12 - Siemens

Featured a unified desktop environment. It integrated the 3D viewer and improved the translation utilities for importing competitor files (like Altium and OrCAD).

PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has evolved over more than 30 years from a desktop-focused PCB design tool into a high-end platform integrated into the Siemens EDA ecosystem. Originally created by Gene Marsh, it underwent significant shifts in ownership—moving from Innoveda to in 2001, and eventually to Siemens in 2017. Early Era & Expansion (1980s – 2000s) mentor graphics pads version history

Integrated basic thermal simulation capabilities to identify hot spots on the PCB during the design phase. PADS 9.5 (2013)

: Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, the company grew rapidly, becoming a primary competitor to early leaders like PCAD and Calay Systems. Originally created by Gene Marsh, it underwent significant

PADS Professional / PADS Standard (mid–2010s)

Following the acquisition, Mentor Graphics rebranded the suite simply as "PADS" and aligned the version numbers with release years, before transitioning to a decimal system. PADS 2004 and PADS 2005 Over the decades

Mentor Graphics PADS (now part of Siemens EDA) stands as one of the most enduring and widely used printed circuit board (PCB) design software suites in the electronics industry. Originally developed by CADAM and later acquired by PADS Software Inc., the toolset became a cornerstone of the Mentor Graphics portfolio in 2002. Over the decades, PADS transitioned from a basic DOS-based layout tool to a highly sophisticated, multi-disciplinary desktop engineering platform.

This marked the rewrite of the software for the 32-bit Microsoft Windows environment (Windows 95 and NT). PowerPCB introduced a graphical user interface (GUI), modeless commands (shortcut keystrokes still used today), a spreadsheet-based design rule editor, and the "BlazeRouter" shape-based autorouter, which revolutionized complex routing tasks. The Mentor Graphics Acquisition & PADS 2004–2007