Simulate to verify Not to design

Back in my early days of design, we would work out designs on paper, put them to a schematic, and head for the cad department. As time grew a certain newly appointed project engineer gave the whole design team a speech. “Simulate, simulate, simulate” he said, as he emphasized the importance of simulating ones design prior to production release.

This was very good advice and I followed it as I learned the sim tools of Mentor logic. From this project managers advice I have become a disciple of simulation in the practice of engineering.

With that said, I find far too many now rely on sim tools as a design tool rather than a check tool of ones design. Instead of working out a problem, many rely on the simulation tool to do the work for them. This is not what the sim tool is for. You must first design your circuit, have a reasonable understanding of how it should work, once the design is made, then a simulation should be run. Do not use the sim tool as a crutch for understanding how your design should actually work.

I fear, far too many now use the shotgun approach to design work and merely tweak values on a simulator until the proper output is achieved. Perhaps the shotgun approach may bring you to achieving your goal, but you will never grasp why, and the why is essential in your growth as a designer.

My point, design first, simulate after, do not design by simulation.