Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Altium Develop brings the industry-leading Altium Designer into a connected cloud workspace where engineers and fabricators can dial in controlled-impedance stackups together: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=high-speed-design&utm_content=how-altiums-layer-stack-manager-actually-works
Ever wondered what's really happening inside the Altium's Layer Stack Manager when it outputs a trace width for your target impedance? In this video, Zach Peterson opens up the "black box" of the impedance calculator, explaining how it leans on a Simbeor-based field solver to deliver accurate results without forcing you to configure any PhD-level field solver math yourself.
Sparked by a question from the Altium subreddit about defining frequency for impedance matching, this walkthrough shows exactly where — and where not — frequency enters the calculation, and why the tool always assumes a 1 GHz operating point.
You'll learn where to source trustworthy Dk and Df values (including a look at Isola's 370HR material tables), how copper roughness pushes characteristic impedance higher as frequency climbs, and how to compensate by oversizing traces or adjusting your target impedance for high-speed and RF designs at 20 GHz and beyond.
If you work in signal integrity, high-speed design, or controlled-impedance routing, this is a practical guide to getting genuinely accurate stackup numbers out of Altium — and understanding the reasoning behind every value you enter.
👉 How to Compensate for Losses in Transmission Line Impedance: resources.altium.com/p/how-compensate-losses-transmission-line-impedance
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #SignalIntegrity
0:00 Intro
1:20 Reddit Question: Impedance Match
2:12 Layer Stack Manager Frequency
3:35 Altium Documentation Insights
4:52 Accurate Material Parameters ️
6:01 Isola Dk and Df Tables
7:23 Copper Roughness Impact
8:40 Altium Blog Simulation Data
9:43 True Impedance Calculation
11:34 Compensating for Inaccuracy ️
13:03 Dielectric Loss Tangent Effect
14:14 Explore Altium Designer
Altium Develop brings the industry-leading Altium Designer into a connected cloud workspace where engineers and fabricators can dial in controlled-impedance stackups together: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=high-speed-design&utm_content=how-altiums-layer-stack-manager-actually-works
Ever wondered what's really happening inside the Altium's Layer Stack Manager when it outputs a trace width for your target impedance? In this video, Zach Peterson opens up the "black box" of the impedance calculator, explaining how it leans on a Simbeor-based field solver to deliver accurate results without forcing you to configure any PhD-level field solver math yourself.
Sparked by a question from the Altium subreddit about defining frequency for impedance matching, this walkthrough shows exactly where — and where not — frequency enters the calculation, and why the tool always assumes a 1 GHz operating point.
You'll learn where to source trustworthy Dk and Df values (including a look at Isola's 370HR material tables), how copper roughness pushes characteristic impedance higher as frequency climbs, and how to compensate by oversizing traces or adjusting your target impedance for high-speed and RF designs at 20 GHz and beyond.
If you work in signal integrity, high-speed design, or controlled-impedance routing, this is a practical guide to getting genuinely accurate stackup numbers out of Altium — and understanding the reasoning behind every value you enter.
👉 How to Compensate for Losses in Transmission Line Impedance: resources.altium.com/p/how-compensate-losses-transmission-line-impedance
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #SignalIntegrity
0:00 Intro
1:20 Reddit Question: Impedance Match
2:12 Layer Stack Manager Frequency
3:35 Altium Documentation Insights
4:52 Accurate Material Parameters ️
6:01 Isola Dk and Df Tables
7:23 Copper Roughness Impact
8:40 Altium Blog Simulation Data
9:43 True Impedance Calculation
11:34 Compensating for Inaccuracy ️
13:03 Dielectric Loss Tangent Effect
14:14 Explore Altium Designer
