Quilter

What is Quilter?

Quilter is an automated assistant for circuit board design. It handles component placement, routing, stack-up generation, and even EMI simulations, generating multiple design candidates to choose from. It optimizes for factors like EMI performance and validates designs against manufacturer tolerances to ensure they are ready for manufacturing without errors. Quilter integrates with popular ECAD tools like Altium and KiCAD, so it fits into existing design workflows.

Unlike a typical rule-following autorouter, Quilter acts more like a human designer, exploring hundreds of layout variations to find the best result. It uses reinforcement learning to explore a wide range of design possibilities. It is best suited for boards that aren’t overly complex — fewer than 1000 pins, under 100 components, low density, signal speeds below 500MHz, and currents under 2A. Generating the first layout candidate usually takes about 1 to 2 hours, with full exploration taking between 2 and 6 hours. The goal is to help hardware teams iterate faster by taking over circuit board design.

Who created Quilter?

Quilter was founded by Sergiy Nesterenko, who is also the CEO. The company is based in Los Angeles, California, and operates with a remote-first team of AI and electronics experts. It launched in 2021 with the goal of automating circuit board design to speed up hardware innovation. The platform is currently in an open beta phase.

What is Quilter used for?

• Automating circuit board layout, including placement, routing, and stack-ups
• Validating board designs against manufacturer rules
• Optimizing for EMI performance
• Generating multiple design candidates to choose from
• Ensuring compatibility with ECAD tools like Altium and KiCAD
• Speeding up hardware iteration and reducing PCB design time and cost

Who is Quilter for?

• Engineers at electronics companies
• Hardware teams looking to accelerate PCB design

How to use Quilter?

1. Design your schematic in your ECAD tool, such as Altium or KiCAD.
2. Import constraints — Quilter generates multiple design options based on your input.
3. Evaluate design rules — Quilter checks designs against manufacturer rules to ensure routing is optimal and free of violations.
4. Generate layouts — reinforcement learning explores millions of design possibilities; the first candidate arrives in about 1-2 hours, with full exploration taking 2-6 hours.
5. Review candidates — you can inspect layout options before finalizing, and you’ll receive an email notification when the first successful candidate is ready or when the process completes.