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Flux vs Circuit Mind: From schematic intelligence to the complete device.

Flux is the Circuit Mind alternative for teams that want an AI hardware engineer to design the complete device, not only the schematic. Design electronics, mechanical parts, and firmware in one browser project, with current Flux plans linked below.

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Flux editor: the AI engineer plans and delegates tasks while the 3D view shows the complete device: enclosure, circuit board, and wiring

What Flux and Circuit Mind are

What Flux is

Flux is an AI hardware engineer for the product, not only the schematic. It designs electronics and mechanical parts in one project, writes firmware for the board, and checks the design before manufacturing.

What Circuit Mind is

Circuit Mind is an electronics design intelligence platform with ACE for design generation and AVE for schematic review.[2]

ACE turns a block diagram and requirements into schematics, a BOM, power and derating analysis, and other engineering outputs. AVE reviews existing schematics against datasheets, design rules, and checklists.[2]

What Circuit Mind does

Design options

ACE creates multiple design options optimized for cost, size, and power.[2]

Schematic review

AVE reviews existing schematics against datasheets, design rules, and checklists.[2]

Engineering data

Circuit Mind combines deterministic physics-based algorithms with AI agents and component digital twins built from tens of thousands of datasheets.[2]

From schematic generation and verification to the complete device

Circuit Mind focuses on the schematic stage. ACE generates circuit options, BOMs, and power or derating analyses from a block diagram. AVE checks schematics against datasheets, design rules, and checklists. Flux brings electronics, mechanical design, and firmware together in one project. Its AI hardware engineer designs the schematic, routes the PCB, models the mechanical parts, writes firmware for the board, and prepares manufacturing files and orders.

An engineer holds a board in a green enclosure
Electronics and mechanical parts designed together in Flux.
Flux compared with Circuit Mind
Feature Flux Circuit Mind
Requirements and specification The AI engineer turns your idea into requirements and a product specification, and checks the design against them. ACE turns a block diagram and requirements into multiple design options.[2]
What it is AI hardware engineer with its own design tools Electronics design intelligence platform with ACE and AVE apps.[2]
Where it runs In your web browser. Nothing to install. Your projects live in the cloud. Integrates with Cadence, Altium, and Siemens Xpedition; exports into your ECAD tool.[2]
Who does the design work The Flux agent. Your engineers review and edit. ACE generates designs; AVE provides agentic review of existing schematics.[2]
Schematic and parts Built in. Picks from 734,000+ public parts. ACE generates schematics and BOMs, plus power and derating analysis.[2]
Board layout and routing Built in Not part of Circuit Mind; it exports schematics to your ECAD tool.[2]
Placement and routing The AI engineer places the parts and routes the board like an experienced designer. Your engineers review and edit. Not part of Circuit Mind; route the exported schematic in your ECAD tool.[2]
High-speed design The AI engineer plans DDR topology and timing budgets, routes differential pairs and length-matched buses, tunes length and skew, fans out BGAs with blind, buried, and microvias, and sets trace impedance from your stackup. It checks the routed board with S-parameters, TDR, eye diagrams, crosstalk analysis, and a signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC review. Your engineers review and edit. Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Flex and rigid-flex boards Built in. Named stackups for rigid and flex areas, coverlay and stiffeners, hatched flex pours, bending lines with a folded 3D view and folded STEP files, flex design checks, and Gerber, ODB++, and IPC-2581 files. The AI engineer routes each area on its own layers. Schematic handoff to ECAD; no rigid-flex workflow in the cited page.[2]
Parts and sourcing 734,000+ public parts, with live prices and stock from distributors Works with approved parts lists, symbol and footprint libraries, and design rules.[2]
Simulation and design rule checks SPICE, power delivery network, full-wave electromagnetic, signal integrity, thermal, and mechanical simulation, plus design rule checks ACE provides power and derating analysis.[2]
Firmware Writes firmware for the board it designed Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Wiring harnesses Built in. Flux designs the wiring harnesses between the boards: connectors, pinouts, and wires, in the same project. Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Manufacturing files Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, bill of materials, pick-and-place, and more; Flux can check the files before you order, including copper gaps, silkscreen, board outline, BOM, and pick-and-place files. Generates BOMs, ICDs, derating, FMEA, and power analysis for export to ECAD and PLM.[2]
Quotes and orders Quotes and orders for boards, 3D printing, CNC machining, and wire harnesses, from the project. Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Import from other tools Imports complete projects from Altium, OrCAD and Allegro, KiCad, PADS and Xpedition, CADSTAR, Eagle, Fusion Electronics, EasyEDA, DipTrace, and SOLIDWORKS PCB. Flux imports Labcenter Proteus SDF netlists with Specctra board exports. IPC-2581 revision B and C files become board projects with reusable footprint parts. IDF 2.0 and 3.0 board files become board projects with the outline, cutouts, drilled and mounting holes, part placements, and 3D part heights. Integrates with Cadence, Altium, Siemens Xpedition, PLM, and ERP; outputs go to ECAD.[2]
Versions, branches, and merges Full change history. The AI engineer forks a design into a second version, keeps both, and merges the changes that you pick. Outputs export into your ECAD tool.[2]
Who reviews the work The whole team, in one live project in the browser: electrical, layout, mechanical, and firmware engineers AVE reviews schematics against datasheets, design rules, and checklists.[2]
Product images, videos, and documents Product images, product videos, datasheets, and regulatory documents, made from the design in the project. Generates engineering documentation including BOM, ICD, derating, FMEA, and power analysis.[2]
Price See current pricing No public price list. Book a demo with Circuit Mind.[1]
Plus the mechanical parts too
Mechanical CAD Built in, kernel agnostic. From an enclosure to a complete robot arm. Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Mechanical simulation Finite-element stress, thermal, and airflow simulation Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
Mechanical manufacturing STEP, STL, and 3MF files, plus quotes for 3D printing, CNC machining, sheet metal, and laser cutting Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]
CNC toolpaths and G-code The AI engineer writes the toolpaths, the G-code, a toolpath preview, and a setup sheet for the parts that it designed. Not part of Circuit Mind.[2]

Turn circuit requirements into a complete device

Start a Flux project free and give the AI engineer your electronics, mechanical, and firmware requirements.

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Board design, done by the AI engineer.

Routes like an experienced designer

Flux places the parts and routes the board like an experienced designer, and it respects your design intent and your layout rules.

Parts you can buy

Flux picks from 734,000+ public parts. It checks live prices and stock across distributors before it puts a part on the board.

Your layout rules

Flux checks every board against your layout rules and the capabilities of your fabricator.

Checks every datasheet

Flux reads the datasheet of every part and checks the design against its pinouts, ratings, and limits.

Bring your ECAD projects into Flux.

Import an existing ECAD project, then connect the electronics with mechanical parts and firmware in the same project.

Example request

“Connect the schematic and BOM to the board, enclosure, and firmware.”

Boards and 3D-printed enclosures made with Flux on a workbench
Electronics and mechanical parts designed together in Flux.
  • Altium Altium Designer
  • Cadence OrCAD and Allegro
  • KiCad KiCad
  • Siemens PADS, Xpedition, and NX
  • Zuken CADSTAR
  • Autodesk Eagle and Fusion
  • EasyEDA EasyEDA
  • SolidWorks SolidWorks
  • CATIA CATIA
  • PTC Creo
  • Onshape Onshape

Bring your existing work

Import complete projects, part libraries, and 3D models. Schematics, parts, and placement come across, and routing from most formats.

Keep going with your AI engineer

Imported designs are ready to edit right away. Ask "move the USB cutout 3 cm left" or "make the enclosure tighter", and Flux does the work.

Get it manufactured

Flux hands you the files that your manufacturer needs: Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, bill of materials, and pick-and-place for the board, and STEP, STL, or 3MF for the mechanical parts.

See all file formats
Complete projects
Flux imports complete projects from Altium, Cadence OrCAD and Allegro, KiCad, Siemens PADS and Xpedition, Zuken CADSTAR, Eagle, Fusion Electronics, EasyEDA, DipTrace (XML export), and SOLIDWORKS PCB. Schematics, parts, connections, board outlines, and placement come across. Flux imports Labcenter Proteus SDF netlists with Specctra board exports. IPC-2581 revision B and C files become board projects with reusable footprint parts. IDF 2.0 and 3.0 board files become board projects with the outline, cutouts, drilled and mounting holes, part placements, and 3D part heights.
Part libraries
Altium, OrCAD, PADS, KiCad, Eagle, Fusion Electronics, EasyEDA, and DipTrace libraries, Allegro footprints, and JEP30 part models become Flux parts.
Mechanical files
STEP, STL, OBJ, 3MF, and glTF models, plus DXF board outlines.
Handoff to manufacturing and electronics tools
Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, IPC-D-356 test netlists, bill of materials, pick-and-place, EDIF netlists, GenCAD, and KiCad board files.
Handoff to mechanical design
The full board and its parts as STEP, compressed STEP, BREP, VRML, glTF, and STL models, plus DXF layer drawings. Enclosures and brackets that Flux designs export as STEP, STL, and 3MF, ready for your mechanical tools or a 3D printer.

Orchestration

One request. A whole team of AI engineers.

Hand Flux a complete product. The lead AI engineer splits it into workstreams, starts parallel threads across projects, manages them, and reports back.

Parallel threads

Each workstream runs in its own agent thread. The main board, the daughterboards, and the enclosure come together at the same time.

Across projects

The lead engineer starts work in other projects and tracks it all from one place.

Managed for you

It monitors every thread, steers work that goes off the brief, and collects the results.

You stay in control

Changes that move an interface or resize a board wait for your approval.

Example

A product with three daughterboards

Flux writes a brief for each board with its outline, mounting holes, connectors, and the enclosure openings they line up with. Each board gets its own project and its own AI engineer, and all three are designed in parallel. Flux then places the finished boards in the main assembly and measures clearances and connector alignment in millimeters.

Verification lab

Simulates and checks its own work before you build.

Flux doesn't stop at generating designs. The AI engineer simulates and checks its own work with professional-grade solvers, and it shows you the results.

Circuit simulation

SPICE simulation of analog, power, and mixed-signal circuits, with Monte Carlo, temperature sweep, and noise analysis, run and read by the AI engineer.

Electromagnetic simulation

Full-wave simulation of the routed board: signal integrity, power integrity, impedance, S-parameters, crosstalk, and antennas.

Design rule checks

Electrical and manufacturing rule checks on every schematic and board.

Datasheet checks

Reads the datasheet of every part and checks the design against its pinouts, ratings, and limits.

Thermal simulation

Flux runs PCB thermal analysis of the routed board at stated operating powers, plus heat and airflow simulation of the enclosure, before you build.

Fluid simulation

Airflow and cooling through the enclosure, so vents, fans, and heat sinks work before the first prototype.

Mechanical simulation

Finite-element stress analysis of brackets, enclosures, and mounts.

SPICE load step of a 3.3 V buck converter
SPICE load step of a 3.3 V buck converter
Thermal map of top and bottom copper
Thermal map of top and bottom copper
Stress analysis of an aluminum bracket
Stress analysis of an aluminum bracket
S-parameters of a USB data line, simulated on the routed board
S-parameters of a USB data line, simulated on the routed board

Sourcing

Picks parts you can buy today, at today's prices.

Flux connects directly to major electronics and mechanical parts distributors. The AI engineer picks chips, connectors, screws, and standoffs that are in stock, compares prices across distributors, and replaces parts that are at end of life before the product goes to production.

  • Digi-Key Digi-Key
  • LCSC LCSC
  • Mouser Mouser
  • Arrow Arrow
  • Verical Verical
  • TME TME
  • HQonline HQonline
  • McMaster-Carr McMaster-Carr
  • MISUMI MISUMI
  • JLCMC JLCMC

Manufacturing

Gets quotes from your fabricators as the design changes.

Flux gets quotes directly from the fabricators for circuit boards and assembly, 3D printing in plastic and metal, CNC machining, sheet metal, laser cutting, injection molding, casting, and wiring harnesses. The AI engineer compares price and lead time, checks the design against each fabricator's rules, keeps the quote current as the design changes, and places the order when you confirm.

Circuit boards and assembly

  • JLCPCB JLCPCB
  • PCBWay PCBWay
  • OSH Park OSH Park
  • AISLER AISLER

Mechanical parts

  • Craftcloud Craftcloud
  • JLC 3D printing JLC 3D printing
  • PCBWay 3D printing PCBWay 3D printing
  • Shapeways Shapeways
  • OSH Cut OSH Cut
  • SendCutSend SendCutSend

Cables and wiring harnesses

  • MiniProto MiniProto

One AI hardware engineer beyond the schematic stage

Design a complete device

Flux brings the electronics, mechanical design, and firmware together in one active project.

Connect board and mechanical changes

Flux can update the PCB and mechanical parts together, keeping the full device in view.

Create firmware in project context

Flux writes firmware for the board it designed and keeps that work with the rest of the product.

Start with a large parts library

Flux includes 734,000+ public parts with real-time distributor pricing and stock.

Check the board and enclosure

Flux provides circuit, electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical simulation, plus design rule checks.

Continue to manufacturing

Flux supplies manufacturing files and quotes and orders for the board, mechanical parts, and wire assemblies.

One platform

And the mechanical parts and firmware too.

Flux is not a collection of disconnected CAD applications. It is one AI-native engineering platform where every discipline shares the same project, the same data, and the same AI engineer.

  1. Boards, enclosure, and mounts in one model

    Mechanical design

    Parametric enclosures, brackets, and mounts, fitted to the real board's mounting holes and connectors. Bring in your own STEP models. One parts library for the whole product: chips and connectors, devices that are not on the board, and mechanical hardware such as screws and standoffs.

  2. STM32 current-loop firmware that Flux wrote and compiled, in a syntax-highlighted code block

    Firmware

    Firmware for the board Flux designed, for example on Arm Cortex-M, RISC-V, AVR, or Pico, then built, analyzed, and unit tested.

An engineer holds a board in a green enclosure at the bench
Electronics and mechanical parts designed together in Flux.

Model-agnostic AI

Your favorite AI models. Our engineering superpowers.

Flux pairs frontier AI models with a state-of-the-art agent harness built for CAD and EDA. The models bring reasoning. Flux brings the engineering tools, project context, and workflows that turn that reasoning into working hardware.

  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Google Gemini
  • More as they ship
Adaptive model selection

Frontier performance at 30% lower cost.

Adaptive splits every engineering job into tasks and gives each task to the model that does it best for the price. Hard design decisions go to frontier models. Routine work goes to fast, low-cost models. Independent tasks run in parallel, so complete devices come together faster. Your team works with one AI engineer, and Flux handles the delegation behind the scenes.

Frontier AI models

  • Reasoning
  • Planning
  • Language

Flux engineering harness

  • CAD and EDA tools
  • Project context
  • Simulation
  • Design rules

Working hardware

  • Schematics
  • Boards
  • Enclosures
  • Firmware
  • Fab files
  • Product videos

Every frontier model, one platform

Work with the frontier models your team already trusts, inside Flux.

Engineering superpowers built in

Every model gets Flux's specialized engineering tools, project context, and workflows.

Upgrade without migrating

When a better model ships, your team gets it without switching engineering platforms.

No single-vendor lock-in

Avoid depending on any one model provider for your engineering capacity.

The right model for every step

Adaptive matches each engineering step to the model that does it best, from deep design decisions to routine checks.

Your designs stay yours.

  • SOC 2-aligned cloud infrastructure
  • Single sign-on (SSO)
  • Project-level permissions
  • Inputs and outputs are always your IP
  • No training on customer data

Flux pricing

  • Explore

    For learning and evaluation, with light AI usage and unlimited manual editing.

  • Build

    For active hardware projects, with included AI usage and additional usage available.

  • Pro

    For larger projects and heavier AI usage, with hands-on support from experienced electrical engineers.

  • Teams

    For teams on shared projects, with pooled AI usage, member seats, and priority support.

Eligible individual plans include a free trial. Teams subscriptions start paid; trial and pricing terms depend on your current offer. See all plans

Not ready to pick a plan? Start for free

When to use which

Use Circuit Mind when your team wants deterministic schematic generation from block diagrams in ACE or datasheet-backed schematic verification in AVE before moving into ECAD layout. Choose Flux when you want one AI hardware engineer to carry the project across schematics, PCB layout, mechanical design, firmware, and manufacturing.

Questions

Give Flux your next requirement.

Explore individual plan offers, or book a demo with our team.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo

Sources

  1. Circuit Mind: https://www.circuitmind.io/
  2. Circuit Mind platform: https://www.circuitmind.io/platform
  3. About Circuit Mind: https://www.circuitmind.io/about