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PCB making software, What do you use?

 

OP here,
? I have decided on Kicad. Now to start the learning curve just so I can build an smd board or two.
I'll also keep JCLPCB in mind.
?Thanks all, Mikek
 

I have been very happy with the service from jlcpcb and pcbway. However, if you would prefer to use a local manufacturer (and I don't know where you're located) you might try Aisler in Germany or Oshpark in the US.??


On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 1:43 PM Mikek <amdx@...> wrote:
OP here,
? I have decided on Kicad. Now to start the learning curve just so I can build an smd board or two.
I'll also keep JCLPCB in mind.
?Thanks all, Mikek

 

I hang out at a KiCad Facebook group where beginners ask for help coming up to speed. I composed this:

?

The three best KiCad tutorials I have found to date 20221121.
?
Start here:
Robert Feranec
What is KiCad about? Starting with KiCad ...
?
The following two are longer series and will each teach you things the other does not (Or else I may not have watched the full series on either)
?
KiCad 6 STM32 PCB Design Full Tutorial - Phil's Lab #65
?
?
John's Basement on KiCad 5 #17 Hierarchical Labels & Pins
?
Finally help us help you.? When asking for help do not make us guess.
Share your entire project or a simplified version with the problem(s) you have.
?
I use Github for example

?

Hope this helps.
 

+1 for KiCad. The libraries are amazing (and maintained), and the sheer complexity and set of features is both the only drawback (learning curve and setup) and the most important positive of this set of programs. Setup can be frustrating regarding libraries, particularly when trying to customize (but not impossible).?
Consider also that it has a schematic building component - which I think allows for sims and stuff (though I still do all that with LTSpice) - and that will generate your nodes and all that when you're starting (or maintaining ongoing) on the PCB.?
The 3D viewer is amazing and at this point I can't do without?it.?
I also personally create the PCBs with OSH Park in the US - excellent boards quality and flawless service. They accept uploads of KiCad native files, generate instant previews of all layers on the website, and ordering and recording of projects (for easier later reordering) is entirely online. The only drawback is their sharing system - projects are either private or completely public - nothing in between.?
Radu.?

On Wed, Nov 23, 2022, 8:12 AM Forrest Erickson <forresterickson@...> wrote:

I hang out at a KiCad Facebook group where beginners ask for help coming up to speed. I composed this:

?

The three best KiCad tutorials I have found to date 20221121.
?
Start here:
Robert Feranec
What is KiCad about? Starting with KiCad ...
?
The following two are longer series and will each teach you things the other does not (Or else I may not have watched the full series on either)
?
KiCad 6 STM32 PCB Design Full Tutorial - Phil's Lab #65
?
?
John's Basement on KiCad 5 #17 Hierarchical Labels & Pins
?
Finally help us help you.? When asking for help do not make us guess.
Share your entire project or a simplified version with the problem(s) you have.
?
I use Github for example

?

Hope this helps.
 

Kicad is becoming what GCC (GNU C Compiler) is for open source software development: Kicad is probably not the best at any particular task in the PCB creation process.
But it works well enough to do some serious job. The development is ongoing and well supported, so bugs are fixed and new features added. And most importantly, especially for "open hardware" kind of projects, it is well accepted, with a good and growing user base. So doing a project using Kicad will ensure people can do review of it, or re-use it for something else. Plus it's free, and not particularly difficult to use.
 

I used? Protel Easytrax with a DOS emulator for many years but now I've moved to Sprint PCB. It's not free but not too expensive either and produces Gerber files that can be sent to a PCB fabrication service. It has a comprehensive library and you can also make custom templates for new devices etc.

All new software requires a learning curve of some sort and Sprint wasn't too hard to get into. There's also a user group on groups.io but traffic is very low.

Morris
 

I think it's pretty clear in the "semi-pro," "turbo hobbyist" market KiCad is by far, currently, the norm.?
I'm not sure what challenges other programs bridge in the "actual pro" market - making the expense (whatever $ value that may be) worthwhile - but I just assume there must be some gaps needing bridging.?
Radu.?


On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 3:43 PM Morris Odell <vilgotch1@...> wrote:
I used? Protel Easytrax with a DOS emulator for many years but now I've moved to Sprint PCB. It's not free but not too expensive either and produces Gerber files that can be sent to a PCB fabrication service. It has a comprehensive library and you can also make custom templates for new devices etc.

All new software requires a learning curve of some sort and Sprint wasn't too hard to get into. There's also a user group on but traffic is very low.

Morris

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

For the sake of explaining this (a bit) in terms of EAGLE:

The original license for "standard" (also known as "free") was two layers, one sheet of schematic, maximum of 4 by 3 board (half of a eurocard).? No others need to apply.

The professional license was (IIRC), 6 to 8 layers, 4 by 6 inch board, multiple sheets of schematic.? This was also the hobbiest (mine) license, with the restriction that the design not be used in any way for profit.?

The "unlimited" license was? layers over 20, (I think) unlimited board size.

The advantage with EAGLE was that the libraries, autorouter, and tools were much the same, just limited.

No idea what they did for later versions (may be to change 4x3 to "12 square inches", but I have no idea since the versions 8 and up are on a subscription model.

My 7.x license is still valid, and remains without any extra charge.

I suspect that many "for profit" products have similar limits.

Harvey


On 11/24/2022 8:59 PM, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote:

I think it's pretty clear in the "semi-pro," "turbo hobbyist" market KiCad is by far, currently, the norm.?
I'm not sure what challenges other programs bridge in the "actual pro" market - making the expense (whatever $ value that may be) worthwhile - but I just assume there must be some gaps needing bridging.?
Radu.?

On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 3:43 PM Morris Odell <vilgotch1@...> wrote:
I used? Protel Easytrax with a DOS emulator for many years but now I've moved to Sprint PCB. It's not free but not too expensive either and produces Gerber files that can be sent to a PCB fabrication service. It has a comprehensive library and you can also make custom templates for new devices etc.

All new software requires a learning curve of some sort and Sprint wasn't too hard to get into. There's also a user group on but traffic is very low.

Morris

 

FWIW, years and years ago (version 4, I think) the Eagle folks were kind enough to give me the 4-layer, 4x6 license for the $150 "hobbiest" price because I was designing products for a non-profit group. However, when AutoCad switched to the subscription model, they said I had to pay the full "professional" (or whatever it's called now) subscription fee.

I can't really complain because I got years of use out of that inexpensive license, but the full-bore subscription cost plus my dislike of subscription software in general pushed me to KiCad. And I haven't really looked back -- particularly since KiCad now does a reasonably decent job of importing Eagle files (But for the old Eagle format, you have to use Eagle 7.x to convert to the new format, then import to KiCad. Annoying, but it works.)

John
----

On 11/24/22 21:17, Harvey White wrote:
For the sake of explaining this (a bit) in terms of EAGLE:
The original license for "standard" (also known as "free") was two layers, one sheet of schematic, maximum of 4 by 3 board (half of a eurocard).? No others need to apply.
The professional license was (IIRC), 6 to 8 layers, 4 by 6 inch board, multiple sheets of schematic.? This was also the hobbiest (mine) license, with the restriction that the design not be used in any way for profit.
The "unlimited" license was? layers over 20, (I think) unlimited board size.
The advantage with EAGLE was that the libraries, autorouter, and tools were much the same, just limited.
No idea what they did for later versions (may be to change 4x3 to "12 square inches", but I have no idea since the versions 8 and up are on a subscription model.
My 7.x license is still valid, and remains without any extra charge.
I suspect that many "for profit" products have similar limits.
Harvey
On 11/24/2022 8:59 PM, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote:
I think it's pretty clear in the "semi-pro," "turbo hobbyist" market KiCad is by far, currently, the norm.
I'm not sure what challenges other programs bridge in the "actual pro" market - making the expense (whatever $ value that may be) worthwhile - but I just assume there must be some gaps needing bridging.
Radu.

On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 3:43 PM Morris Odell <vilgotch1@...> wrote:

I used? Protel Easytrax with a DOS emulator for many years but now
I've moved to Sprint PCB. It's not free but not too expensive
either and produces Gerber files that can be sent to a PCB
fabrication service. It has a comprehensive library and you can
also make custom templates for new devices etc.

All new software requires a learning curve of some sort and Sprint
wasn't too hard to get into. There's also a user group on
groups.io <> but traffic is very low.

Morris

 

On Wed, Nov 23, 2022 at 08:12 AM, Forrest Erickson wrote:

I hang out at a KiCad Facebook group where beginners ask for help coming up to speed. I composed this:

?

The three best KiCad tutorials I have found to date 20221121.
?Thank you for posting that information.
(not that I need to spend more time watching Youtube!) :-)
????????????????????? Mikek

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