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Hi everyone
?
I wondered what schematic design software other members use.? I've tried one or two free downloads but struggled to get good results and so I wondered if there was some free or very low cost design software that members could recommend that doesn't have too steep a learning curve.
?
Thanks in advance
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Chris Sentance
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??? Diptrace. Very intuitive.
??? Mark Jordan
On 07-Aug-24 09:13, chris.sentance via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi everyone
?
I wondered what schematic design software other members use.?
I've tried one or two free downloads but struggled to get good
results and so I wondered if there was some free or very low
cost design software that members could recommend that doesn't
have too steep a learning curve.
?
Thanks in advance
?
Chris Sentance
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Chris, checkout Express PCB. The program is very intuitive. One is for schematics and the other for PCB layouts. We use it often. Bob, N1KPR
-
- Youtube: N1KPR
- Youtube: Ham Radio Doctor
Engineering, where enigma meets paradox
On Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 08:13:48 AM EDT, chris.sentance <sentancec@...> wrote:
Hi everyone
?
I wondered what schematic design software other members use.? I've tried one or two free downloads but struggled to get good results and so I wondered if there was some free or very low cost design software that members could recommend that doesn't have too steep a learning curve.
?
Thanks in advance
?
Chris Sentance
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KiCad - Free Open Source and becoming an industry standard.
?
?
Having been down the route of commercial and trial versions of other design software, which frequently get abandoned, or taken over by other companies, the fees get ramped up, and the software modified to align with other proprietary products. Personally, I wouldn't go down that road again, if I could at all avoid it.
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Regards,
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Martin
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Chris,
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Tell me what boards you want, as i will sell, tried and proven, loop amp boards. I have been designing PCBs now for about 6 years and still make mistakes. Some of the boards that I have designed I have gone through 10 to 15 different versions on many boards, for either design mistakes, better layouts, or osculation issues. So the long and short of it is I have spent a lot of money, time, shipping cost and boards to get to the final design.
?
Most boards I charge $20 for and the larger boards, $35, which includes shipping. I can also supply the hard to find transistors. Most of my board designs can be built with leaded (through hole), or SMD parts.
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Everett N4CY
In a message dated 8/7/2024 7:13:48 AM Central Daylight Time, sentancec@... writes:
?
Hi everyone
?
I wondered what schematic design software other members use.? I've tried one or two free downloads but struggled to get good results and so I wondered if there was some free or very low cost design software that members could recommend that doesn't have too steep a learning curve.
?
Thanks in advance
?
Chris Sentance
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On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 06:02 AM, Martin - Southwest UK wrote:
KiCad - Free Open Source and becoming an industry standard.
?
?
KiCad in its Version 8, now with forward and backward annotation between schematic and board is a professional level PCB CAD Software. It is very powerful, but you have to go throug a learning curve, to get used to it. But the best is: it is absolutely free! No hidden costs.
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An easier to learn freeware alternative would be EasyEDA. It is a chinese Software, which could be used online and as Desktop version. It is directly connected to a cheap but good chinese PCB manufacturer. A growing community is sharing circuits and provides support.
?
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The Threadopener asked for a "schematic design software". Does this mean that it should only be used to edit circuit diagrams and not for the layout of printed circuits?
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regards
Fred
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Another Kicad user here. I have used it for over 10 years and laid out quite a few (small) 2-layer boards. Make sure you run the DRC checks on the schematic and the PCB. I have had unconnected pins on boards in the past. The DRCs catch those and many more issues.
--
===================================================================
Mike M
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Hi Fred,
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I think the learning curve is true of all but the very simplest design tools, schematic, PCB, technical design or 3D / CNC.
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I've spent far too much time learning proprietary tools, only to find that once you have, you tend to be locked in to using them. Until they become unsupported, or too expensive for small scale commercial production, as many former users of some well known products will understand only too well.
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If you have previously used any form of CAD, schematic or PCB layout tool. I estimate it would take just a few days to learn the basics of KiCad, as there are several good videos available on-line, and maybe two weeks to progress from an initial design, through various iterations and refinements, that could then be successfully manufactured. However, like most technologies, the first experience always seems daunting, but the more you use it, the easier it becomes.
?
Regards,
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Martin
?
On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 03:37 PM, Fred M wrote:
It is very powerful, but you have to go throug a learning curve, to get used to it
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Thanks everyone for KiCad info! I came across this name before but never used it personally. When the company I work for was small we (including me) used Eagle paid license (it also exist in Free version, although limited). It's not very complicated but there is definitely a learning curve and it's not super intuitive but it also became somewhat a standard for hobby/small company PCB layout IMO. After company I work for was acquired by a big company we now have Altium huge commercial package. But big company also have a PCB design team, so I almost stopped doing it myself and haven't learned Altium much. Anyone here had a chance to use both Eagle and KiCad? How do they compare? Best Regards, Simon On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 8:59?AM Martin - Southwest UK via groups.io <martin_ehrenfried@...> wrote:
Hi Fred,
I think the learning curve is true of all but the very simplest design tools, schematic, PCB, technical design or 3D / CNC.
I've spent far too much time learning proprietary tools, only to find that once you have, you tend to be locked in to using them. Until they become unsupported, or too expensive for small scale commercial production, as many former users of some well known products will understand only too well.
If you have previously used any form of CAD, schematic or PCB layout tool. I estimate it would take just a few days to learn the basics of KiCad, as there are several good videos available on-line, and maybe two weeks to progress from an initial design, through various iterations and refinements, that could then be successfully manufactured. However, like most technologies, the first experience always seems daunting, but the more you use it, the easier it becomes.
Regards,
Martin
On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 03:37 PM, Fred M wrote:
It is very powerful, but you have to go throug a learning curve, to get used to it
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KiCad is very similar to Eagle, with a few "quirks".
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A couple of my friends have migrated from Eagle, after it was acquired by Autodesk, and they are pleased they made the change.
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Regards,
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Martin
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Hi Martin, That's good to know, thank you! :) Will definitely consider KiCad for personal use if I need to do any PCBs. Regards, Simon On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 11:10?AM Martin - Southwest UK via groups.io <martin_ehrenfried@...> wrote:
KiCad is very similar to Eagle, with a few "quirks".
A couple of my friends have migrated from Eagle, after it was acquired by Autodesk, and they are pleased they made the change.
Regards,
Martin
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Another good program if you just want to make simple 2 sided boards as? fast as possible and you are new to PCB design.
Consider using Sprint Layout 6 by Abacomm. You can layout a board the moment you install it without even reading the manual.
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Regardless of what PCB software you use, the libraries are always the issue if you have no patience.
?
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Its not free. The support from the author is excellent.
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Henry
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On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 09:46 PM, <tardivat@...> wrote:
Consider using Sprint Layout 6 by Abacomm. You can layout a board the moment you install it without even reading the manual.
Sprint Layout 6 is a rudimentary PCB Board editor. No schematics! No frills!
To draw a circuit diagram, you need separate Sprint Software: S-plan 8.0
Demo versions available.
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The Abacom/Sprint solution is indeed easy to handle - "just draw it", but for 100 bucks for both Editor components (S-plan and Layout) you get 5 % of the functionality of KiCad, which is for free. (and is developed and supported by more than one author).
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regards
Fred
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I have used many schematic capture and PCB layout programs professionally over my 40+ year career. (In fact I started with a drafting board and tape on mylar on a light table in the 70's LOL). For my own personal use now that I'm retired, I use DipTrace. It's free (for hobby size projects), quite easy to use, and installs fully on your own computer. So even if the company discontinues it for some reason, you will never lose your work. If you are only interested in schematics you should be up and running and have your first small 6 transistor or IC schematic done in an hour or two even with the learning curve. Good PCB layouts can take much more time to learn with any software as there is a whole skill set to master. But schematics only are fairly straight forward. There are a bunch of mini youtube tutorials available too.?
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diptrace.com
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Regards Tom
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SprintLayout6.0 Easy to use and learn.
Sam Reaves
ARS W3OHM
Owner / Moderator of: LeCroy Owners Group on Groups.io
Sencore Owners Group on Groups.io Sprint Layout Group on Groups.io?? Pulsonix EDA Group on Groups.io
LPKF Owners Group on Groups.io
Electronics and Mechanical Hardware Design Engineering Manager
Staff Scientist Andritz Rolls Global Research Center (RETIRED)
On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 9:45?AM Everett N4CY via <everettsharp= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
Chris,
?
Tell me what boards you want, as i will sell, tried and proven, loop amp boards. I have been designing PCBs now for about 6 years and still make mistakes. Some of the boards that I have designed I have gone through 10 to 15 different versions on many boards, for either design mistakes, better layouts, or osculation issues. So the long and short of it is I have spent a lot of money, time, shipping cost and boards to get to the final design.
?
Most boards I charge $20 for and the larger boards, $35, which includes shipping. I can also supply the hard to find transistors. Most of my board designs can be built with leaded (through hole), or SMD parts.
?
Everett N4CY
In a message dated 8/7/2024 7:13:48 AM Central Daylight Time, sentancec@... writes:
?
Hi everyone
?
I wondered what schematic design software other members use.? I've tried one or two free downloads but struggled to get good results and so I wondered if there was some free or very low cost design software that members could recommend that doesn't have too steep a learning curve.
?
Thanks in advance
?
Chris Sentance
|
Hi everyone
?
I just wanted to thank members for their schematic/PCB design suggestions, I am getting reasonably good results using ExpressPCB and will post the results once finished.
?
Thanks
?
Chris Sentance
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Doesn't using ExpressPCB lock you into using their manufacturing service, at least for the first order?
Thanks,
Craig
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Everett,
How do I contact you off-list about some board designs??
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Thanks,
Carl AK4OT
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I second that. There is a SprintLayout group on Groups.io. Lots of useful files in the files section. The program costs about the same as dinner for 4-5 at McDonalds and is not a subscription or an on-line only program. There is a free demo that does everything but save on the Abacom site. Try it, you'll like it!
Sam Reaves
ARS W3OHM
Owner / Moderator of: LeCroy Owners Group on Groups.io
Sencore Owners Group on Groups.io Sprint Layout Group on Groups.io?? Pulsonix EDA Group on Groups.io
LPKF Owners Group on Groups.io
Electronics and Mechanical Hardware Design Engineering Manager
Staff Scientist Andritz Rolls Global Research Center (RETIRED)
Another good program if you just want to make simple 2 sided boards as? fast as possible and you are new to PCB design.
Consider using Sprint Layout 6 by Abacomm. You can layout a board the moment you install it without even reading the manual.
?
Regardless of what PCB software you use, the libraries are always the issue if you have no patience.
?
?
Its not free. The support from the author is excellent.
?
Henry
|
Carl,
You can try QRZ, N4CY, or Everettsharp ?(at) aol com.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Aug 15, 2024, at 11:41?AM, cd_lovitt via groups.io <cd_lovitt@...> wrote:
? Everett,
How do I contact you off-list about some board designs??
?
Thanks,
Carl AK4OT
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Bob, N1KPR
Everett N4CY
Sam Reaves