Favorite PCB design software?

[blowfly]

Guys that design circuit boards, what's you're favorite program for creating schematics and laying out PCB boards? I'm fairly new to electronics and have been using some freeware called Express PCB, it's OK. Was wondering what other folks use?

See ya,
Mike

[robotarmy]

Guys that design circuit boards, what's you're favorite program for creating schematics and laying out PCB boards? I'm fairly new to electronics and have been using some freeware called Express PCB, it's OK. Was wondering what other folks use?

See ya,
Mike

Hey there, i've got an Electronics Engineering degree and the program we used most at university was eagle. It's clumsy and lame.

My personal favourite is Altium/DXP, it's very powerful, but once i played around with it a bit i really got a feel for it. It can be overwhelming at first, but it's WAY more powerful and WAY less buggy than eagle (but it's bloody expensive unless you find it from an 'alternative source' lol)

As a beginner with electronics, you will most likely be blown away by some of the capabilities of DXP... It's designed for making huge (16+ layer) boards with seriously nutso component counts, FPGA programming and pin-swapping with the autorouter, but don't sweat, it's very well documented, and works well for designing even hand etched single-layer boards (not listed as an option anywhere, just place a keepout over the whole top-layer and it'll route on one side only, that's how i roll)

What kind of requirements do you have for the software? Obviously schematic capture and layout w/netlist, but do you need an autorouter/autoplacer? multi-layer capability? simulation? heavy-duty design rules?

[mixedgas]

Registered light version of Eagle trumps ExpressPCB any day of the week when you actually send boards in to a third party house, or have to do a custom component. I can send my eagle stuff to the BDC (big defense contractor) we consult to and they can actually read it.

Other then that its a dog, but where else are you going to find something that works and does 274x for 49$?

I've tried the freeware... I've yet to find a good one...

One neat thing about the registered version, at least in the US you get the same support as someone who paid 1400$ for the full version.. Problem with Eagle is you really need 35 minutes on the phone with the support person to find the "hidden" non intuitive "features" when you do a component or your first plot... Sparkfun's tutorial is not bad...

For modeling, I use LT Spice.

If it were not out of my, and my boss's financial reach, ORCAD pcb rocks...

Steve

[blowfly]

Thanks for the tips! The Altium package looks a little out of my reach. I'll check out Eagle and LT Spice. I've heard of both of these but never used them. My needs are pretty simple. I've design maybe a dozen circuits but never sent one out for manufacture. That's the direction I'm headed though.

See ya!
Mike

[robotarmy]

Thanks for the tips! The Altium package looks a little out of my reach. I'll check out Eagle and LT Spice. I've heard of both of these but never used them. My needs are pretty simple. I've design maybe a dozen circuits but never sent one out for manufacture. That's the direction I'm headed though.

See ya!
Mike

Yeah, +1 steve

Eagle is definitely the best freeware out there, even if it is severely clumsy...

[Experimentonomen]

I use Eagle, it have a huge component inventory, and if it doesent have one you need, you just draw it.

[chad]

I have bought and paid for eagle. I have also given it up for DipTrace. It has a great freeware version and the paid version is reasonable.

It has a pretty decent library and it is much easier to use than eagle.

It is my new pcb software of choice.

Chad.

[QUAZAR]

For simple projects, Stripboard Magic is superb. It is now free as well.

[c4r0]

My favourite is Protel 99SE. I know that many people use freeware KiCAD so maybe it's good to mention this one, however I've never tried it.

[mixedgas]

My favourite is Protel 99SE. I know that many people use freeware KiCAD so maybe it's good to mention this one, however I've never tried it.

My attempt to get Kicad to work was a failure, on a windows7 machine..

Steve