Altium now jumping onto the "community"/"maker" free tools bandwagon:
Altium has announced an open beta programme for their community-driven PCB design tool.
CircuitMaker will be available worldwide to all interested electronics designers, and aims to address the needs of the electronics maker and hobbyist community with a free software offering.
Anyone interested in participating in the open beta can register now at the CircuitMaker website, with invitations being sent out from week of May 18th, 2015. - See more at: http://www.cieonline.co.uk/world...
One has to wonder if the recent development progress of Kicad and upcoming stable release has anything to do with that. CERNs collaboration in that project and the resulting improvements have to be of concern to the big players.
Yes Rick. I know two people in Melbourne who swear by KiCad, one of whom is contributing to its ongoing design. I will probably try and maybe adopt it in the near future.
I used the free version of DipTrace before I purchased a license. The software does everything I want and $800.00usd is a bargain compared to some of the prices I have seen.
Jim
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
If you need to go over 300 pins then you have to purchase a license. I do admit I am not aware of KiCad's limitations(if any).
Well I took a look at the kiCad website and I must say that KiCad is impressive. I wished I knew of it before I went to DipTrace. Might have to download it and see what it's capabilities are for importing other Cad package files are and the like.
Ok, I shall sit down and eat some crow now. Nicely done Ross.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
I did not set out to cause you discomfort. Look at it this way... it will not cost you any more. I am told that KiCad can import Eagle (which I use), so we both may be starting a similar journey.
NO worries Ross! What discomfort? Sure I bought a license for DipTrace, and after I plowed and struggled through learning how to use it I am pretty pleased with it overall.(look at my Avatar. THats what I looked like when I started with it;) )
Had I known about KiCad I may have done something different, but at teh time I had already been using the freeware and I ran out of room, so.... Time to pay the piper.
At the same time KiCad has some of the same features DipTrace has. THe 3D rendering is very useful IMO. I am not going to say or on KiCad without trying it out. Since I sadly have time on my hands I will do that.
As far as Eagle and PADS go, I have used both and they are excellent tools.....Hell they BETTER be for the costs associated with them(PADS especially). I will never need their full suite of capabilities, so I don't pay much attention to them.
As I said in a thread somewhere, ALL Schematic/PCB CAD programs SUCK in some way or another. It's simply what you are willing to accept.
Cheers!
Jim
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
If you are currently using xyz pcb software, you might as well continue using it until the new stable release (not yet released) has been in use for a while. The learning curve is steep.
The feature set has been frozen and most of the work is on the remaining bugs and docs.
Posted by Torby: Mon. Jul 27, 2015 - 12:43 PM(Reply to #170)
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js wrote:
By the way soft-wear can be tennis shoes compared to army boots.
hehe
Ok. It's kindof cool to get a 3d rendering of your board, but I really don't see the point. Perhaps so you can check that the board and all the parts will fit in the case? But then, I still use FreePCB. Thinking about changing to kicad though.
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
It could be useful to be able to see that you cannot get access to the side located adjustment pot because a big cap blocks your screwdriver... I wonder how I know?
Tom, as our housings are not square and have lowered sections all over the PCB, we use it to see if stuff mechanically fits.
In the past we would either need to make a judgement on if thins would fit or not and after we finished we give a DXF file to our mechanical engineers with component locations. then we had a couple of days struggle to tell the engineers how high specific components were.
Not to mention that we had to send a PCB outline and changes were also given through either a new DXF that we then imported or a e-mail that tolled us what to change. This was erroneous specially on the for instance screw-holes. Now we just take the 3D step file select the PCB drawn by the mechanical engineers and and convert that to the board outline.
It has cost us some time to set things up correctly and have all the parts made, but in the long run it is really saving us a lot of time.
In the past we had review rounds that could take as long as 2 or 3 weeks. now we most of the times are done in just 2 or 3 days.
Because they helped me and still they are helping me!
nothing else!
*Last warning. You have posted download details 4 times. I have deleted all except this edited one. Do it again and your account will be deleted. Moderator*
Furthermore, you can use CircuitMaker to create production products, sell millions of units, and become fabulously rich -- the only requirement being that you make such designs open source, which I personally don’t regard as being in any way unfair.
...
Duane's problem was that he was using the free version of Eagle PCB to lay out our ruler/board, and he'd just run into the size limitation.
...
You can only imagine Duane's delight to discover that CircuitMaker has no such limitations.
Posted by derlo: Sat. Oct 24, 2015 - 05:25 AM(Reply to #2)
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ExpressSch and ExpressPCB are useless if you want to order PCB in open market. None of them allows to export designs to ANY other SCH/PCB program and ExpressPCB does not produce globally recognized Gerber file for ordering PCB. Format is NOT recognized by any of the other SCH/PCB programs either. I wish I knew it all before I started creating designs in those.
Posted by steve17: Sat. Oct 24, 2015 - 12:14 PM(Reply to #181)
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derlo wrote:
ExpressSch and ExpressPCB are useless if you want to order PCB in open market.
robotroom/CopperConnection makes it easy to port ExpressPCB boards to their format and produce gerbers. CopperConnection will check and tailor make, if necessary, the gerbers for several manufacturers. I've always used OshPark. They are cheap, seem cheap to me at least. They seem to be of good quality and I usually get the boards in 10 days.
On the first page of this thread there are some comments about the most popular PCB layout software's and I don't know how to commit my own comments but I really like to offer some thoughts about Eagle CAD which contradicts what is says about it right now, because it is kind of intimidating and it would appear to advice against Eagle and I don't agree at all.
Microzod: I didn't experience such a huge learning curve, actually Eagle was one of the easiest software I have learned. This seems to be an example of how different the some thing can be for different people but I would like to recommend Eagle as a good PCB layout software. The free version do provide enough space to do most hobby DIY style circuit boards and if you are etching you own boards at home you can't go with more than 2 layers anyway. But if you are going to get into designing PCBs I would recommend the purchase of a real version of some software, though of course not at first but after you have tried out the free versions.
I have found it to be quite easy and quite fast as well to look up "How to do this and that?" problems through Eagle CADs own documentation and the popularity online for Eagle, but the library system do require some getting used to. If we are talking about the library system then yes I do agree that Eagle can have a step learning curve but still, thanks to youtube channels dedicated to Eagle you can get through the basics in a mater of hours(hours is for the complete Eagle basics not just the library stuff).
In any case I found Eagle to be very logical and easy to navigate and explore, and it provides cool scripts and ULP's which do stuff such as calculating the resistance and impedance for all wired traces. Oh! Right, since some time ago Eagle do have a interface for LTspice enabling you to simulate circuits drawn in Eagle, how that is done is a little messy but its still a cool feature.
Altium CircuitStudio: CircuitStudio - Next Generation
Warning: Always check the fine print of Vendors mid-bottom line offerings.
Look for fish-hooks like
* Expiring licenses
* Closed, binary files (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
* One way pathways (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
* Scripting and Macros - often missing/removed. (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
As this is an older thread, since it was started, also Autodesk has taken over Eagle. Time will tell what that does to versions/prices.
Then, there are free PCB programs like KiCad, that improve quickly, and now includes very good shove router, plus very open ASCII database with good scripting support, and no license gotchas.
Posted by ki0bk: Fri. Aug 12, 2016 - 01:28 PM(Reply to #182)
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ExpressPCB has add a subscription service, for $99/yr, you get free gerbers with any order for boards, so use them for your prototypes and when ready use who ever you please for mass production.
In my current situation, the only internet I have at home is 6gig on my 4G data plan. It's nice and fast, pretty reliable but very limited. So I don't do updates, download large programs or watch videos unless I go somewhere else. I have a couple other places I can go if I need internet. My 6GB data usually lasts ALMOST to the end of the month. Never quite to the end of the month.
I decided it was time to learn KiCad, so a few weeks ago, I went some place, downloaded the installer. Got it going a few days ago. I played with a few examples and dummy circuits like an LED, resistor, battery and switch. I just finished up my first real KiCad board. And -- Here on Sept 10, I used up all of my 6gig of data.
Puzzling over what I did with all my bits, I pouted. Then I decided to put mounting holes in the corner of the board and -- KiCad won't work with internet turned off. Usually by this time of the month I've used a gig and a half or so. Has KiCad eaten up 4 gig of data while I was quietly laying out this board?
The gerbers don't look too bad.
I see lots of posts and instructions on how to use the broken Bitmap2Component feature. These are all obsolete as the Bitmap2Component feature now works pretty much as you expect and it took only a couple tries to see how to make it work. You can scale it by adjusting the "resolution." At the default setting of 72dpi, the footprint was bigger than the board, but adjusting the resolution setting, I could make it as many millimeters as I wanted.
Where are my mounting holes? I put them. Oh. I made the jpg before I put them. I want to work a bit under the AVR. By the time I got all the signals routed there wasn't any ground plane under it any more. Also, the path to vcc seems rather tortuous.
Posting from the Library where they don't allow bare footed brats. Time to go anyhow.
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
In my current situation, the only internet I have at home is 6gig on my 4G data plan.
Rural ISP have OTA available; the antenna looks like a Yagi with a parabolic wire reflector.
Some owners of rental houses may add such on an exterior pole.
Some property owners don't but there are ways to add a temporary pole (fixed mount but on soil weighed by concrete block; better on an uncovered porch)
And -- Here on Sept 10, I used up all of my 6gig of data.
Puzzling over what I did with all my bits, I pouted.
KiCad on Microsoft Windows?
If yes, which version of Windows?
Windows 10 has metered connections that are meant for 4G (and such); don't know if that's available for Windows 7 and/or 8.
Windows 10 will "phone home" at 5m intervals other than for Windows 10 Enterprise (and Windows 10 Education?).
Windows 10 also has an instance authenticator process but its very low rate and volume.
IIRC, Windows 10 will also pull updates (typically these are large) unless Windows Update is configured "correctly" (you declare that, take the default, or a metered connection).
Some routers will take a USB 4G then throttle its connection.
Yes, it seems that the library for footprints is loaded each time you need it...nothing saves in a cache or on a local folder. That is silly, but I guess if you don't want to pay for a license then you have to play by their rules.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Posted by donotdespisethesnake: Sun. Sep 11, 2016 - 08:57 AM
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Yes, KiCad by default uses online libraries, the user isn't given a choice during install and is not even informed what is going on - all of which I think was a dumb decision. There are a few ways to get local libraries, the easiest is probably to use KiCad itself, in the Footprint Libraries Wizard there is an option to make a local copy.
What I meant to say(poorly I admit) was pay for software that comes with a license, like Eagle, or DipTrace. I am going to have to avoid using my smartphone to post.
I am aware that KiCAD is freeware.
donotdespisethesnake wrote:
Yes, KiCad by default uses online libraries, the user isn't given a choice during install and is not even informed what is going on - all of which I think was a dumb decision.
Yes, that is rather silly.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Posted by donotdespisethesnake: Sun. Sep 11, 2016 - 07:33 PM
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jgmdesign wrote:
What I meant to say(poorly I admit) was pay for software that comes with a license, like Eagle, or DipTrace. I am going to have to avoid using my smartphone to post.
Ok, if you want to pay money for the privilege of local libraries you can also make a payment for KiCad development if you like :) https://giving.web.cern.ch/civic...
I use altium designer 2009 version. I never switched to a newer one. It is very powerfull. The only problem I have is that the 3d design tool has some limitations. For some models I ask a friend's help that uses other 3d design tools. So I can import them in altium as .png. Does any body know if newer altium versions support more 3d design tools?
Michael.
User of:
IAR Embedded Workbench C/C++ Compiler
Altium Designer
OS: Mac, Linux, Windows and Android (Web-based/All Platforms Supported)
Description:
EasyEDA is a cloud-based PCB design software. This software allows the used to design schematics and PCB anytime, anywhere around the world.
tools include SCH and PCB editing, a huge library of symbols and components, project management and collaborative work. There's also ngspice based simulation tool and a community forum.
It can import Schematics and PCB Files form Eagle, Altium Designer, Kicad, LTspice.
It provides SVG source to preview Schematic, PCB Layout and Gerber file
It provides rich spice models to make simulation .
It provivdes simulation viewform viewer and gerber viewer.
It provides easy PCB order which saves your time to make sample PCB .
Every project you create on easyeda can be private, shared, or public.
Don't forget to budget for the $2000+ per year maintenance contract!
Altium now jumping onto the "community"/"maker" free tools bandwagon:
http://www.cieonline.co.uk/world...
Top Tips:
Circuitmaker news is OLD news, i have downloaded it but not played with the program yet.
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
One has to wonder if the recent development progress of Kicad and upcoming stable release has anything to do with that. CERNs collaboration in that project and the resulting improvements have to be of concern to the big players.
Yes Rick. I know two people in Melbourne who swear by KiCad, one of whom is contributing to its ongoing design. I will probably try and maybe adopt it in the near future.
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
I used the free version of DipTrace before I purchased a license. The software does everything I want and $800.00usd is a bargain compared to some of the prices I have seen.
Jim
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
KiCad is $free... sorry Jim.
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
hmmm I thought I had downloaded the full Circuit maker package, it was only the installer.
Downloading the full 500MB at a 4th world Internet speed, may take a while.
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
This is what it looks like, no idea what to do next!!
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
What happens if you click on...
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
My computer may die..... too busy with grandchildren right now.
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
Same for me tomorrow. It is "Gamma's" birthday lunch.
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
So is DipTrace
If you need to go over 300 pins then you have to purchase a license. I do admit I am not aware of KiCad's limitations(if any).
Well I took a look at the kiCad website and I must say that KiCad is impressive. I wished I knew of it before I went to DipTrace. Might have to download it and see what it's capabilities are for importing other Cad package files are and the like.
Ok, I shall sit down and eat some crow now. Nicely done Ross.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
Jim,
I did not set out to cause you discomfort. Look at it this way... it will not cost you any more. I am told that KiCad can import Eagle (which I use), so we both may be starting a similar journey.
Cheers,
Ross
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
NO worries Ross! What discomfort? Sure I bought a license for DipTrace, and after I plowed and struggled through learning how to use it I am pretty pleased with it overall.(look at my Avatar. THats what I looked like when I started with it;) )
Had I known about KiCad I may have done something different, but at teh time I had already been using the freeware and I ran out of room, so.... Time to pay the piper.
At the same time KiCad has some of the same features DipTrace has. THe 3D rendering is very useful IMO. I am not going to say
or 
on KiCad without trying it out. Since I sadly have time on my hands I will do that.
As far as Eagle and PADS go, I have used both and they are excellent tools.....Hell they BETTER be for the costs associated with them(PADS especially). I will never need their full suite of capabilities, so I don't pay much attention to them.
As I said in a thread somewhere, ALL Schematic/PCB CAD programs SUCK in some way or another. It's simply what you are willing to accept.
Cheers!
Jim
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
If you are currently using xyz pcb software, you might as well continue using it until the new stable release (not yet released) has been in use for a while. The learning curve is steep.
The feature set has been frozen and most of the work is on the remaining bugs and docs.
Altium Designer 13.
while(!solution) {patience--;}
On my opinion the best soft-wear for designing PCBs' is AltiumDesigner which was known as Protel
I use it and it is very powerful!
*Piracy invitation deleted. Moderator*
EhsanSH
You can DO EVERYTHING!
Just believe yourself !!!
Wow 10 years from now. Not many people can afford it or need to use it when there are many good programs for $1000 or a lot less.
By the way soft-wear can be tennis shoes compared to army boots.
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
-a
×
hehe
Ok. It's kindof cool to get a 3d rendering of your board, but I really don't see the point. Perhaps so you can check that the board and all the parts will fit in the case? But then, I still use FreePCB. Thinking about changing to kicad though.
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
Tom,
It could be useful to be able to see that you cannot get access to the side located adjustment pot because a big cap blocks your screwdriver... I wonder how I know?
Ross
Ross McKenzie, Melbourne Australia
Tom, as our housings are not square and have lowered sections all over the PCB, we use it to see if stuff mechanically fits.
In the past we would either need to make a judgement on if thins would fit or not and after we finished we give a DXF file to our mechanical engineers with component locations. then we had a couple of days struggle to tell the engineers how high specific components were.
Not to mention that we had to send a PCB outline and changes were also given through either a new DXF that we then imported or a e-mail that tolled us what to change. This was erroneous specially on the for instance screw-holes. Now we just take the 3D step file select the PCB drawn by the mechanical engineers and and convert that to the board outline.
It has cost us some time to set things up correctly and have all the parts made, but in the long run it is really saving us a lot of time.
In the past we had review rounds that could take as long as 2 or 3 weeks. now we most of the times are done in just 2 or 3 days.
hey big brother,
This is Iran.
the whole people are rich.
they have rich mind!!!
(POINT:other countries have many intelligent people)
* Piracy invitation deleted *
You can DO EVERYTHING!
Just believe yourself !!!
But that's dishonest not rich. People go to jail for that kind of thing. I know that not all Iranians are rich or dishonest.
Anyway I'll delete your offer.
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
My Propose is just that to help others.
Because they helped me and still they are helping me!
nothing else!
*Last warning. You have posted download details 4 times. I have deleted all except this edited one. Do it again and your account will be deleted. Moderator*
You can DO EVERYTHING!
Just believe yourself !!!
You want to help others do illegal things? Read the rules of this forum to avoid unethical behaviour.
"Dare to be naïve." - Buckminster Fuller
SURE that would make you "fabulously rich"...well maybe not the person who designed it but the millions of people who just copied it!
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
https://www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
ExpressSch and ExpressPCB are useless if you want to order PCB in open market. None of them allows to export designs to ANY other SCH/PCB program and ExpressPCB does not produce globally recognized Gerber file for ordering PCB. Format is NOT recognized by any of the other SCH/PCB programs either. I wish I knew it all before I started creating designs in those.
http://www.robotroom.com/CopperConnection/index.html
http://www.robotroom.com/CopperConnection/Converting-Express-PCB-Files.html
ExpressPCB will sell you the gerbers. I think it costs around $50 and I think you need to order some boards first.
P.S. It looks like ExpressPCB has updated their software. They haven't done that in many years. I haven't tried out their new software.
With their old software, what made it a good system was a third party program called xCheck from softwaregizmos.
http://softwaregizmos.com/xcheck.shtml
AndroCAD: Gerber PCB Viewer for Android
Hello!
We made the Gerber Viewer (standard RS-274X).
It can properly draw about 70% of Gerber files.
We need reports about bugs and crashes.
Demo on Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androcad.gerberdemo
The Viewer doesn't support old "RS-274D" and "Excellon drill" files.
On the first page of this thread there are some comments about the most popular PCB layout software's and I don't know how to commit my own comments but I really like to offer some thoughts about Eagle CAD which contradicts what is says about it right now, because it is kind of intimidating and it would appear to advice against Eagle and I don't agree at all.
Microzod: I didn't experience such a huge learning curve, actually Eagle was one of the easiest software I have learned. This seems to be an example of how different the some thing can be for different people but I would like to recommend Eagle as a good PCB layout software. The free version do provide enough space to do most hobby DIY style circuit boards and if you are etching you own boards at home you can't go with more than 2 layers anyway. But if you are going to get into designing PCBs I would recommend the purchase of a real version of some software, though of course not at first but after you have tried out the free versions.
I have found it to be quite easy and quite fast as well to look up "How to do this and that?" problems through Eagle CADs own documentation and the popularity online for Eagle, but the library system do require some getting used to. If we are talking about the library system then yes I do agree that Eagle can have a step learning curve but still, thanks to youtube channels dedicated to Eagle you can get through the basics in a mater of hours(hours is for the complete Eagle basics not just the library stuff).
In any case I found Eagle to be very logical and easy to navigate and explore, and it provides cool scripts and ULP's which do stuff such as calculating the resistance and impedance for all wired traces. Oh! Right, since some time ago Eagle do have a interface for LTspice enabling you to simulate circuits drawn in Eagle, how that is done is a little messy but its still a cool feature.
Regards
http://www.newark.com/altium/11-100-15-1-e/circuitstudio-commercial-license/dp/47Y0246 (995USD)
http://www.newark.com/altium/11-004-15-1-e/circuitstudio-1-yr-renewal-maintenance/dp/29Y9076 (150USD)
via
https://plus.google.com/+element14/posts/GnJVLbWMQEt (Altium CircuitStudio is even more accessible to PCB designers at a 3rd of the…)
"Dare to be naïve." - Buckminster Fuller
Warning: Always check the fine print of Vendors mid-bottom line offerings.
Look for fish-hooks like
* Expiring licenses
* Closed, binary files (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
* One way pathways (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
* Scripting and Macros - often missing/removed. (turf protection of the higher end offerings)
As this is an older thread, since it was started, also Autodesk has taken over Eagle. Time will tell what that does to versions/prices.
Then, there are free PCB programs like KiCad, that improve quickly, and now includes very good shove router, plus very open ASCII database with good scripting support, and no license gotchas.
I think with CERN's backing these days that kicad will be hard to beat.
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
ExpressPCB has add a subscription service, for $99/yr, you get free gerbers with any order for boards, so use them for your prototypes and when ready use who ever you please for mass production.
Jim
Keys to wealth:
Invest for cash flow, not capital gains!
Wealth is attracted, not chased!
Income is proportional to how many you serve!
Careful! KiCad sucks data!
In my current situation, the only internet I have at home is 6gig on my 4G data plan. It's nice and fast, pretty reliable but very limited. So I don't do updates, download large programs or watch videos unless I go somewhere else. I have a couple other places I can go if I need internet. My 6GB data usually lasts ALMOST to the end of the month. Never quite to the end of the month.
I decided it was time to learn KiCad, so a few weeks ago, I went some place, downloaded the installer. Got it going a few days ago. I played with a few examples and dummy circuits like an LED, resistor, battery and switch. I just finished up my first real KiCad board. And -- Here on Sept 10, I used up all of my 6gig of data.
Puzzling over what I did with all my bits, I pouted. Then I decided to put mounting holes in the corner of the board and -- KiCad won't work with internet turned off. Usually by this time of the month I've used a gig and a half or so. Has KiCad eaten up 4 gig of data while I was quietly laying out this board?
The gerbers don't look too bad.
I see lots of posts and instructions on how to use the broken Bitmap2Component feature. These are all obsolete as the Bitmap2Component feature now works pretty much as you expect and it took only a couple tries to see how to make it work. You can scale it by adjusting the "resolution." At the default setting of 72dpi, the footprint was bigger than the board, but adjusting the resolution setting, I could make it as many millimeters as I wanted.
Where are my mounting holes? I put them. Oh. I made the jpg before I put them. I want to work a bit under the AVR. By the time I got all the signals routed there wasn't any ground plane under it any more. Also, the path to vcc seems rather tortuous.
Posting from the Library where they don't allow bare footed brats. Time to go anyhow.
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
Some owners of rental houses may add such on an exterior pole.
Some property owners don't but there are ways to add a temporary pole (fixed mount but on soil weighed by concrete block; better on an uncovered porch)
If yes, which version of Windows?
Windows 10 has metered connections that are meant for 4G (and such); don't know if that's available for Windows 7 and/or 8.
Windows 10 will "phone home" at 5m intervals other than for Windows 10 Enterprise (and Windows 10 Education?).
Windows 10 also has an instance authenticator process but its very low rate and volume.
IIRC, Windows 10 will also pull updates (typically these are large) unless Windows Update is configured "correctly" (you declare that, take the default, or a metered connection).
Some routers will take a USB 4G then throttle its connection.
Thanks for the KiCad review.
http://kicad-pcb.org/
"Dare to be naïve." - Buckminster Fuller
There is "back-annotate" in schematic.
Does a KiCad operator typically have both applications running?
http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/stable/en/eeschema.html#more-about-xsltproc
http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/stable/en/pcbnew.html
"Dare to be naïve." - Buckminster Fuller
Yes, it seems that the library for footprints is loaded each time you need it...nothing saves in a cache or on a local folder. That is silly, but I guess if you don't want to pay for a license then you have to play by their rules.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
This thread talks about how to configure KiCad for either of GitHub or Local libraries.
Metered NET connections would sensibly use Local copies.
https://forum.kicad.info/t/kicad...
Yes, KiCad by default uses online libraries, the user isn't given a choice during install and is not even informed what is going on - all of which I think was a dumb decision. There are a few ways to get local libraries, the easiest is probably to use KiCad itself, in the Footprint Libraries Wizard there is an option to make a local copy.
And no, you can't "pay for a license" :)
Bob. Engineer and trainee Rocket Scientist.
What I meant to say(poorly I admit) was pay for software that comes with a license, like Eagle, or DipTrace. I am going to have to avoid using my smartphone to post.
I am aware that KiCAD is freeware.
Yes, that is rather silly.
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
Ok, if you want to pay money for the privilege of local libraries you can also make a payment for KiCad development if you like :) https://giving.web.cern.ch/civic...
Bob. Engineer and trainee Rocket Scientist.
Nope, I purchased DipTrace and for what my needs were/are it is more than enough.
Cheers,
JIm
I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie
"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl
"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk
"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman
"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?" - Lee "theusch"
Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-) - Source Unknown
Please Read: Code-of-Conduct
Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user
I've always used FreePCB before.
I have a reply on the KiCad forum I might try when I have some time and internet access.
Posted from the library where barefooted brats aren't allowed. (I'm in disguise)
If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.
If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut.
I use altium designer 2009 version. I never switched to a newer one. It is very powerfull. The only problem I have is that the 3d design tool has some limitations. For some models I ask a friend's help that uses other 3d design tools. So I can import them in altium as .png. Does any body know if newer altium versions support more 3d design tools?
Michael.
User of:
IAR Embedded Workbench C/C++ Compiler
Altium Designer
EasyEDA
URL: https://easyeda.com/editor
OS: Mac, Linux, Windows and Android (Web-based/All Platforms Supported)
Description:
EasyEDA is a cloud-based PCB design software. This software allows the used to design schematics and PCB anytime, anywhere around the world.
tools include SCH and PCB editing, a huge library of symbols and components, project management and collaborative work. There's also ngspice based simulation tool and a community forum.
It can import Schematics and PCB Files form Eagle, Altium Designer, Kicad, LTspice.
It provides SVG source to preview Schematic, PCB Layout and Gerber file
It provides rich spice models to make simulation .
It provivdes simulation viewform viewer and gerber viewer.
It provides easy PCB order which saves your time to make sample PCB .
Every project you create on easyeda can be private, shared, or public.
EasyEDA tutorial: https://easyeda.com/Doc/Tutorial/
EasyEDA open source community: https://easyeda.com/explore
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