PCB Software

[scraggles]

I haven't laid out a PCB for 12 years or more when I used to use sticky track tape and pads

What software do you guys use? What file formats should I be looking at? I understand production shops want layouts in a gerber format, but what is best for circuit entry?

 

[ppfred]

Hi,

Give these two a look.

Trial software with almost no restrictions:
http://www.holophase.com/

Full feature and free with no restrictions:
http://www.kov.com/

pf

 

[JDeV]

Here's some more:

I like this 1:

http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm/Download.htm


Or pick 1 of these:

http://www.qfilter.com/pcb.html

 

[scraggles]

Thanks for these guys,

I've tried the 1st three and as I'm running Linux I can get ExpressPCB running (under a Wine emulator). I'm going to have a go with that and then move on to some of the ones in the 4'th link. Failing all else, I'll maybe consider installing Windows (shudder!!)
Many thanks

 

[dhaen]

Ah, if it's Linux...

Scraggles,

Try Eagle: http://www.cadsoft.de/
There are Linux and Windows versions available, and their work-files are compatible.
A limited version: (non profit, 100 x 80 mm 2 layers) is available free.
Enhanced versions are also available at good prices.

Cheers,

 

[sam9]

Check www.vutrax.cu.uk

Free version has only one restriction: it is limited to 256 pins.

Advantages: Professional, industrial strength product, I've never encountered a bug. On-line documentation and tutorial. Runs quickly and smoothly on 433Mhz PC with WinXP. High quality printing and plotting. Outputs Gerber and Excellon files.

Disadvantage: Longish learning curve, While everything works as described by on-line documentation and tutorial, more application specific examples would be nice. Spice not included but can interface to third part packages.

 

[sdman]

PCB 123

Has anyone tried the PCB 123 software?

http://www.pcb123.com/

 

[JDeV]

Re: PCB 123

Has anyone tried the PCB 123 software?

http://www.pcb123.com/

Yes , I did. Did not like it much, still prefer Eagle. It was very easy to learn, had no experience with design software before, got good libraries and alot of features.

 

[jwb]

For Linux use Eagle. The free version is great and the 4-layer version is not too expensive. The manufacturing output is garbage, so I usually use some Perl scripts to fix it up before sending to pcbexpress.

For the Gerber files that Eagle spits out, you will need gerbv from the g-eda project. Again, I have some Perl scripts I use to panellize Gerber segments into larger boards to get around Eagle's board size limit.