FREE FULL FEATURE PCB LAYOUT W/AUTOROUTE

[Sean_Goddard]

Go here >> http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=pcb&cm_sp=Homepage-uk-_-designSpark-_-Secondary-Banner << and get it.

SWEET!!!

OR you could "google" "SONSIVRI", it's up to you.

[Qiaozhi]

Go here >> http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=pcb&cm_sp=Homepage-uk-_-designSpark-_-Secondary-Banner << and get it.

SWEET!!!

OR you could "google" "SONSIVRI", it's up to you.

Looks pretty slick!
But the best thing is that runs under Ubuntu using WINE. To be fair I've only had a cursory glance, but most Windoze programs either break during the installation, or everything goes horribly wrong quite soon after it starts. Looking good so far.

I particularly like the panning with the middle button. Most PCB programs are poor in this respect. But the example schematic that is displayed at the start has some capacitors marked as 1mF, which presumably should be 1uF. Anyway, I'll see how it goes on Ubuntu before commiting it to the Windoze box.

[Rov]

download from design spark,71Mb correct?will give it a try,Thanks for the Link!
Cheers! Rov

[moodz]

Looks pretty slick!
But the best thing is that runs under Ubuntu using WINE. To be fair I've only had a cursory glance, but most Windoze programs either break during the installation, or everything goes horribly wrong quite soon after it starts. Looking good so far.

I particularly like the panning with the middle button. Most PCB programs are poor in this respect. But the example schematic that is displayed at the start has some capacitors marked as 1mF, which presumably should be 1uF. Anyway, I'll see how it goes on Ubuntu before commiting it to the Windoze box.

my 2 cents ... Eagle works fine under WINE.

[Tinkerer]

To offer a free full feature, unrestricted PCB layout is a splendid marketing strategy of RS. I am sure this will become the trend.

The world of marketing is changing fast. The businesses that stay in the forefront will be the winners. The ones who stay attached to obsolete marketing strategies will fade away.

I have downloaded the " http://www.designspark.com/" software and am giving it a fair try.

I will also include RS Components "http://uk.rs-online.com/web/", who offer this free PCB layout, in my list of favorite suppliers for future parts orders.

Tinkerer

And, many thanks Sean, for the link.

[simonbaker]

thanks

Thanks Sean! This looks like a great find.

We'll see how easy for me to learn...

-SB

[Eddy71]

Thanks Sean! This looks like a great find.
We'll see how easy for me to learn...
-SB

http://www.pcb123.com/

[simonbaker]

http://www.pcb123.com/

My god, an embarassment of riches! Anybody got time to compare all these? Does this one have a schematic capture program?

Sometimes these free products are great for sending your design to their manufacturing process, but not as flexible for do-it-yourself.

I use PCBExpress. It is good, but a couple of limitations. Some limitations in printing the PCB, no "mirror" printing which can have some uses. Also you can't import an image of a PCB as a background to copy.

-SB

[Qiaozhi]

my 2 cents ... Eagle works fine under WINE.

Interesting ... I haven't tried Eagle in Linux. Or perhaps I did, in the past, and it wasn't successful.
I'll put it on the list for testing.

[simonbaker]

PCB123 - buggy?

I just opened PCB123 and went to main schematic tab.

Do a component search for ".22 capacitor" and it crashes program (search by right-click on taxonomy tree root, or use search inside "Add Part" button).

Can anyone verify? Maybe bad download?

-SB

[moodz]

Interesting ... I haven't tried Eagle in Linux. Or perhaps I did, in the past, and it wasn't successful.
I'll put it on the list for testing.

... 4 cents now .... LTSpice does as well ..... ..

[Qiaozhi]

I just opened PCB123 and went to main schematic tab.

Do a component search for ".22 capacitor" and it crashes program (search by right-click on taxonomy tree root, or use search inside "Add Part" button).

Can anyone verify? Maybe bad download?

-SB

Yes, it crashes for me as well.

[simonbaker]

difficult so far

I'm finding PCB123 and DesignSpark both difficult so far in terms of locating parts. They seem to be "manufacturer-centric", in that I don't see how to locate a part unless you know the manufacturer code. Part descriptions seem lacking also... I searched for 7808 and got some hits, but when selecting the part, all I see is the footprint, but no description of what it is.

I'll keep trying since I'd like to see how the autoroute feature works, and I like the idea of two-way editing, where the PCB and schematic are kept in tight sync.

PCBExpress tools so far are easiest for me to whip up a schematic, but they cannot export netlists and formats to interface with other tools.

-SB

[simonbaker]

PCB123 seems immature product in many ways. Parts list very incomplete. Not even have basic transistors. Generic transistor only in TO 92 form factor. Seems they put more effort into ordering system and links to Digikey.

DesignSpark more intuitive, but still I'm having problems. Found a 2N2907 transistor and looks OK, but when I try to draw wires, get "net class" problem, don't understand. Will keep trying.

PCB123 says it is used by MIT etc, but they must customize parts I imagine. Also many buttons and items that badly need flyover text don't have it. Maybe will be better in a year or two.

However, I wait for others to say it is good and I'll keep trying.

-SB

[minime]

Hi to all!
DesignSpark is a real excellent program, as in reality is the wellknown Easy-PC from Number-One Systems (WestDev Ltd now). EasyPC PCB CAD is one of the first PCB CADs made (at 80's) and has proved its value all of these years! Most of the later pcb cad's have based their primary "knowledge" on it! There was even a period that the similarity of the Boardmaker with old DOS EasyPC at early 90's was unbelievable! A rumour was that the Boardmaker was created by soem of the EasyPC designers that have left the company at late 80's and did a new company. Don't know if that's true but the 2 programs seemed identical at the first period! And EasyPC was for sure by far the older one...
To work around it is easy, but as is always the case with everything new in our personal view, you'll need to do some reasearch first! All the above mentioned "problems" that I saw, can be easily overpassed if you devote some time to see every library contents before starting to search for a compnent. For example as is on EasyPC the standard linear Voltage regulators (78xx & 79xx) on DesignSpark can be found at the Library named "Hybrid.cml".
NET CLASS is something that you can define (if you haven't upload an example and then modify the design to see how it acts) by deciding if the net you want to add is normal signal, power signal or ground signal, etc. That is also related to the use of a min/max allowable trace (track) width when you convert NETs to tracks on a PCB. You can just define one NET class and work everything with that setting. But you can also make NET classes for every signal type in your design (ie, digital path, analog, power, RF, etc). Then you can also subdivide the NET class tracks in different min/max widths. That is a usefull setting if you want the Autorouter to be able to arrange the tracks widths by special demands and make it easier for it to work aound a heavy populated PCB, with tight spacings left for track routing. Take a tour at the Technology file settings. That can be viewed by opening "Settings" and selecting "Design Technology" from it. A screen will open that allows you to add/change any NET/TRACK/PAD & Text style you want! Remember that NET CLASS is general setting of NET types will be used in a design, while NET is a specific net setting for making different subclasses with min/max track widths & names!