Schematic and PCB Layout Software Suggestions?

[RossWaddell]

I have a Mac so this site (http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.20/20.05/ElectronicHardware/index.html) was interesting but I really only need to produce the odd PCB and in single quantities. I do have Windows so I'm not going to limit myself to just Mac options, but is there a good, reasonably priced schematic > PCB layout (knows PICs, can do double-sided) that you all would recommend?

[dhouston]

I have not tried this (I have a Windows PCB app that I'm very happy with) but...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDA
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pcb/

[lester]

I run a MAC, i love it. BUT the best PCB design tools and routers seems to be Windows based, as do a few 9 growing smaller) number of other applications...PBP3 :-)

So for those Windows based applications that i cannot live without, i run Parallels Desktop and with the Windows applications in coherence mode, they sit on my Dock just like any other Mac app, I run Windows apps on my Mac and have the best of both worlds.

You might want to look at Design Spark its Free http://www.designspark.com/knowledge/pcb

[bodgetts]

I have been using DipTrace, it is for Windows and is free to use for moderately-sized boards:

http://www.diptrace.com

[suppernann]

I´ve been using Cadsoft EAGLE. The best PCB software in my eyes. Its easy to use for beginners.
More informations here: http://www.cadsoftusa.com/eagle-pcb-design-software/

[RossWaddell]

Thanks supermann. I found Eagle CadSoft a few months back and have been using it since. The schematic editor is great, once you figure out how to find the parts you need. As for the board layout editor, I'm finding it a bit tricky in terms of doing the traces and getting it ready for a PCB maker.

[timmers]

I use Easy PC. http://www.numberone.com/easypc.asp
Not too bad for the price and a free try before you buy.
The help desk is quite useful too. We do some pretty big/small designs on it, multi layer etc.

[mackrackit]

I agree with Lester
http://www.designspark.com/page/DesignSpark-PCB-Home-Page

[Heckler]

Kicad worked for me...
My first design... autorouter (web based) very effective.

bottom line ... they all have a VERY STEEP learning curve.

which ever one you choose, google for any associated guides/tutorials and take advantage of them.

good luck

[dhouston]

bottom line ... they all have a VERY STEEP learning curve.


Not all. Sprint Layout is inexpensive and has an extremely simple, intuitive interface. You can be doing complex layouts almost immediately. It's multilayer.

However, there is no integrated schematic capture and its autorouter is very rudimentary.

They have a demo version: http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html