Making PCB, best software

[mackrackit]

I still like Kicad
http://kicad.sourceforge.net/wiki/Main_Page

[ofuzzy1]

I'll vote for KI-Cad -- no board size limits and FREE decent size library
Took 4 hours to LEARN & make first PCB.
Download the FREE JAVA autorouter, it is really amazing.


Eagle has some really weird key / mouse strokes.
i.e to highlight an area you need click the block highlight button, then highlight the area, then tell what you want to do [normal], then do it, then tell it again that you really wanted to do it.

One thing for sure
They all have quirks :lol:

[lester]

You may want to investigate DesignSpark

http://www.designspark.com/knowledge/pcb

its free, its commercial grade and its fully funded by RS Components.

[tenaja]

Eagle is great for precision, but has a high learning curve.

Ares is considerably easier, with a lower learning curve...but requires purchase.


If you are doing it for hobby stuff, on a hobby price, then find one that has a learning curve proportional to your expected use. If you want to use it once, and that's it, then get the simplest thing you can. Make sure you get DRC, though. (That's Design Rule Checking; it looks for errors in spacing.)

[Charlie]

Over the last few years I've been using WinQcad for both personal and professional projects. I found it easy to learn, and it's free up to quite a large size - I've never had a project too big for the free version. If you get stuck, you do need to buy it in order to get support, but the cost is quite small compared to other professional grade stuff (don't get turned off by the amateurish icons). It does nice schematic capture, comes with a large library of devices and footprints, an amazing auto-router, and it generates the Gerber files most board shops prefer, or acurate PDFs if you want to roll your own.
Details here: http://www.winqcad.com/features.html
Highly recommended by a happy user that has no association with the company.

[Demon]

Over the last few years I've been using WinQcad for both personal and professional projects. I found it easy to learn, and it's free up to quite a large size - I've never had a project too big for the free version. ...
Details here: http://www.winqcad.com/features.html
Highly recommended by a happy user that has no association with the company.

I've been using an old version for quite some time; Qcad v28.3. I found it very easy to learn and it was my introduction into electronics. Now I make double-sided PCBs with it.

The free version works up to 500 pins, no other limitation, autorouter included.

The new payware version is expensive though; $400 for 1000 pins, $800 for unlimitted pins. A little too rich for my blood.

[Heckler]

I took Mackrackit's suggestiona and went with KiCAD... I tried eagle and diptrace without much success.

There is a pretty active discussion group on ... http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users

It really boils down to which ever program you choose, you are going to have to invest a few hours working through several tutorials and learn the software.

KiCAD seems to be quite capable. It has a link to an external router that is amazing (and fun to watch). The built in router required several vias on a double sided board. But the external router got rid of them all. KiCAD maintains separate schematic and PCB Pad libraries. So, for example, you can just choose a SPDT switch for your schematic. Then when you layout the board you choose (or build your own) the correct PCB pad layout for your specific physical switch dimentions. I myself like that. Which ever one you choose, you should google "KiCAD Tutorial" or "Dip Trace Tutorial", etc. etc. They all have tutorials available. Also check YouTube for video tutorials.

Good Luck

[Charlie]

I've been using an old version for quite some time; Qcad v28.3. I found it very easy to learn and it was my introduction into electronics. Now I make double-sided PCBs with it.

The free version works up to 500 pins, no other limitation, autorouter included.

The new payware version is expensive though; $400 for 1000 pins, $800 for unlimitted pins. A little too rich for my blood.

WOW, you're right! The last time I bought the pay version (I had a technical question) it was $25. I guess he decided to make a business out of it. At any rate, 500 pins still covers all my needs, so the free version would be fine, or my paid version which I think is 51.7.