Making PCB, best software

[LinkMTech]

Sprint Layout is inexpensive ($56) and very intuitive. IMO it's the best available for the price.

• http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html

Dave, does this program allow you to make a curved PCB? I have one application for a key fob.


I use Express PCB and Pad2Pad free schematic and PCB programs but have to purchase the PCBs from them. The prices and product are good but I would have to pay an additional fee for the Gerber files if I needed them.

[dhouston]

Dave, does this program allow you to make a curved PCB? I have one application for a key fob

You should be able to do that although I've never tried anything like that. Why don't you email them a picture or even d/l the demo software? I have done radii on silkscreens.

• http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/demoversionen.html

You can do an equilateral polygon and then split the track at any of its vertices. that would let you build an arc of short segments.

There's also an Import Bitmap function that would probably fit your needs. Again, I've never had the need so I've not tried it.

[LinkMTech]

Thanks Dave,
I downloaded and tried the demo version. It is possible to create the same PCB using 4 different size circles in their correct positions then moving the segments to intersect with each other.
I'm gonna check out some of these others mentioned too.