Gerber - PCB Layout Software??

[kevj]

Well if you think that most software that outputs Gerber is 'buggy' then it's time you stop playing with hobbyist software.

LOL. Interesting you say that.

It's actually our current outside contractor that's painted that picture - this is the stated reason the past couple designs we've handed them - simple one page schematics with 30 parts have turned into month long ordeals to get from trace layout in graphics software to Gerbers for the board house.

That didn't sound right to me either. I'm rather sure that using the right tools, it should be a pretty simple process.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm happy to look at any others and I'll check out the ones suggested.

[Tobias]

If you don't mind having to purchase your boards from a certain PCB Manufacturer, you can get PCBArtist for free from Advanced Circuits. I actually used it for about a year. It worked out great. I then moved to EasyPC. PCBArtist is very similiar to EasyPC.

[manxman]

I can strongly recommend DIPtrace. It has excellent linked schematic and PCB layout functions. My only criticism would be that library function and designing custom components is over-complicated. Otherwise, brilliant and the support is good.

[kevj]

Thanks everyone.

I ended up going with DipTrace for now. As manax said - I agree creating components is a bit harder than it probably needs to be, but the rest of the software seems very clean and easy to use. I'm running it on an old XP laptop and its sailing smooth. Thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

[Lajko]

I used PCB123 for schematic design and board layout. You can order boards right from the program.
Its free, but they make the boards. They do a nice job for a reasonable price. I've had to make and customize some components, but that is really easy to do. It does come with a very large library of components and footprints.

[RCTrepoman]

I have used Eagle from Cadsoft. It is easy to use and has a huge library of components. The free version has PCB size limitation, otherwise it is fully functional. Compared to other PCB programs tht output gerber files the single user version is realitivly inexpensive. Here is a link: http://www.cadsoft.de/

[FredStorke]

I have used P.C.Gerber for many years. It is DOS program that is graphics only, so it does not relate the layout to the schematic, but has the advantage of being excellent for microwave layout or chemical milling where the exact pattern is as important as the schematic. It works in the old Gerber 273 format, not the newer 273X. It outputs Gerber files directly so no conversion is required. It is very user friendly once you get the hang of it. Unfortunately I know of no instruction book so it's trial and error. It has two versions, a small one that is free (or it was free when the company still existed) and limits the size and a large version that requires a "dongle" on the parallel printer port. If someone wanted to create a software dongle, it is probably possible since those devices were relatively simple. Being a DOS program has the advantage that old DOS computers are easily obtainable for a few dollars. And since they aren't connected to the WEB they never have a virus, and the program has never hung up. It has a few minor bugs that are irritating, but not serious, and encountered very rarely. It makes files that are extremely small, for example I just created a step and repeat program for making some chemical milled sheet metal parts, and there were over 200,000 draws and the total file was 1.5 Megabytes, that zipped to 400 kilobytes. AutoCad converted to Gerber couldn't come close to doing that.

I've tried to get another copy and dongle on the web, but have had no luck so far. I have seen some versions for sale a few years ago, but not now.

Do you know anyone who can make a software dongle? That could make it available on the web.

Best of luck in your search.

FredStorke