New query for low cost PCB CAD that *works*

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the demo version, and again, it was totally useless. And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS Orcad even run - so that is out. PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable (Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it). So what is left?

Reply to
Robert Baer
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In article , Robert Baer writes

Vutrax is available free up to 256 pins, with various capacity options thereafter (pricing on website). You can download the whole thing as manageable sized downloads totalling about 10MB, including a detailed hands-on tutorial viewed in an HTML browser and a range of libraries and interface modules from

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(Main UK site)
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(Central Europe Mirror)

The basic package includes Schematic Capture, Technical Drawing, Auto-placement, Auto-routers, Groundplanes, Powerplanes, Design Checking, EMC, multitudinous outputs. Available for Windows 95 through XP (x64 by arrangement) and Linux.

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Roy Battell.
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Reply to
Roy Battell

Thanks, will give it a try.

Reply to
Robert Baer

Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle

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Uwe Bonnes                bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik  Schlossgartenstrasse 9  64289 Darmstadt
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Reply to
Uwe Bonnes

Since you don't like Eagle and you want something low cost, you might want to try out WinQCad from

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The 499 pin version is free. I use the schematic editor frequently, and I've found it to be easy to use and stable. I have an old version of Protel that I prefer for pcb layout, so I can't speak for the pcb layout part of it.

Reply to
PH

I heard Eagle is pretty good.

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John Devereux
Reply to
John Devereux

Try Kicad. Find it here:

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Ian

Reply to
Ian Bell

Hello Robert,

C'mon, what irked you there? I switched from OrCad to Eagle and it took very little time to figure it out. The only thing that I find a bit clumsy versus OrCad is the library editor. That has a long learning curve and doesn't offer a non-graphical parts generator.

Other than that I was drawing the first schematic within an hour after download. Another few days of kicking tires won me over and I bought a license.

Cadsoft is one of the very few companies who set up usenet type forums for support and exchange between users. You can even pick the language. Makes me wonder how many more parts TI or National would sell if they did that.

Regards, Joerg

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Reply to
Joerg

Excuse me, did i not say that Eagle does not work (twice burned that way)???

Reply to
Robert Baer

Robert,

Computers are remarkably consistent in what they do, geographically. If it doesn't work for you, it is likely that you are using some strange combination of software and hardware. What operating system are you using, and about how old is your computer?

-Chuck

Reply to
Chuck Harris

I do understand that a number of people are lucky enough to have it work - but both times i tried it, i could not add parts or delete parts. I wasted a lot of time on each occasion downloading the progra, etc and trying to do anything with it (besides waste time), and got nowhere. That is why i excluded Eagle in my request.

Reply to
Robert Baer

Thanks, will check it out.

Reply to
Robert Baer

Thanks; added it to my growing list.

Reply to
Robert Baer

Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it? If it worked / works for you, great. It was worse than worthless for me.

Reply to
Robert Baer

If you're a little adventerous, there's always gEDA - which is absolutely free and has no design limits, although running it on a windows machine might be tricky (it's designed for linux/unix).

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I know of at least one person who used gEDA's PCB layout software to do a 24 layer board, and it supports up to 32x32 inches at 0.01 mil resolution.

Reply to
DJ Delorie

So tell us exactly what you do and perhaps we can help you.

Remember that the free version chokes to put anything outside the 100x80 mm allowed area.

Bye

--
Uwe Bonnes                bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik  Schlossgartenstrasse 9  64289 Darmstadt
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Reply to
Uwe Bonnes

Are you or Stuart in touch with Ales? Any idea how the latest Windows port is coming?

Reply to
JeffM

Yeah, we're all on the mailing lists. I work primarily on the PCB layout program, so if you're asking about the other tools you'll have to check the archives or ask on the mailing list.

Reply to
DJ Delorie

Hello Robert,

I have no problem adding and deleting parts in Eagle.

Regards, Joerg

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Reply to
Joerg

Lemme see now; i run different OSes, on different drives, and prefer to use Win2000, and i have a P5-2200 (GenuineIntel x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7); 1Gbte RAM.

Reply to
Robert Baer

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