PCB design software ?

Hi,

a. The dominat player in the OZ indistry is Aultium (formerly Protel) but it's a few thousand dollars.

Autorax is a very old free download version

b. Some Customers are using the free (limited version) of Egale PCB

c. Free KiCad, gEDA (opensoure or freeware) there may be others.

But there are many other.

You should check out the support forums for each to get more formulated opinion.

Regads Joe

It depends a lot on your requirements. I guess you are planning on printing out the pattern and making your own PCBs (see point 3 above). One I have come across that is very intuitive and has a reasonable component library is Novarm Diptrace. There are several versions available including freeware but limited to layers, pin / pad count and no gerber export.Very quick and easy to create custom components / footprints. Definitely worth a look. I haven't actually made any boards with this software yet but have had a bit of a play around with it.

PCB Wizard is another that is very quick and easy to get simple boards done, but one huge drawback....no SMT, only through hole.

I don't think you'd want to rely on the autoplace facility of either though, or autoroute unless it really doesn't matter where traces go :)

Really it's a matter of personal preference though and you do have a lot to choose from (dependent on your requirements).

James

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This looked fine for my (relatively simple) purpose, so I bought it !

taa

geoff

I like EagleCAD for all the above reasons.

Well done!. I usually agonise for a couple of days but following your fine upstanding lead, I've also 'gone for it' and bought the front panel designer, which I'd noticed only when copying the PCB link :)

is there one for making valve/tube circuits

thanks zack

Always on the lookout for new software so I took a look at abacom-onlines' Sprint-Layout 5.0 and found it pretty OK except for a few minor irritations.

I checked with the company that produces my PCDBs (PCBCart in China) and unfortunately they cannot use the files generated by this software - therefore it remains in the amateur ranks I suppose?

So its carry on with Protel 99SE (can't afford Protels new rival version!).

They say they can export to gerber and excellon. I haven't fond a pcb manufacturer in 15 years that can not make boards from those files.

Tony

Unfortunately you cannot export, print, convert etc. etc with the demo version to make sure its all good - you have to purchase the packge before you know for certain its full capabilities. I take your point re gerber. I have been designing ccts and pcbs since the days of making artwork using tape! - I recall how wonderfull it was to produce a PA amplifier using PCBs in 1962 - its was like rocket science then! How 'quickly' one could manufacture a complete product compared with point to point wiring. However I digress, sometimes the Chinese manufacturers have to be taken be the hand and have things spelt out carefully before they nod their head and say 'oh yes, we can do' and then generally do a fine job.

I use PCBCart with AutoTrax .pcb files. Their CAM software takes those old format files just fine.

EagleCAD exports to Gerber without any problems.

That is to be expected in a demo version I guess.

I take your point re gerber. I

I can relate to this :-)

However

Yes and their capabilities beat all the Aussie ones.

For simpler boards up to 6 layers I was always happy with Entech's results. They may have even improved by now.

In any case sending gerbers, excellon drill files and a master drawing with drill table and layer information (in pdf) was always enough.

Tony