New query for low cost PCB CAD that *works*

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

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.

Thanks, will give it a try.

Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle

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

I heard Eagle is pretty good.

Try Kicad. Find it here:

Ian

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

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

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

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.

Thanks, will check it out.

Thanks; added it to my growing list.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

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.

Hello Robert,

I have no problem adding and deleting parts in Eagle.

Regards, 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.