PCB layout and schematic software

[Steve001]

Just found out today that auto desk have purchase eagle.

Will be keeping an eye out on this as auto desk products can be very expensive, they say nothing will change but I will be keeping an eye out

https://cadsoft.io/blog/autodesk-acquires-eagle/

Steve

[Steve001]

have been keeping an eye out over the last few weeks / months
There seams to be a lot of negative comments and activity on an Eagle support forum (not autodesk) saying that the licence key as partly generated by network cards Mac address / cpu serial numbers and hard drive serial number and that autodesk are not very sympathetic with a "buy a new licence" attitude if anything changes ie upgrade to a new laptop or pc.

easy pc has been recommended by a few from numberone systems.

Have eagle V8 free edition as a try out but think i will stay with V6

Steve

[EtsDriver]

I personally have changed my mind and moved to Altium CircuitStudio after Autodesk announced that they have aquired Eagle. Im not just happy about the new licensing system and as i was middle of need to change my licenses to be commerial, i bought Altium... Altium support team has been pretty easy to get contacted through Farnell and the phone support has helped a lot when i was middle a tricky situation that was all about running with clock. 5/5... There is a freeware piece that is called Altium Circuit Maker, that is mostly similar to the Altium Circuit Studio too, but has some limits!

Here is a example 3D view of a pcb i have desinged in Altium CS:

[Steve001]

Afternoon All,

looking at PCB software again, must say I am very disappointed in Autodesk and their attitude to things we have a few Autodesk products at work
inventor, AutoCAD mechanical & electrical.
We don't make many PCBs and looked at eagle 9.4 to find that they have gone subscription biased now at about £14.00 month.
After downloading the free version I opened up 3 component libraries that I use regular to find they are the same as I have and had not changed the date was 2012 - disappointed.

can anyone recommend something ? 3D would be nice if you can export this into a .stp file so we can import into inventor

I do use the following parts

Traco & XP Power (ACDC & DCDC Convertors)

JST Terminals 2mm pitch (PHDR series)

Phoenix contact terminals (MKDSV5/2 series)

Steve

[medelec35]

What about Kicad along with Library loader?

[Steve001]

Cheers martin

Will look into those - Library Loader looks interesting do you use that ?
I noticed on there you tube video that they use Design Spark didn't know that could do 3D now
Can i ask what you are using these days ?

Steve

[EtsDriver]

I earlier mentioned Altium Circuit Studio, it has .step export natively and you can download components from mouser to It directly if not intrested in building own checked library.

Phoenix has pretty good library on samacsys for Altium. Most are Community or in-house checked.

[medelec35]

Library Loader looks interesting do you use that ?

Yes I use it as it's very useful.
For example:
If I need to use 18f47k40, I first run Library loader then select my PCB package:

LL1.png

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Then search for component:

LL2.png

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Note: It automatically takes you to RS or Mouser depending on your selection when first ran Library Loader.
Finally, download the required component:

LL3.png

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Saves having to create a component from scratch.
There is even a free component request service if component does not exist.

Can i ask what you are using these days ?

I'm licenced to use Proteus, so mainly use that.
If I was not, then from all I have read I would use Kicad.

You can download plugins that allow direct imports to the PCB libraries.
My library Loader is a bit out of date now, should install the latest version

[kersing]

After using Altium Designer, Eagle and Design Spark PCB in the past, last year I started using Kicad for a commercial project. I had looked at it a long time ago and decided to stick to what I was using at the time but this time I was pleasantly surprised with its capabilities and decided to keep using it for the project.
For huge complex projects (and given sufficient budget) I would probably go back to Altium. Especially if FPGAs are involved because of its integrated support for FPGA design. For everything else (or if there just in’t the money for Altium licenses) I expect Kicad will be my choice from now.

[Steve001]

Thanks guys

I think I will give it a go to be honest was a bit put off with kicad as I read that eagle users tend to struggle as they are used to the qwerks of eagle.

Watched a you tube on library loader and was quiet impressed with it.
After speaking with the pheonix contact rep today he told me quite a lot of their stuff is on ultra libraian he had not herd of library loader

Will let you know how I get on

Steve

[Steve001]

Sorry for the late reply on this one ..

in a nut shell, wish I had tried Kicad
When I tried to use the ULP to export to a .stp 3D model the ""Preview" looks fantastic and can export straight into inventor
Then when you click "go" a box appears .. you need to purchase this add in £££££ the exported model wouldn't import to inventor and what was exported in a .stp when opened up was very blocky and didn't look anything like the resistors where just rectangles the caps just cylinders

Fantastic how 2 auto desk products don't work together ! or you have to shell out mega money

I ended up exporting the board only as a .dxf and populating the components by hand in inventor

Library Loader - Brilliant
And they helpful also, I made a comment on some pad sizes on a high current terminal and they changed the model within 24 hours

Steve

[medelec35]

Hi Steve.
You can install a plugin to FreeCAD which imports Kicad PCB:

Kicad LCD Board.png

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Then convert it directly to .step:

LCD Display Generated Step File.png

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There is an option to directly export to .step within Kicad, but does not work well at all.

[Steve001]

Hi Martin

oooooooooooo i wonder if you can do that with eagle files ?

might have to give it a whirl later

Steve

[medelec35]

oooooooooooo i wonder if you can do that with eagle files ?

If not Kicad can import Eagle files.

[Steve001]

Just had a look,

Looks like freecad can import eagle .brd files but the freecad forums have mixed reviews about importing eagle .brd files and the success rate
might have a go later when I have more time.

Steve

[Steve001]

Evening All,

Just found out today from our Autodesk Rep.

Eagle is going to be part of the "Fusion" sweet of programs and will be cloud biased now and not available as a stand alone program.
He was not able to answer me on if my custom ulp for the silk screen, or library loader will work online, but i doubt it.

Has anybody tried this yet ?

Steve

[colinli]

I've been using proteus and I think it works very well and is very convenient.

[FCCHow]

I have been using EaglePCB (free version) since a decade ago just for fun as it is quite easy to jump into. I was looking something much more comprehensive such as Proteus. Then just a few years ago, I discovered that a certain PCB manufacturer from China has some files which enables you to convert your Eagle files into formats used by professional Software. Long before that, I was using EasyPC by NumberOne Systems and looking back it recently, it has really grown.

And so, I stuck to it and was able to more or less learn and to get it to do what I needed it to. The version I am using is Version 7.7, which is the final version before it was bought over by AutoDesk and went to Cloud. Through some videos, I can make my own custom devices from datasheets. Although it has an Autorouter function, I did not use them unless the circuit it complicated.

As a hobbyist, I do find the EaglePCB software quite sufficient since my circuits are usually not that complicated. I have uploaded two images but I must apologise in advance at their quality since I do not want to hog up server space and thus adjusted the quality to reduce the file size. This design was done almost two years ago, using three PICs and some component modification. It was also the last 2-layer board design before I gave in to Eagle's Autorouter. I am going to miss the part I love when designing a PCB; manually placing tracks and components. But somehow, there are other things that needs my attention nowadays, so I need to get this stage done as quickly as possible.

[AbhijitR]

Hello!

Small information from me if it is helpful to someone, since last 7 odd years i am using DipTrace, i found this very easy to use, no doubt after few months, i also created my own components/footprints, attached are few pictures of one of the PCB's i designed recently using the same, it is a panel of 4 PCB.

Abhi

[medelec35]

Some more great information & excellent PCB designs.
Thank you for sharing.

[AbhijitR]

Thank you Martin.

Actually credit goes to Elektor Electronics Magazine, i am fortunate to have/own many old issues which were imported those days from UK, the PCB designs from those magazines were inspiration to me.

[chipfryer27]

Hi

Thanks to all that shared their schematics, boards and opinions. Very helpful when evaluating. We are close to starting a new project and of course the subject of software arose. The top end is expensive for a reason and if you need those reasons then that's where you will go. However even the more modest stuff is now getting pricey too. It's not only the software cost but the learning curve if changing, which in my opinion keeps people tied to "what they know". In saying that, there are some very good free programs like the already mentioned KiCad which are very capable and as there is no actual outlay, the time to learn perhaps isn't as stressful <s>

Elektor.... I used to enjoy that magazine very much indeed but when it went digital I gave up. I can't really get on with reading magazines on tablets or such like. I did take out a digital subscription which allowed me to download many years of back issues (I most likely bought the hard copies when they first came out too) but although grabbing them I've yet to read them....

I think the first electronics magazine I bought was Everyday Electronics. It was advertised on TV informing you could build your own ultrasonic remote control for your garage (or such like). Of course this was in the 70's and what kid wouldn't want to build one despite their parents not even having a car let alone a garage <s>

Regards

[kersing]

Elektor is still available on paper. The digital edition is an additional format not the only option.

[chipfryer27]

Hi Kersing

I did not know that. I have never seen it in any of our newsagents for at least seven years or so, probably more.

Perhaps it went subscription only?

Thanks for letting me know, I'm going to explore further

Regards

[stefan.erni]

Hi to All

I downloaded and tried DipTrace. After few minutes I think DipTrace is a fast and good program.

I'm always working with the Altium Designer (it's a little expensive) but very nice to work.
I had a look if there is a freeware from Altium for Hobbyist and found one
I also tested this freeware CircuitMaker and was surprised at the huge library of schematic symbols and footprints.
You need to create an account and you can just do 5 project...... or you share it. So it's a cloud version.
For a PCB with few connector or a Microchip or ESP32 or what ever, I think it's all there and easy to use.

regards

Stefan


https://www.altium.com/circuitmaker


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