Best PCB Design Software for £1K

simon dart · 12:02 PM

I'm after some advice for a friend (seriously!). He needs some reasonable PCB design software with schematic to PCB connectivity, he doesn't need auto-routing. DXF output of the PCB would be good. User friendliness is important, as he needs to get up to speed fairly quickly. Up to £1000 is possible. Any suggestions appreciated.

Hurtig · 12:21 PM

I did some layout in Eagle from CADsoft some years ago. It seems quite user friendly, and there are tons of tutorials online.

It does have limitations comapred to systems like Protel/Altium, Mentor Graphic and so. But again... these are totally out of range (price) and not that user friendly.

http://www.cadsoftusa.com/prices.htm

marce · 1st October 2009, 12:57 PM

What is the technology/complexity that is going to be designed.
Ie SMD, number of components/pads, number of connections, size of boards etc.
Preferable output for having boards manufactured would be RS-274X (extended Gerber) or second RS-274 (basic gerber).
I would second Eagle as probably the only one thats gonna come near on price range though

simon dart · 1st October 2009, 01:01 PM

Mostly through hole technology, although SMD might be used. Board size up to 400x200mm ish! Easy PC any good?

tvicol · 1st October 2009, 01:16 PM

http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html

Regards,
Tibi

Chris Jennings · 1st October 2009, 01:16 PM

Hi.

I use Easy PC at work and have no troubles with it, but i have limited experience to compare it to anything else. If you are going to do a lot of SMD the optional SMD library saves a lot of time. The standard (included) auto router is not much cop though.

Chris

Hurtig · 1st October 2009, 01:19 PM

How often are you gonna use this?? Only once?? Then you might consider asking one of us to do it for you

Hurtig · 1st October 2009, 01:22 PM

This should also be OK: http://www.freepcb.com/

And it's totally free!!

tvicol · 1st October 2009, 01:24 PM

http://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/kicad/
free, opensource, multiplatform.

Regards,
Tibi

Hurtig · 1st October 2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvicol

http://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/kicad/
free, opensource, multiplatform.

Regards,
Tibi

Wow.... Looks NICE!!

1st October 2009, 11:51 AM	#1
simon dart diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Herefordshire	Best PCB Design Software for £1K I'm after some advice for a friend (seriously!). He needs some reasonable PCB design software with schematic to PCB connectivity, he doesn't need auto-routing. DXF output of the PCB would be good. User friendliness is important, as he needs to get up to speed fairly quickly. Up to £1000 is possible. Any suggestions appreciated. __________________ All generalizations are false, including this one. Last edited by simon dart; 1st October 2009 at 12:02 PM.

1st October 2009, 12:12 PM	#2
Hurtig diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denmark - Århus	I did some layout in Eagle from CADsoft some years ago. It seems quite user friendly, and there are tons of tutorials online. It does have limitations comapred to systems like Protel/Altium, Mentor Graphic and so. But again... these are totally out of range (price) and not that user friendly. http://www.cadsoftusa.com/prices.htm Last edited by Hurtig; 1st October 2009 at 12:21 PM.

1st October 2009, 01:01 PM	#4
simon dart diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Herefordshire	Mostly through hole technology, although SMD might be used. Board size up to 400x200mm ish! Easy PC any good? __________________ All generalizations are false, including this one.

1st October 2009, 01:16 PM	#5
tvicol vicol-audio.ro diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bucharest	http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html Regards, Tibi __________________ Vicol-Audio Vicol-Audio products

1st October 2009, 01:24 PM	#9
tvicol vicol-audio.ro diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bucharest	http://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/kicad/ free, opensource, multiplatform. Regards, Tibi __________________ Vicol-Audio Vicol-Audio products


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1st October 2009, 12:57 PM	#3
marce diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blackburn, Lancs	What is the technology/complexity that is going to be designed. Ie SMD, number of components/pads, number of connections, size of boards etc. Preferable output for having boards manufactured would be RS-274X (extended Gerber) or second RS-274 (basic gerber). I would second Eagle as probably the only one thats gonna come near on price range though

1st October 2009, 01:16 PM	#6
Chris Jennings diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southampton	Hi. I use Easy PC at work and have no troubles with it, but i have limited experience to compare it to anything else. If you are going to do a lot of SMD the optional SMD library saves a lot of time. The standard (included) auto router is not much cop though. Chris

1st October 2009, 01:19 PM	#7
Hurtig diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denmark - Århus	How often are you gonna use this?? Only once?? Then you might consider asking one of us to do it for you

1st October 2009, 01:22 PM	#8
Hurtig diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denmark - Århus	This should also be OK: http://www.freepcb.com/ And it's totally free!!

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