Simple PCB design software

[seanvn]

Normally I use MS Paint and IrfanView to design PCB's. I use IrfanView to change the .bmp image file to 50DPI and also to print out the result at true scale.
I have just found some software to design PCB's that looks easy to use (in contrast to the extremely complex professional products).
Suigyodo online
If and when I design another PCB maybe I'll give it a try

[CharlieLaub]

I am a novice pcb designer, but have been using Target3001! to design a couple of boards. I was able to learn the software quickly, and I like it alot. It includes a couple of different auto routers.

Check it out here:
PCB Software, PCB CAD, PCB design, TARGET 3001! Schematic and PCB Design Software, Layout CAD, 3D, Freeware, Schaltplan und Platinen CAD/CAE, Simulation, Autorouter, Front Panel, Frontplatte, 3D Druck, Bestückung, Assembly

-Charlie

[nigelwright7557]

PCBCAD software varies from free to tens of thousands of pounds.

Clearly simple pcb's can be done using picture drawing software.
Larger pcb's really need something with lots of error checking.
Nothing worse than getting a pcb that doesnt work only to find a silly mistake.

[masnsn]

I Would recommend Eagle PCB designer from Cadsoft

Download - Get the latest Version of EAGLE PCB Design Software

And here is my tutorials serie about eagle to help you quick start

1. eagle intro.mp4 - YouTube

You can also follow me on my facebook page

Electronics for all | Facebook

[mincior]

A very beginner Sprint Layout 50 tutor is presented at : PCB for beginners | Electronic City

[richie00boy]

I cannot recommend Sprint-Layout highly enough. You can be designing a PCB in minutes, so easy to use and simple and sensible design. Very cheap as well.

Sprint-Layout

[diarav]

I recommend Eagle PCB. I have been using it succesfully for the last 5 years for my small projects. I found the Eagle component database good.
Of course I do add some additional editing/patch-up on the PCB layout using MSPaint. There have been instances where I have created two separate PCBs on Eagle and joined them as one using MSPaint.

[arlabstech]

Hiii,

There are many pcb design softwares, at professional level you can use ORCAD, Mentorgraphics PADS but they all come with pricetags as they are paid softwares.

For freewares you can use ExpressPCB, PCB123, FreePCB, smartdraw. They are easy to use as well as freewares.


Regards
ARLABSTECH

[Tom88]

I recommend CADSOFT's EAGLE, too.
In the last couple of years I was searching for the right interface to use, and since I discovered Eagle, I never switched again.
If you need some help, training or Tutorials, you can go and learn how to use PCB Software , that was also very helpful for me.

[jcx]

I encourage people new to electronics to learn point-to-point prototyping techniques - many industry test fixtures on production lines are built this way, expected to be "permanent" solutions where only 1-2 copies of the circuit is needed

Pease' “air ball”, works at low frequency – some audio, can find beautiful pics of Gain Clones with parts secured to the chip's leads in the air, perf boards, gnd plane “dead bug”, “surf board”... http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sullivan/prototyping.pdf


go to pcb if you need more channels/boards have high parts count or want to become a pcb fab hobbyist

there are lots of threads - but as long as we're redoing the list - KiCad is one of the free/open versions with fairly active development

but I tried it years ago, found Eagle quicker to learn, Eagle had usably comprehensive libraries

this was also before KiCad wrote the model import tool