What software are people using to draw their schematics?

[e.lectronick]

Nothing much more to ask. I've been itching to try out a couple ideas I'd like to show you guys. Is there a freeware or shareware program that most folks are using to draw the schematics I see posted on this board?

Thanks much.
-Erik.

 

[jwb]

The free version of eagle (http://www.cadsoft.de) has unlimited schematic capture, and can draw two-layer boards up to about 12 inches² or 80 cm²

 

[joensd]

I use LT Spice/Switcher Cad to draw schematics. In addition you can easily simulate circuits. Very handy, easy and small program.

Jens

 

[cHoc]

at kazaa you could find a complete version of Orcad 9.1.

 

[Lisandro_P]

EAGLE does it for me on Linux, and did it on Windows too. There are a couple of (supposedly) great opensource ones i've been willing to try for a while now too... like Gael, anyone?

 

[Brett]

I use a freeware app called Wobblyhand(tm)

 

[jwb]

EAGLE does it for me on Linux, and did it on Windows too. There are a couple of (supposedly) great opensource ones i've been willing to try for a while now too... like Gael, anyone?

Geal and GEDA are both terrible. I've been meaning to write a proper one for Linux, but 1) I have a million other open source projects already going, and 2) it's so much easier to write it on OS X.

Like you said, Eagle does it and $125 for the non-profit license is excellent.

 

[ashok]

Use Beigebag

Why don't you down load the trial version of Beige Bag at www.beigebag.com . You could draw great schematics and also do some simple simulations.
I bought the program and think it is great. It so easy to use . The learning curve is very fast. You could probably start drawing schematics very easily in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Try it .
Cheers.

 

[e.lectronick]

Wow, good stuff...

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the suggestions. I'm going to check out all of them and see which works best for me.

Of course, free is preferable, but this Eagle sounds like it's worth it too.

Up until now, I was actually considering drawing my schematics in ascii

here I don't know if this'll work but:
v+
\
/
\
|
|
______|/
|\
|
|
/
\
/

v-

 

[e.lectronick]

nope

dang

 

[jwb]

Re: nope


     V+
     |
     |
     |
     \
     /
     \ 3K13
     /
     \
     |
     |
     |
    GND

 

[Nelson Pass]

I know it's expensive, but we use PCAD for both schematics
and PC layout.

 

[nobody special]

I use PCAD for pcb design and Promis-E for machine schematics when doing real work. When I'm screwing around and should be working, I'm using freeware Circuitmaker student to do simulations. It really sucks for schematics though.

 

[Lisandro_P]

I also used Circuitmaker a lot, mainly for Q&D simulations. The analog results were fairly accurate, and the digital sims were a delight to use. Never bothered with it's PCB layout util though.

I wish EAGLE had a good sim

 

[ashok]

Sim for Eagle

Hi Lisandro,
You seemed to have missed out B2Spice from BeigeBag
( www.beigebag.com) . This sim software is designed to work with Eagle (and some others also I think).

You can buy B2Spice with Eagle from BeigeBag.
Check out their web site.
Cheers.

 

[Lisandro_P]

The thing is i switched to Linux, and i'd like to stay here Geda is supposed to be the best simulator out there but i haven't had a chance to try it. Besides, i really got accostumed to EAGLEs' schematic capture.

 

[jleaman]

Doesn't eagle work in Mac unix environment.

 

[planet10]

I use Vectorworks -- an excellent general purpose CAD program.

dave

 

[sss]

i use EWB for simulation

i think its a good simulation software but u cant make pcb's with it

 

[ukram]

I use CADint. They also have a limited free version. www.cadint.se