Im sure this has been covered but I cannot find anything...Is there a repository of PCB files for LM3886 and TDA72xx series chips? Also what do you all recommend for an easy and free PCB software for designing PCB layouts. I have downloaded ExpressPCB and Design Spark and both seem complicated for novice designers
KiCAD would be an option, though, if Express PCB is too complicated, I'm not sure how to help. While Express PCB isn't the most intuitive piece of software out there, it is extremely simple compared to the pro CAD packages. I suggest familiarizing yourself with the workflow of a good CAD package (I'd look at KiCAD). Once you know how to use it, you can do powerful stuff.
Tom
Tom
I have learned to use it but how do you print the pcb traces for ironing onto copper boards? It only lets you print a screenshot
The output of most layout programs is GERBER files.
These are files that board shops use to manufacture the boards.
Then you print those using a GERBER viewer. (like Viewmate)
Printing to a PDF can work. PDFs can generally be wrangled to print exactly 1:1 onto the paper or film, so you can get something that can be directly transferred to a blank PCB. I've used the Pulsar toner transfer paper and toner reactive foil, and while it's pretty tweaky to get it to work well, I've used it to successfully etch boards that used a 2mm x 2mm 6 pin DFN surface mount packages. That's pretty tiny, and you have to have the basic process down, but it is possible with some practice and experimentation.
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