Hello.
Over the years I have designed many audio circuits - tubes and ss - that I would like to turn into actual pcbs.
I'm used to designing and, most important, simulate them with LTspice IV.
On the CAD side I have a basic knowledge of eagle, altium, designspark and expresspcb, but I am not a deep connoisseur of any of them.
My goal is to design dual layer PCBs with ground plane at audio frequencies, so my doubts at this point are:
1 - is expressPCB okay for my purposes? I think so, it seems to me the simplest among the others but still more than enough powerful, and I like the fact of ordering the pcb directly from sw. Suggestions for valid alternatives?
2 - creating new symbols in ltspice is rather cumbersome, but I think it is the same for the other sws; suggestions for an alternative sw, perhaps more modern and with a learning curve quite similar to LTspice iv or is LTspice IV also fine?
3 - above all: the thing that has blocked me a bit over the years is more than anything else to optimize the workflow: I can also create a symbol for each device in LTspice IV, but is it then possible to export it together with the netlist on pcbexpress? Or do I have to do it all again? is it easy to find or create symbols on pcbexpress or is it better to go elsewhere?
In short, a little confusion here.
Suggestions on how to optimize the workflow from schematic (with simulation) to pcb are very welcome. I can also completely change the sw used and of course I don't expect them to be free.
Surely I would not consider sws in monthly or annual subscription, for the rest I can also spend a few hundred euros if it's worth it.
Thanks to those who want to give me valid suggestions.
Over the years I have designed many audio circuits - tubes and ss - that I would like to turn into actual pcbs.
I'm used to designing and, most important, simulate them with LTspice IV.
On the CAD side I have a basic knowledge of eagle, altium, designspark and expresspcb, but I am not a deep connoisseur of any of them.
My goal is to design dual layer PCBs with ground plane at audio frequencies, so my doubts at this point are:
1 - is expressPCB okay for my purposes? I think so, it seems to me the simplest among the others but still more than enough powerful, and I like the fact of ordering the pcb directly from sw. Suggestions for valid alternatives?
2 - creating new symbols in ltspice is rather cumbersome, but I think it is the same for the other sws; suggestions for an alternative sw, perhaps more modern and with a learning curve quite similar to LTspice iv or is LTspice IV also fine?
3 - above all: the thing that has blocked me a bit over the years is more than anything else to optimize the workflow: I can also create a symbol for each device in LTspice IV, but is it then possible to export it together with the netlist on pcbexpress? Or do I have to do it all again? is it easy to find or create symbols on pcbexpress or is it better to go elsewhere?
In short, a little confusion here.
Suggestions on how to optimize the workflow from schematic (with simulation) to pcb are very welcome. I can also completely change the sw used and of course I don't expect them to be free.
Surely I would not consider sws in monthly or annual subscription, for the rest I can also spend a few hundred euros if it's worth it.
Thanks to those who want to give me valid suggestions.
All schematic/pcb software will have a steep learning curve. There are
numerous pcb programs, but at least consider KiCad and DipTrace, both free.
Beware of programs that do not create standard Gerber files. That locks you
into working with a single company, which may cease business before you like,
making your files worthless and unusable.
Cost does not indicate the quality of the software. More popular programs will
have more extensive open source user created libraries available. However, most
serious users end up creating their own libraries, to get exactly what they need.
This program may be helpful, from Digikey.
Blocked
numerous pcb programs, but at least consider KiCad and DipTrace, both free.
Beware of programs that do not create standard Gerber files. That locks you
into working with a single company, which may cease business before you like,
making your files worthless and unusable.
Cost does not indicate the quality of the software. More popular programs will
have more extensive open source user created libraries available. However, most
serious users end up creating their own libraries, to get exactly what they need.
This program may be helpful, from Digikey.
Blocked
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Thank you for your inputs.
In the end, I did know that i have to make my own symbols... 🙄
Maybe there was a possibilty that modern all in one suite can do...all in one sw.
But hey, nobody said it was easy.
Anyway, i take a look at your suggestion, but i think i will stay on ltspice and maybe kicad or altium. 😎
In the end, I did know that i have to make my own symbols... 🙄
Maybe there was a possibilty that modern all in one suite can do...all in one sw.
But hey, nobody said it was easy.
Anyway, i take a look at your suggestion, but i think i will stay on ltspice and maybe kicad or altium. 😎
If you already know one of the pcb programs reasonably well, it's better to stay with
the "devil you know" than changing to one that you don't.
the "devil you know" than changing to one that you don't.
I've found that I've managed to create kicad symbols and footprints relatively easily. The issue for me is 3D models (or at least approximations) which kicad doesn't provide an in-app editor as part of the suite.
Only other week point is interactively simulating between spice and kicad. LTspice is better on that. I've not really managed kicad sims yet.
Only other week point is interactively simulating between spice and kicad. LTspice is better on that. I've not really managed kicad sims yet.