Which PCB layout software? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: LektroiD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 05:08:51 pm
content: I've always done this by hand, etching single sided boards with acetate drawings in a lightbox & photoresist PCB. Ideally I'd like to design a schematic in the software, hit a button to automatically lay it out onto a dual sided PCB, but I doubt there's anything that sophisticated.I'm looking for something recognised by the industry hopefully with accompanying tutorial. Preferably free (I'm on a low budget here). Something which I can draw schematics in would also be useful. What is the industry standard?My preference for platform is listed as follows:1: Mac2: Linux3: Windoze4: iOS

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 05:20:55 pm
content: I find DipTrace to be an excellent package, certainly better than Eagle or Kicad. I think it's one of the best free packages available at the moment, though keep in mind you're pin limitedThey have Windows, Linux, and OSX versionshttp://diptrace.com/download-diptrace/

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 05:31:04 pm
content: just understand that diptrace on linux + macosx, it runs under wine, its not native like Eagle is native.see how the diptrace demo/free version runs for you.

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:09:34 pm
content: If you know how to route manually any PCB package will at first look like a very powerful and difficult to use pencil. Eagle is popular; if you are a beginner, this is going to be most important factor to you.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:15:45 pm
content: As much as I can find it infuriating and amateurish at times compared to KiCAD I'd say diptrace too and I'm a licenced user now, it's the cheapest out there I think and easy to upgrade.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:24:11 pm
content: Eagle works great on Mac OSX (and linux and windows), is very popular, you can find plenty of tutorial on youtube and examples and special part libraries on the net. Also, some board houses such as oshpark.com accept eagle files directly so you don't need to mess with gerbers.Kicad is not Mac OS friendly yet, I had hard time to find a stable binary. Tried DipTrace about a year ago, it was nice but buggy (e.g. I lost library changes because I left the library editor open when moving to the schematic editor). Down the road I would like to switch to Kicad on Mac OSX but it's nor ready yet.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:29:52 pm
content: There was a major update at the beginning of this year but that was more to add 3D cad file capability but I've managed to use it ok.

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:43:06 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on November 05, 2014, 06:24:11 pmGerbers have been around far longer than Eagle. This format is very well understood by board manufacturers; consequently, they produce better boards out of Gerbers, including OSH Park (I tried both formats). So, if you like your boards with less mistakes and quicker turnarounds you'd be "messing with gerbers", whatever that means.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:45:55 pm
content: some people don't like work. from the original post I get the impression people think boards lay themselves out in PCB software.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 06:57:33 pm
content: Quote from: mazurov on November 05, 2014, 06:43:06 pmGerber files are not standard, different PCB houses have different requirements.As for oshpark, I trust them to generate gerbers for their process just as well as I do.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 07:00:05 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on November 05, 2014, 06:29:52 pmAnother problem I had with Diptrace when I tried it last year was the limited libraries. I could not find basic stuff such as 0.1" headers.Since Kicad is open source I am waiting for it to mature and will then switch. For time being, eagle works great for me.

author: XFDDesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 07:08:29 pm
content: Quote from: LektroiD on November 05, 2014, 05:08:51 pmIt's called an Auto-router, and usually requires a high level of nannying to produce something that wont make you go batty.Are you after doing Electronics and Electronic Design for the long-term game? If so, now is the time to pick up a real tool and start learning. Understand that you will, over time, build up a library of parts, so whatever you choose will be a long-term investment anyway. If you go OpenSource (gEDA or KiCAD) you only have to overcome the learning curve. With almost anything else, you have to pay to play.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2014, 08:14:20 pm
content: KiCAD is not without its quirks, but it works well on Linux and Windows (never tried on Mac) and is easy to use. I found Eagle much less intuitive by comparison. Never tried diptrace.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2014, 04:30:38 am
content: Open source anything never matures... it constantly changes.. so go with it

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2014, 04:40:22 am
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 06, 2014, 04:30:38 amKicad doesn't even make a binary for Mac OSX. That's basic.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2014, 07:18:50 am
content: Got money? Use AltiumNo money? Use DipTrace?Got balls and lots of time: use MS Paint or Eagle