What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that will run on Windoze XP? I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my current project. I'm just curious at what other people's opinions are. Thanks, Eric
Sch & Layout Free Program
Started by ●June 6, 2005
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that will run on Windoze XP? I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my current project. I'm just curious at what other people's opinions are. Thanks, Eric
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
I'm not trying to "milk the system" I'm just trying to get list of free programs and there limitaions, so I can choose which one I should learn how to use. I'm using these programs for a hobby non-profit project. Eric
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
Eric wrote:> What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that > will run on Windoze XP?Maybe it is time for you to install linux. gEDA and PCB are free on linux. They are very good. vax, 9000
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
Eric wrote:>What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that >will run on Windoze XP? > >I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good >programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting >the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) > >I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation >of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my >current project. > >I'm just curious at what other people's opinions are.http://bach.ece.jhu.edu/~haceaton/pcb/ http://pcb.sourceforge.net/
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
Eric wrote:> What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that > will run on Windoze XP? > > I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good > programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting > the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) > > I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation > of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my > current project. > > I'm just curious at what other people's opinions are.In terms of freely available downloads that are useful up to a level I would suggest you have a look at VuTrax <http://www.vutrax.co.uk/>. If the pin limit is too low for your needs the cost of upgrading to the next level is quite reasonable. It is also available for Linux too. -- ******************************************************************** Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@amleth.demon.co.uk> Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/> Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 Tel: +44 (0)1235-811095 Going Forth Safely ....EBA. http://www.electric-boat-association.org.uk/ ********************************************************************
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
On Mon, Jun 06, 2005 at 01:26:56PM -0700, Eric wrote:> What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that > will run on Windoze XP? > > I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good > programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting > the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) > > I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation > of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my > current project.Eagle works well for me. I recommend to use the Lite version if the size limitation is not an issue for your current project and if you like it and all that it does, purchase the standard or pro version for larger sizes and more than two layers. That's what I did and I am happy with it. Its big plus for me was its support for Mac OS X and (indirectly) FreeBSD Unix. I find it to be a very stable, solid, package. -Brian -- Brian Dean BDMICRO - ATmega128 Based MAVRIC Controllers http://www.bdmicro.com/
Reply by ●June 6, 20052005-06-06
On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 21:30:33 +0000, Guy Macon wrote:> > > Eric wrote: > >>What is the best FREE Schematic & PCB Layout software available that >>will run on Windoze XP? >> >>I've looked at PCB123.com and Expresspcb.com and they have pretty good >>programs available. Unfortunately if I use either one I'm stuck getting >>the prototypes through them. (Because they won't output Gerbers) >> >>I've also looked at Eagle Layout at cadsoft.de, but the size limitation >>of 100 x 80mm on the free version is a negative. It would work for my >>current project. >> >>I'm just curious at what other people's opinions are. > > > http://bach.ece.jhu.edu/~haceaton/pcb/ > > http://pcb.sourceforge.net/IME, pcb doesn't run that well on Windows. --Mac
