Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

11th May 2007 01:52 AM

Hi,

I am finally ready to design my custom 1 layer board. What software would you suggest me to use? I looked at Eagle, but it seems that the don't have the "search part" option, so it makes it very inconvenient to use.

I also looked at Proteus Ares, but the auto-router could not produce 1 layer, although it was obvious from the result that one layer is possible.

Could you please advice me a good software (easy to use) that will help me to design 1 layer pcb?

Thank You,

Vlad.

11th May 2007 02:07 AM

i use niche pcb designer(perfect for beginner very basic)

you can use diptrace, very nice tool

11th May 2007 02:10 AM

i am useing pcb wizard. it works pretty good. i made a lot of my own components. and i have been doing my own routing also even though it has autorout. the auto rout does the best it can then puts jumpers all over the place. i would rather just do it myself and jump where i want. this is the only software i have ever used so i really can't say how good it is. but it does what i need it to do for now

Mondo Tech's Super Probe · 11th May 2007 02:32 AM

If you intend to share your work or want to do 2 sided boards some time I suggest you take another look at Eagle.

There is a search box in the library window.

If you can not find a part you can always build it.

Eagle is the only free tool mentioned so far that has schematic capture. That is important.

11th May 2007 07:13 AM

Dont laugh but I use Corel Draw

I've got Eagle and its great for the schematics but I find that for home PCB making and tiling boards I always seem to revert back to Corel to make the boards manually.

My latest set of boards designed by hand were 20% smaller than the ones produced by Eagle, had thicker pads and traces (great for home drilling !!!) and took me less time to design manually than on Eagle.

11th May 2007 07:32 AM

I use AutoCAD - have done for years.
I built my own set of library parts (schematic and pcb) and have settled on a trace width that produces pewrfectly consistent results in my pcb production technique.

Yes there are jumpers, but not as many as one would think.

I designed the pcb for my Blueroom Inchworm Plus, ended up with a squarish board about 80mm per side and only 5 jumpers. It worked first time!

I used to design manually - on a drawing board with pen and ink. 4 times full size, then photo-reduce and make a transparency.

I guess that's why I use AutoCAD - the techniques are almost the same as manual layout, except I work full size and ink-jet the transparency.
Works for me.

11th May 2007 08:09 AM

I really, really like EasyPC, from http://www.numberone.com . It's definitely the best layout package I've ever used ("IMO" of course). I think it's much easier to learn and use than Eagle, and just a lot better, in many ways.

By the way, I wouldn't recommend using anyone's autorouter, except "maybe" for a repetitive type of digital layout. Hand routing seems to be basically always superior.

Just in case, here's a list of lots of links to EDA packages:

http://www.fi.uib.no/~bruce/eda.htm

And once you get your layout finished, try running it through the freeDFM utility, at http://www.4pcb.com . It's pretty cool.

Good luck!

Tom Gootee

http://www/fullnet.com/~tomg/index.html

-

11th May 2007 10:52 AM

I use PAD2PAD its free.

11th May 2007 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Suraj143

I use PAD2PAD its free.

Same I use Pad2PAd.

But most of my circuits I'm making in VERO BOARDS (Track ones).

If you solder nicely and in a proper order it will looks like an original Circuit Board.No need PCB's.

But for commercial purpose you need that Tiredly built PCB's.

Mondo Tech's Super Probe · 11th May 2007 11:01 AM

After reading a few posts I think we need to know what do you mean by best.

For many of us best is what we are using because we know how to use it.

If you just need to layout one board and will never do another then simple is best.

If you intend to make this a hobby or profession then go with the most capable package you can afford because once you are used to using any package you will stick with it. Or at least find it painful to switch.

Similar Threads
Thread	Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
CNC software for PCB drilling	3v0	General Electronics Chat	7	16th October 2009, 12:06 AM
How to wire two sided PCB Boards	PIC12F675	General Electronics Chat	5	23rd February 2007, 06:12 AM
PCB Designing Software	pixnum	General Electronics Chat	6	27th January 2007, 05:19 PM
Multi (more than 2) layer boards	2camjohn	General Electronics Chat	7	20th November 2004, 02:59 PM
multi layer boards	grrr_arrghh	General Electronics Chat	4	14th July 2004, 01:32 PM

Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

what is the best pcb software for 1 layer boards?

what is the best pcb software for 1 layer boards?