Suraj143

Hi guys can you tell me from which software you all drawing the PCB LAYOUT.

Can you name some good PCB layout software’s? It’s better if it’s a free version.

Also I DON’T need SCHEMATIC drawing softwares I need the PCB layout softwares. (1 or 2 layers is more than enough for me)

Thanks

mike11298

I would have to recommend Eagle (eagle lite is free). The learning curve could be steep if you haven't worked with this kind of thing before, but it is well worth it, and I recommend it strongly. Google eagle cad lite for download.

Blatman Bond

If you need easy auto trace, eagle is free. But if you need best layout, you need any CAD based software. CADint demo version is free, but only 250 unit component.

3v0

Could you be a bit more specific about why you like CADnt better?
Why do you think it is a better layout tool?

One of the things I like about Eagle is the scripts. They are esp helpful when making you own boards. I use Drill-Aid to close up the holes, this allows me to use smaller drills. I use PCB-Gcode to generate NC files for a CNC machine that I use to drill boards.

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Blatman Bond

CADint is CAD based, so we can customizing and creating components as we need. Free (but limited 250U) CAD based software.

bananasiong

Hi, is 250 including the wirepad and connection tracks? 250 units of components are a lot for me.

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3v0

You can do the same in Eagle.

Why do you think Eagle is not CAD?

Again
Could you be a bit more specific about why you like CADnt better?
Why do you think it is a better layout tool?

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picbits

I use Corel Draw - I've tried all the major PCB software and always seem to end up doing it manually.

I have my own "library" of standard pads and DIL patterns and just copy and paste at will

My biggest gripe with Eagle is when I have to try and add a part to the library - I've never quite worked out how to do it.

Shax

Sprint Layout 5.0 from Abacom is only €39.90..

Very simple to create boards of upto 4 layers..
OR you could go to the other end of the scale and use Protel.. I use both..

clicky clicky on this link http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html to have a look at the Sprint.

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philba

I have to agree with 3vO. eagle is CAD. not only that but you can do extremely sophisticated things even in the free version. On top of that, there is an extremely active support group at cadsoft.

Blatman Bond

OK, might be not the best CAD software, but I used it.
I also used Eagle for fast design.

Here more picture about environment and printed layout.
Demo version is limited for 250 unit net used. They using Netlist.

Attached Images

	CADint-example1.JPG (299.2 KB, 40 views)
	CADint-example2.JPG (123.0 KB, 32 views)

palesha

I agree with Shax.
Sprint Layout 5.0 from Abacom is vey nice if suitable for ur job.

picbits

I've been having a play with the Sprint Layout since it was suggested here and I find it very easy to use - I'm seriously considering buying a copy - especially at the price.

3v0

It uses rubber bands (airwires).

Does it have a schematic capture/editor?

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picbits

Well you can buy a seperate schematic capture package but the layout is just that - a PCB layout and editor.

Very very easy to define new footprints, manual routing is better than the autorouter (which is a single wire by wire router and a bit crap) but for me seems ideal as I use Corel Draw to design my PCBs anyway. I can do a board in around a third of the time of Corel Draw and a tenth of the time of Eagle (I'm not a great Eagle fan and have only used it for 8-10 hours though).

Best of all is the price which is a little under 40 euros or around $50 - it will save me that in the first day of designing with it if its all it seems to be so far.