Drawing Schematics on computer

[Electricman2K5]

What software do you guys use to draw schematics???

Are there any good free packages available on the internet??? Ive found aa few but they weren't great

Which is/are the best???

Thanks

 

[pop]

I find Pspice the best tool. It has many models and you can also build your own. And when it comes down to wiring and layout of components on page, it does a good job with minimum hassle. I also use Eagle because it has a great many pre-drawn components, but I don't find it's user interface friendly.

 

[Oznog]

Eagle's great.

 

[Russlk]

I have sent a lot of emails to Eagle tech support, but always get an answer, so that is good. I like Switcher Cad III free from Linear Technology for simulation.

 

[David Bridgen]

What software do you guys use to draw schematics???

Are there any good free packages available on the internet??? Ive found aa few but they weren't great

Which is/are the best???

Thanks

If you want only to draw circuits, and not subsequently to use them for analysis and/or board layout, then I suggest you try MS Paint.

You can create your own library of shapes. This, and another instance of Paint, can be opened at the same time so you can copy from the former and paste in the latter.

Here is are a couple of examples:

 

[LordError]

eagle is good. multisim 7 try also. its nice.


marcus

 

[samcheetah]

my tools:

Simulation and Capture: Multisim

board layout: Eagle

and of course MS Paint and a little bit of Paint Shop Pro

 

[lompa]

can you download component libarys for ms paint from the net somewere?

 

[David Bridgen]

can you download component libarys for ms paint from the net somewere?

Not as far as I know. But it isn't hard to make your own.

If you copy the diagrams above into paint you can select the individual components and copy them and then past them into a another instance of Paint.

As long as it will open up in Paint you can do all sorts of things with it.

 

[David Bridgen]

...and now for something entirely different, as the introduction to Python's Circus used to say.

I have recently discovered a free schematic drawing program and a free p.c.b. layout program, both from the same source.

I downloaded and installed them only today so I haven't had a chance to assess them properly yet.

This link is to the original page **broken link removed**

and this one to the Google translated version **broken link removed**

 

[firestorm]

if u are looking for a fairly easy to use free program id suggest using circuitmaker student version. I have it and it comes with about 50 predrawn circuits to base off of and has many components in library but not as many as those in bought programs of course...its bestto download it in an FTP format but the other way also works...if u need help with it feel free to pm me or ask on here...thx l8er

-fire

 

[captainkirksdog]

Also on this subject: How can I post a *.ckt file from CircuitMaker? I lose way too much information on it when I try to convert it to a *.jpg, *.bmp, or any other graphics file. Would zipping it help? All help is appreciated.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Also on this subject: How can I post a *.ckt file from CircuitMaker? I lose way too much information on it when I try to convert it to a *.jpg, *.bmp, or any other graphics file. Would zipping it help? All help is appreciated.

You could zip it and then post it, but it would be limited to only those people who have the same package - so it's not a very good idea?. Exporting it as a BMP shouldn't lose anything, then convert it to GIF using a decent grahics package. Don't attempt to use JPG, it loses quality and produces far larger files than GIF for diagrams (also don't post BMP direct, they are un-compressed and absolutely huge!).

 

[Dr.EM]

Search around for "Irfan view". Its a freely downloadable software package (and only around 200k), which, among other things, can convert BMP into just about anything else.

 

[goodpickles]

I use CoralDraw...I'm lucky got it free with a printer I bought.