Electronics Software

If you've been building electronic bits or modifying stuff you've bought then tell us all about it here. A good place to discuss the installation of 2.4GHz DIY modules too.

Electronics Software

Postby takilara » Fri May 28, 2010 6:42 pm

Based on a post by mr.sneezy, i though we could add a thread where we could add information about Electronics software, i.e. schematic software, PCB software and our opinion about them.

I'll Start:
TinyCad Schematic Software, i use this to make schematics for my personal use. I don't know how easy it is to use the schematics in a PCB program, Open Source,
http://tinycad.sourceforge.net/
(Note, choose the SourceForge Link, then View All files, and download TinyCAD_2.70.00.248_Beta_Setup.exe or newer instead of version 2.60, as they have corrected many bugs)

VeeCad, I use this software for stripboard designs (can import schematics from TinyCad), freeware+pro version
http://veecad.com/
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Re: Electronics Software

Postby RCModelReviews » Fri May 28, 2010 9:31 pm

I've always used the free version of CadSoft's Eagle layout software for my PCBs. There's a steep learning curve but it's a professional tool that does everything you could ever want. Even the "free" version will handle everything most folks will want with the only limitations on that version being the size of the PCB and the number of layers.

However, I'll take a look at TinyCad and see how that compares.
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Re: Electronics Software

Postby takilara » Sat May 29, 2010 4:31 pm

I've been using Eagle light as well, however, as I come from a programmer background and not a CAD background, the TinyCad interface is more logical to me. I've tried KiCad and as well, but that didn't stick :(

I really liked a program called PCB Artist (http://www.4pcb.com/index.php?load=content&page_id=46) however, you are very limited in how you can use your schematic/layout, basically you can only order a PCB from Advanced Circuit, and not use the files from the program at all.
The price of getting what you want;
is getting what you once wanted...
_____
T-REX 600 ESP
CopterX 450AE V2
Multiplex FunCub
Belt-CP
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Re: Electronics Software

Postby Rex » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:30 am

One of the best PCB (free) design programs I've used is DipTrace but I've recently converted to Eagle simply because so many hobby electronics sources make use of it.
You can find Eagle files for Arduino projects, for loads of Sparkfun ( http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php) offerings and I can use it for PCB manufacture at my nearest FabLab.
In summary:
Go for Eagle
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Re: Electronics Software

Postby takilara » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:26 pm

I haven't tried this yet, but thought i could mention it, but RS components recently made DesignSpark free. Seems like a decent enough program, but free does not mean opensource, so how supported and developed it will be i don't know
The price of getting what you want;
is getting what you once wanted...
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Multiplex FunCub
Belt-CP
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