PCB Layout Software
PCB Layout Software
(OP)
I am working for a small company that is finally at the step of needing to design a circuit board for one of our projects. Since we will only be doing a couple boards a year I don't need an advanced package. Also we are on a budget due to the low usage of the software. Does anyone have any recommendations for good packages? I have been looking at a package called Proteus from Labcenter Electronics but can't find many reviews on it...has anyone used this package? I've also looking at Cadsoft Eagle and it seems to have mixed reviews.
Thanks, Matt
Thanks, Matt





RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
"Yes sir, I want to keep my guinea pigs in with the rhinoceroses."
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
But no simulation habilities :(
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
If you want CHEAP, you can't get much cheaper than PCB
which is FREE. It is available on sourceforge.net and
only runs on 'nix boxen. No windoze.
I have used it for about 3 or 4 years, and I have watched it
evolve. There is an assoicated schematic capture called
"geda" I believe, but I haven't used it.
PCB, like any other software, is a matter of getting used to.
If you are used to it, it works "well". If it is new, then
it can be "strange and different". YMMV.
For me, however, the interface seemed intuitive and I have
only had to refer to the manual a couple of times. *NOT*
like my Mentor efforts!
They also claim to have auto routing on PCB, but again,
I haven't used it. I prefer to route my own traces.
Produces standard Gerber files as well as postscript. Does
8 layers out of the box. Drill and assembly guide, and
ACTIVELY maintained.
Of course, linux, or FreeBSD is free, so all you need is
some sort of old PC, monitor, keyboard, mouse and a little
effort to get it all whomped up together.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: PCB Layout Software
If you are only making a few boards each year, which I would assume have the same design, a simulation package may be unecessary, as you could just debug it and revise the board. Simulation up front doesn't guarantee that the board will work... sometimes you just have to build it.
What type of board is it? Power, Signal Processing, relays?
RE: PCB Layout Software
Take the Guided Tour!
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
Bewarned, though, as the above posts allude to, relying on a simulation will often times send you in the wrong direction. You are much better served by understanding the parts that you are using and following good design practices.
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
quirky but you can do a lot with it once you get the
learning curve out of the way.
The discrete parts database is very small but you can
add parts to it without a lot of trouble. The best
reason to learn it is that it is free and reliable.
RE: PCB Layout Software
your job much harder.
IF you know how to use it, and its limitations, and have
enough analog knowledge to begin with it can make some
designs much faster than monkeying with solder.
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
I have done it both ways for years. I have found I can
get a project working quicker by simulating some of the
tricky parts and then building a real one with less
worries. I still make stuff with discrete parts as it
can get me better performance than IC's in some cases.
I realize spice is of little use for just IC stitching.
All you need is data sheets.
I hold out the opinion that some may benefit in the long
run from learning to use spice so I tend to speak up in
its defence occasionally.
Also remember back when physical systems were simulated
by building a circuit to model it. (Analog Computer),
well spice knowledge would allow one to use it as a
general purpose simulator if one were adapt enough to
break a physical system down into equivalent electrical
components.
Many spice programs now have so many added macro parts
to do sophisicated mathematical functions that it is now
even more usefull than the basic versions for use beyond
the electronics realm.
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
Today i making a layout of circuit that must have a
timing pulse generation with an accuracy/repeatability
of less than 30nS. Meaning i need a sequence of 2 pulses
with durations less than a clock cycle of a PIC and need
it to be repeatable to 30ns.
I have ordered the empty pcb without building a prototype
because of the difficulty of working with these dammm
&^^$&$# tiny surface mount parts.
I would not have very comfortable ordering this PCB without
testing my concept with a simulation.
I guess I could have done the calculations by other means
to verify the design but I don't see the point, thats what
spice is for, to do the calculations.
And of course I know the work is not done as I have not
modeled the trace capacitances of my pcb so I will have to
modify the final component values with a O-scope and do
some trial and error finish work. But I have a set of
values to start with that will put me very close in the
ball park thanks to my spice simulation.
So, give me an example of how spice has cost me time.
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
I guess for me it comes down to this line of thinking.
If you don't use spice I ask if before you begin a circuit
design do you need to make any calculations to create or
verify the design. If not then I guess it is a simple
circuit. If you do calculate then I might suggest using
a spreadsheet to ease the burden of getting the numbers.
Or spice.
If you do not have faith in ability of spice to reasonably
model your parts, do you have better models running in your
head. If so why don't you publish a paper and become
famous. If you don't have better models in your grey
matter then why not use spice??
Of course spice is not for everybody. I just think it is
something that eventually proves beneficial to all
electrical engineers that practice their calling.
And I see no reason to discourage people from trying it
for themselves. They can each decide if it is usefull
to them or not.
I still can't get to understanding how a person can
calculate the response of a circuit faster,easier with
any other tool than spice.
We should get back to the original question posted by
mlarson about EDA and maybe start our own thread about
this if it is of interest to anyone.
later
RE: PCB Layout Software
RE: PCB Layout Software
Have a look at "Easy PC ".
Cheap U.K based software that has been around for several years.
Regards
analogue alan