Eagle Freeware

[GuitarLord5000]

http://www.cadsoft.de/
Has anyone used this eagle software?  Its apparently used for creating your own circuit designs.  I just downloaded it, but it seem to have a definite learning curve.  Is it any good?

[ErikMiller]

I like it the best of the ones you can get for free.

ExpressPCB has a following around here, but the fact that in order to get boards made from it you have to use their service makes it undesirable for me.

[Chico]

I use Eagle and really like it ... now.   :evil:

I do not use the schematic editor, I just go straight to the board view and do all my layouts directly.  I do fairly simple stuff, but it works out great in this manner.

Best of all, its free.

[GuitarLord5000]

Sheesh!  Now thats an idea!  I've been trying to get that schematic thing working, but MAN is it tedious!  I think I'll move on to the board view and check it out.  Any tips or pointers that'll help me on my way?

[Mann]

Can you design a perf-board stuff with a program like this?
I use AutoCAD but is there any reason to install this software?

[bwanasonic]

I do not use the schematic editor, I just go straight to the board view and do all my layouts directly.  I do fairly simple stuff, but it works out great in this manner.

The main attraction of these programs for me is the *idiot proofing* function, so I like to be able to use both the schematic and PCB layout functions. The problem I had with Eagle was figuring out how to open just simple libraries of  *normal* parts. I will give it another try eventually, but Express PCB serves my needs for now.

15 MINUTES LATER:

OK, I'm fumbling around with Eagle's sch. editor again. Kind of getting the hang of it, but I wish there was a *dumbed down* library of parts. Working out a schematic / layout for J Davisson's *Vulcan*.

Kerry M

[GuitarLord5000]

Seems to me like you could just remove all the useless parts from the library and place them in a different folder.  It may take some time to begin with, but in the end, you'll have a customized library for yourself.  If you do end up doing this, let me know what parts you keep in your library.  Just looking at the whole thing gives me a headache and I'm having trouble discerning what is relevant to my needs and what isn't.

[ErikMiller]

Guess I forgot to mention that the only thing I use EagleCAD for is the board layout part.

I spent about 20 minutes attempting to start from the schematic, etc. etc., then went straight to just laying out a board.

My recommendation is to use it to do boards, then when you get some time, go back and start with schematic capture.

After all, most people here start with an already existing schematic anyway.

For checking, print both the schematic and the layout on sheets of paper, and trace the nodes on both with a highlighter.

All this is quicker than figuring out which resistor package to use when you're entering a schematic.

That's a problem I've had since I began designing PCB's with CAD systems 20 years ago: I seldom had time to create all the parts ahead of time. Usually I was handed a hand-drawn schematic and told to design the board from that ASAP.

[smoguzbenjamin]

Now we're at it, are there any perf layout programs available for free?

[Thomas P.]

I really like it since you can customize the parts (it's a bit hard to find out how, though). It's a really good software for freeware!

But if you want to save you from a lot of trouble then: DON'T USE NEITHER THE SWITCH-TO-BOARD MODE NOR THE AUTO-ROUTER.

Someone mentioned it - just go straight to the board mode and do your thing :wink:

[Chico]

I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how to consolidate the few components that I commonly used into a single library.    That was a totally fruitless exercise.

I found it was easiest to memorize the places where I get the components from, and just roll with their libraries.

After playing around, I realized that I can complete most every project I undertake using the discrete, ic-package, and transistor-fet  folders.

Everything else, I ignore for the most part, unless a specific application dictates.

Also, I do not lay any traces until I feel pretty good about the layout.

I place all my parts sans wiring and print out the layout.  Then, with pencil and large eraser in hand, I begin working thru my traces.  This takes several iterations for me.   :twisted: After every iteration, I reposition the components as nessary and repeat the above.  Once I can draw all of my traces in pencil, I go back to Eagle and add the traces to the components.

Then, I turn off the components so that just the pads and traces are visible, print the thing out to toner transfer paper etc.

[bwanasonic]

Now we're at it, are there any perf layout programs available for free?

I use Express PCB / SCH for this. Works fine for me.

Kerry M

[yano]

My favorite program for doing schematics has got to be OrCad Capture. You can get the "student edition" from their site, which is what i use.

http://www.orcad.com/downloads/orcadlite10/default.asp

[mr_winter]

hello friend!

I pass east site to you of Internet that you can be very useful:

//www.vutrax.co.uk

they offer free, their software that includes design,
simulation, PCB more and many things, the only limitation is that you
can insert single up to 256 pins, that is up to 256 perforations for
components, something that really does not matter, since most of the
effects for musical instruments they do not take so many
components...

they also assure that its soft of design PCB uses the Marshall
company for all its amplifiers.

this information this in this page of vutrax:

//www.vutrax.co.uk/vappn2.htm

I hope that it serves to you. To my it interested much to me
and I lowered to the main program but a pile of complemententos like
bookstores completísimas...

greetings from Argentina

[The Tone God]

If you want to do layouts then forget the schematic capture. The idea with that is you test/model the circuit, then bring it into the capture part of Eagle, go over the board portion to do part layout and ratsnest work, then autoroute the board. Thats production type stuff. DIYers don't do or need this. Just jump into the board layout and do it manually.

Eagle is IMHO the best Schematic/Layout program for windows. Orcad is cool too. The *nix world have some other choices which can be better then others. I personally don't like any of the programs that are intended to interface to a board manufacture.

Andrew