pcb design

[uncle_benny!]

I have started using Diptrace.

I used to use eagle but i find Diptrace to be more intuitive.

And making a custom library saves a lot of time in the long run.

[arma61]

Hi

ExpressPCB->PrintScreen to PaintShopPro to create solder pads and some angled tracks with antialising ->resize, based on resistors size in PowePoint.

Keep DIYing
Armando

[darron]

i do it all in flash. it's what i'm best at drawing vectors in. that way i can hide layers and change components across the file.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Rimu from New Zealand seems to be simple enough to be easily used, but flexible enough to do anything stompboxers would need.
Things like Protel have an enormous complexity & learning curve - plus Rimu costs $70 and Protel is 30 times that!!

[axg20202]

I'm still pretty low tech when it comes to laying out PCBs - I use the template pads, socket and traces etc downloaded from General Guitar Gadgets and use these to draw everything in MS Paint  lol! Works like a charm and no learning curve whatsoever other than knowing how to get it to print at the correct size for transfer. It can be slow going drawing out larger circuits but once I'd done few I became very quick at it. It's also useful because I can easily modify GGG layouts if I need to.  And best of all, *in childcatcher voice* "it's all free!"

[moro]

I've been playing around with ExpressPCB based on the recommendations in this thread and it's a lot of fun. It's a little quirky but pretty easy to use. I really like how easy it is to create custom components.

[blindsjc]

After a long time with TraxMaker
I'm in love with Sprint Layout 5.
Something makes my layouts a lot
better when using this program.

Thanks
Blindsjc

[Rmanen]

I use eagle, learned it in school, and its the only one i know works on a Mac.

[Duff]

I do,  Paint baby!!

[railhead]

Here's one I just made in Photoshop:



This is easier for me simply because I've been using PS for over a decade, though I need to learn the other apps if I ever want to get a board mass-produced.

[jrem]

Eagle 4.11 . . .    slicker than snot once you get the hang of it.  Steep learning curve, though.

[5thumbs]

I've been using Microsoft Visio 2007 for designing PCB layouts, schematics and enclosure drilling templates.  It's not the cheapest layout software around ($200-ish), but since I use it in my paid employment, it was easy for me to apply it to my DIY projects.  It works well for this task.

[R.G.]

As I count it, we're pretty close to one opinion per person.

This is why I think opinion questions - let along polls! - are a waste.

[blindsjc]

It's great this way,
We know a lot of new programs, in a pool
we will be restricted to the listed software.
I'm downloading some of these to test right
now. Thanks friends.

Blindsjc

[John Lyons]

As I count it, we're pretty close to one opinion per person.

This is why I think opinion questions - let along polls! - are a waste.

Why would a collection of opinions be a waste? It's interesting to see the diversity of ways the folks here are doing things.
The post was made to see what people are using and it seems that the poster got the information he was looking for. No waste there.

John

[Papa_lazerous]

Eagle is very good IMHO, learning curve seems a little steep at first.  Mainlt because the library has sooo many components, hop over to gaussmarkov's site there is a library there full of components for us stompers http://gaussmarkov.net/eagle/libraries.html also plenty of other eagle hints and tips and walkthroughs.  I also found a few good tutorials over at instructables.com   Never looked back....  ExpressPCB is a bit naff I think

[gaussmarkov]

Eagle is very good IMHO, learning curve seems a little steep at first.  Mainlt because the library has sooo many components, hop over to gaussmarkov's site there is a library there full of components for us stompers http://gaussmarkov.net/eagle/libraries.html also plenty of other eagle hints and tips and walkthroughs.  I also found a few good tutorials over at instructables.com   Never looked back....  ExpressPCB is a bit naff I think

huh.  i don't remember what i did with my redirects, but they are not working any more. the latest url for the libraries is

http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/tools/software/eagle/eagle-2-libraries/

since it is being discussed, i'll just mention that the libraries now have European ground, resistor, and capacitor schematic symbols as well.

edit:  oh, i see, papa lazerous is citing a link that is even older than when i went to php.   the internet has a long memory. 

[Papa_lazerous]

Strange Gauss,  I was thinking I should include a link and just googled you and thats what it said. Once its on the net its there forever

[gaussmarkov]

Strange Gauss,  I was thinking I should include a link and just googled you and thats what it said. Once its on the net its there forever

no kidding!    that libraries.html file is dated 6/6/06.  i left those html files on for good measure, but did not think they were still getting hits.  looks like i have some housekeeping to do.  or not.

[railhead]

Holy crap, I just built a schematic with Eagle using GM's libraries, and it was TOTALLY easy. It looks like I need the full version of Eagle in order to customize the PCB, though...