SMD Layout software?

[CodeMonk]

Topic pretty much says it all.
What software is available for doing PCB layouts for SMD components?
Or am I gonna be stuck with using MSPaint?

And yes, I have quite a bit of experience working with SMD components.
I used to work for NASA and all the soldering I did was SMD and done under a microscope.


Thanks

[Ice-9]

Iv'e built a quite a few layouts and use a program called "diptrace" it does smd as well as through hole and has multilayer as well. Its a very comprehensive program but easy to use. I usually draw the schematic in diptrace then use the pcb design to auto route the tracks. youcan get a trail of the program from there website which is fully featured with full librarys. Check out this link for the software

http://www.diptrace.com/

[theehman]

You can also use ExpressPCB.  I laid out a board for work that used 95% SMD components and it turned out very well.

[5thumbs]

I've used Visio Professional 2007 for all my layouts, both through-hole and SMD.  While not expressly optimized for PCB layouts like some other programs, it's stable, easy to use and can be used for other stuff such as creating enclosure artwork, schems, etc.

Visio Standard 2007 would work for PCB layouts as well; it just has fewer specialized shapes libraries bundled with it than Visio Professional 2007.

[davent]

You can also use ExpressPCB.  I laid out a board for work that used 95% SMD components and it turned out very well.

I'll  second that recommendation,  easy to learn and free.
dave

[Greg_G]

Pad2Pad also have free software that's smd compatible.