b10010011Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA Reviews:
 ·Comcast Formerl..
| Free or cheap schematic program Can anyone recommend a free or cheap schematic program? I have tried Eagle and find it very annoying and counter intuitive after using Protel and then Altium at work.
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| What do you mean about "schematic program"? Do you want to make a PCB, or simulate some circuits?
For the latter, I used LogicWorks a lot -- it is included with some EE or CE textbooks. »www.capilano.com/lww_5
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PhillipI Need A Nap
join:2004-12-21
Hatboro, PA | reply to b10010011
Well there are quite a few, you will have to try a few out and see what one will best fit your drawing style.
LT Spice »www.linear.com/designtools/software/
gplEDA »www.gpleda.org/
Diptrace »www.diptrace.com/
TinyCad »sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/t···=TinyCAD
Solid Edge »www.plm.automation.siemens.com/e···/free2d/
Search for "schematic capture software freeware" for more. |
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b10010011Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA Reviews:
·Comcast Formerl..
| reply to aurgathor
said by aurgathor:What do you mean about "schematic program"? Do you want to make a PCB, or simulate some circuits?
Just looking for something to draw a schematic with.
Eagle made me wish I still had the schematic template and mechanical pencils from school.
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Bellingham Scanner Kicks Ass! »bhamscanner.kicks-ass.org/ |
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lutful... of ideasPremium
join:2005-06-16
Ottawa, ON Reviews:
 ·TekSavvy DSL
| reply to b10010011
said by b10010011:Can anyone recommend a free or cheap schematic program? If you want something comparable to Eagle but more intuitive, EasyPC is quite affordable.
»www.numberone.com/easy_pc_v16.asp |
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8 | reply to b10010011
I use the free version of DipTrace. It has a 300 pin limit but fine for small projects.
/tom |
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Vinch
join:2007-10-24
Pointe-Claire, QC | reply to b10010011
I'm surprised nobody mentioned KiCAD.
»www.kicad-pcb.org/display/KICAD/···re+Suite
I've made a few simple (double-sided) PCB designs with it with no problem. Open-source and cross platform. The component libraries need a little tweaking (some pads were numbered incorrectly) |
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lutful... of ideasPremium
join:2005-06-16
Ottawa, ON Reviews:
·TekSavvy DSL
| reply to b10010011
said by b10010011:Just looking for something to draw a schematic with ... wish I still had the schematic template and mechanical pencils from school. If you are trying to draw a schematic with simple parts (R,C,L, D, op amps, gates etc) you could try out the free LTSpice toolset from Linear Technology. It has a really beautiful schematic capture interface and you can output magazine quality drawings. |
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 alphapointeDon't Touch MePremium,MVM
join:2002-02-10
Columbia, MO
kudos:2 | reply to b10010011
I use ExpressSCH / ExpressPCB. |
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 rjackalPremium
join:2002-07-09
Plymouth, MI | reply to b10010011
I also have had success with ExpressSCH / ExpressPCB, especially if you intend to fabricate a small batch of circuit boards with your design. The two tools work seamlessly together. I used it for a small 2-layer PCB with thru-hole and surface mount components for a work project.
Free:
»expresspcb.com/ |
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 SparkChaserPremium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
kudos:3
 ·Verizon FiOS
| said by rjackal:I also have had success with ExpressSCH / ExpressPCB, especially if you intend to fabricate a small batch of circuit boards with your design. I never had to do much PCB work since taped L/O was replaced by computers but I've used ExpressPCB for a couple of clients and found it easy to use. |
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| reply to b10010011
Orcad used to have a free student version. |
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b10010011Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA Reviews:
·Comcast Formerl..
| reply to b10010011
I have settled on TinyCad as it has pretty much the same intuitive user interface as Altium I use at work.
I was able to draw up my project in an hour without having to RTFM even once. 
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