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- Written by Marius Celliers
- Category: PC Board design and develop
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First of all, you will need a Project:
So Lets Start DesignSpark PCB
Go to "File" --> "New"
The following Screen Will Popup.
Important.. Create a folder For your Project. I make the Folder Name the Same as my project Name, Followed by V1R0 ( Version / Revision Number) This allows you to easilly scroll between revisions and versions of the same project.
- Details
- Written by Marius Celliers
- Category: PC Board design and develop
- Hits: 775
There are many Paid and free PCB design software out there on the internet.
Some Paid versions is Quite expensive but do sometimes have a trail version or watered down version for hobbyists.
The free versions usually want to to tie you in so that they can produce your your PCB. Unfortionately 99% these design houses are ouside of South Africa making is verry expensive if you order a prototype.
Below is a list of PCB Design software that i have come in contact with.
For 99.8 % of my own designs, I use DesignSpark PCB. It is royatee free from RS-Components and verry easy to use
PAID Versions:
- Altium Designer ( I think this one is the Rolls Royce of PCB Design software ) .. my oppinion only
- CircuitStudio ( by Altium)
- Pads by Mentor Grapghics ( Verry Proffesional looking Application) www.pads.com
- OrCAD http://www.orcad.com/ there is also a lite version freely available
- Eagle ( This software was recently bought out by AutoCAD)
- DipTrace ( Reasonably Priced) http://www.diptrace.com/
FREE Versions:
- DesignSpark PCB ( www.designspark.com ) My personal Favorite. Up to 1000mm x 1000mm PCB's... No Limits.. Backed by RS-Components
- CircuitMaker ( by Altium) This is an olnline version.. your projects is public domain..
- EasyEDA (Online Design Software )
- KiCAD - Open Source
There are many others , but it takes time to learn them all and most of the times you cannot convert your design from one software package to another. So be carefull when you make your choice.
Also it is important to know that the software have a large list of components and components footprints (Libraries). If not, you must make sure the software provides a designer to easilly add new components.
In the downloads folder we will provide some Component Libraries for Designspark 7.2 ( sponsored by QDE www.qde.co.za) The libraries provides common IC's easilly found in South Africa.
From here on I'll be focussing on DesignSpark as it is my personal favorite and easy to Understand.
Before you go to the next lesson, register with designspark, and download the latest version of designspark PCB. I'' Post a video shortly on the installation and setup.
