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dazza
13-01-2015, 09:35 AM
can anyone recommend a good pcb software for beginners?i need it for one small project then I will have a go at making the board on the router.
I came across kicad on youtube so installed the windows version but get a bunch of error boxes on startup

EddyCurrent
13-01-2015, 11:26 AM
can anyone recommend a good pcb software for beginners?i need it for one small project then I will have a go at making the board on the router.
I came across kicad on youtube so installed the windows version but get a bunch of error boxes on startup


Not tried any but good selection here;
http://www.electroschematics.com/2249/pcb-design-software/
http://server.ibfriedrich.com/wiki/ibfwikien/index.php?title=Editions_and_Prices

Jonathan
13-01-2015, 12:25 PM
KiCAD is generally good. I also use Eagle, which is free so long as your design is below a certain size.

I just sent this PCB off to be manufactured, because it was not feasible to make them the router:

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14405&stc=1

C_Bubba
13-01-2015, 02:35 PM
My personal preference is Eagle with the pcb-gcode ulp that will generate the necessary gcode files to do the milling and drilling. A bit of a learning curve, but the results are good. As noted above, it is free for "small" sized single and doublesided boards.

IanS1
13-01-2015, 04:46 PM
The RS Components DesignSpark PCB is quite good.

http://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electronics/eng/

irving2008
13-01-2015, 07:28 PM
The RS Components DesignSpark PCB is quite good.

http://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electronics/eng/
Seconded... also look at their mechanical design tools... useful stuff for free

dazza
14-01-2015, 07:39 AM
thanks for all the suggestions folks.

m_c
14-01-2015, 08:04 PM
I personally use DipTrace. It's free for personal use upto a certain pin/pad count.

Kentobi
25-03-2015, 10:11 AM
finally deisel, which software do you use now? i n my highschool-time i preferred cadsoft eagle. looking at their newsest blogpost make me feel that their software is as good as in my times ;) http://blog.cadsoftusa.com/2015/03/eagle-won/