Microsoft movie maker windows 10. Comparison of electronic design automation (EDA) software Comparison of EDA packages[edit]
Note: ODB++ support is drawn partly from lists by Artwork Conversion Software[3] and Mentor Graphics[10] Free software[edit]
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References[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comparison_of_EDA_software&oldid=898270723'
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I am familiar with Altium PCB design software in my workplace.But thats an expensive suite to maintain. Is there any decent enough free software which I can use at home for my pet projects? I have tried ExpressPCB but not satisfied with it. Any suggestions are much appreciated. I usually design upto 4 layers of PCB for my home projects.
scorpiokidscorpiokid
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closed as off-topic by Olin Lathrop, Daniel Grillo, PeterJ, Kaz, Nick Alexeev♦Mar 27 '15 at 18:13This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
10 Answers$begingroup$Looking for a good freeware/open source PCB design software equivalent to Altium. I'm unfamiliar with Altium Designer, sorry, but for what I could read I think you're not going to find such a complex software for free. Is there any decent enough free software which I can use at home for my pet projects? I'm not sure what are your requirements or if you need all the advanced stuffs Altium provides (like FPGA design or the signal integrity analysis), but if you just need a good PCB designer I recommend you KiCAD. It's a very very good EDA software package, Free/Libre Software and multiplatform (GNU/Linux, MacOSX and Windows). KiCAD is composed of 4 main programs: the schematic creator, the parts linker (logical - physical), the PCB creator and the Gerbers viewer (it's ok, but gerbv from GEDA is better). KiCAD format is plain text and well documented, so it plays nice with version control systems, scripts and even user edition (like moving a part from one library to another). Also, the logic parts are not attached to their physical parts (like in Eagle), so you put a resistor in the schematic and you don't need to worry about if it is a SMD 0805 or a PTH, etc, you specify that later on the workflow, and that's awesome! With KiCAD you can handle up to 16 layers, it has 3D view, SVG export, BOM export, design rules checker, filled zones, multiple export formats and some other very cool features. You can download KiCAD from: http://kicad.sourceforge.net/ This is a good guide: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/kicad I use KiCAD for all my PCBs and never had problems with anything (though I have only needed to create two-layer PCBs). If you want to see a project made with KiCAD you can check Ubertooth One (4 layers, fine pitch components): project page and where to buy. Eagle is not an option for you I think, the freeware version is too limited for the advanced use you want. Personally I prefer KiCAD over GEDA, but both are very good.
HavokHavok
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I think you'll find a theme here; people who know free software well won't be familiar with the extreme end of non-free software such as Altium. If you want a package of that type, you're going to have to work on it. In particular, Altium designer does not only board schematics and layouts, but RTL and software editing (some in schematic form, I believe), simulation, large component libraries including drivers, and so on. If all you're looking for is PCB design, there are varying paths. I know of three free software suites of note, gEDA, KiCad and Fritzing, which won't have artificial limits. Restricted offerings such as Eagle (linked to Farnell) and ExpressPCB will have larger companies backing them, to provide convenient hooks like ordering components or PCBs from them, but the price jump once you outgrow the restrictions tend to be notable. All of them have in common that they're clumsy, in somewhat varying manners. It takes some time to get used to any CAD software, and Altium may well have set workflow expectations that just aren't matched (whether for good or bad). For instance, KiCad lacks a good pinswap operation, although it does have separate gate symbols for some logic series. It's up to the symbol creator, and you'll find that's you a lot more often when there's no large component library to help out. Sometimes features are around in separate packages, such as Kicadocaml, a PCB layout tool for Kicad that adds push routing and has a digikey ordering script.
Yann VernierYann Vernier
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KICAD is a very good open source package, and has plenty of support available on it's mailing list. It can handle up to 16 layers IIRC, even has a (very good) 3D view and some (recently introduced) microwave tools.
Oli GlaserOli Glaser
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There's also designspark PCB. Not seen much feedback on it but it is derived from a commercial product
mikeselectricstuffmikeselectricstuff
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I personally like DipTrace. It has freeware version that is limited only by pad count and it has fantastic user interface.
Josip MedvedJosip Medved
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Others here have mentioned EAGLE, along with saying the freeware EAGLE Light Edition may be too limited for you. However they may not be aware that CadSoft how has a heavily discounted (83% off regular price) Non-profit/Hobbyist version of EAGLE, that enables all the features of the EAGLE Standard Edition (up to six signal layers and 160x100mm routing area) with all three modules (Layout+Schematic+Autorouter). All you have to do is fill out a PDF form saying you will only be using it for non-commercial work.
tcrosleytcrosley
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EAGLE or GEDA (which is true open source; GEDA = GNU Electronic Design Assistant) are worth checking out. You can use EAGLE for free for small designs but many users run into the limitations of its freeware version. Even if you use EAGLE or another package, I think GEDA's Gerber viewer (gerbv) is a good tool to get familiar with.
John MilesJohn Miles
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One thing the sales guy told me is that it's possible to have a roaming license for Atium, so that you can also use it at home, or while travelling. You might try asking your company if they would allow this.
RocketmagnetRocketmagnet
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Altium is supposedly working on a 'free' version that might be worth keeping your eye on. Seems to have been in beta for awhile now, so time will tell.
user472970user472970
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I use PCB Artist that I downloaded from advancedcircuits.com. Free and easy to use.
lyassalyassa
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Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged pcbpcb-designopen-sourcealtium or ask your own question.≡Officially supported CAD File FormatsEAGLENice, easy to use CAD/CAM software for PCB schematic and routing. We accept .BRD files for prototyping. KICADFree, open source schematic capture and PCB routing. We accept .BRD files for prototyping. TARGET 3001PCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. We accept .T3001 files for prototyping. Free, open source design tools for PCBgEDAgEDA is a free, open-source schematic capture and layout package that runs on Linux. ZenitPCBZenitPCB is a freeware layout software. PCBFree unix PCB editor. FREE-PCBFreePCB is a free, open-source printed circuit board layout editor for Microsoft Windows! TinyCADTinyCAD is a free open-source schematic editor written by Matt Pyne. TCI3Free PCB routing and schematic capture software. CometCADCometCAD is free (but not open-source) schematic capture and layout editor program for Windows 2k, XP, Vista and 7. The program consists of symbol, circuit and layout -editors. Quick start guide and example files are also included. SCOREFree schematic capture software (Alfa version). OSMOND PPCCircuit Board Design SoftwareFREE MAC PCB CAD/CAM software. MINIMAL PCB EDITOROpen source schematic capture and board layout editor for windows by OKADA Hitoshi DESIGN SPARK PCBFree PCB and schematic design package based on Easy-PC, with no design restriction, and it doesn't tie you to any PCB manufacture. EasyEDAWeb based EDA tool with schematic capture, PCB layout and Circuit simulation. Free if you put your project public online, private projects require paid plans. Commercial design tools for PCBPROTELCAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download 30 days free trial. Protel offers free old-DOS based software called EasyTrax. CR5000 (CADSTAR)CAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. Have free for download limited demo version ORCADCAD/CAM software. No demo/evaluation version CIRCUIT MAKERCAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited demo version. P-CAD 2000PCB CAD/CAM software. You can download FREE trial version. PCB ELEGANCENice looking CAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited demo version EDWINCAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited demo version VISUALPCYou can download limited demo version. BPECS32Very limited PCB CAD software. You can download limited demo version AUTOENGINEERPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. We never used to run it as some messages in German language appear. EXPERT PCBPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. CIRCADPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. LAYOUTPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download free version. CIRCUIT LAYOUTPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version MCCADPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. DREAM CADJapanese PCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. E-CADSupermax CAD/CAM software, runs on NT. You can download limited demo version. POWERPCBCAD/CAM software. No demo/evaluation version. PCB ASSISTANTLow cost PCB CAD software. You can download limited demo version PCB DESIGNERLow cost PCB CAD software. You can download limited demo version. QCADPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. QUICK ROUTEPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. WIN CIRCUIT 98PCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version BOARD EDITORLow cost PCB CAD software. You can download free demo version. VUTRAXPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. CIRCUIT CREATORPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download free demo version. PADSPCBPADS PCB CAD/CAM software. You can download free limited demo version on this ftp server. DESIGN WORKSPCB schematic capture and simulation software. You can download free evaluation version LAY01PCB CAD/CAM software with limited demo version (200 pins) for free download. GElectronicLow cost PCB routing and schematic capture software. PRO-Board, PRO-NetSchematic capture and routing for AMIGA computers. CSIEDASchematic capture and routing for PC. VISUALPCBLow cost schematic capture, spice and routing for PC WINBOARDCAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited demo version. ULTIBOARDCAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited demo version EASY PCPCB CAD/CAM software RANGERPCB CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version PROTEUSLow cost CAD/CAM software. You can download limited demo version. EPD - Electronics Packaging DesignerRF/hybrid/flex design tools based on AutoCAD.No demo available for direct download. AutoTrax EdaSchematic design and PCB routing software. You can download free copy from the web site SprintLayoutWindows only low cost tool to create layouts for single-sided, double-sided and four layer PCBs. You can download limited demo version from the web site. CADINTSchematic capture and PCB routing. Have 30 days trial version for download. Merlin PCB DesignerShareware for Corel Draw which allow PCBs to be routed. WINQCADSchematic capture, PCB routing, autorute. Have free 200 pin version for download PulsonixPCB schematic capture and routing software. 100 pin restricted demo available. DIPTRACEPCB schematic capture and routing software. 30 days evaluation version. Not-for-profit version available allows 4 layers and 1000 pins for $125 RIMU PCBLow cost PCB schematic capture and routing software. Demo version is available for download TopoRSchematic capture and PCB layout with some unique features as round edges auto-routing, made in Russia. Demo version is available for download TINASchematic capture and PCB layout with analysis and spice. Demo version is available for download for EUR 1.00 Gerber CAM/viewersGerbvGerbv is an open-source gerber viewer which runs on Linux and Windows. It is a component of the gEDA Suite of PCB tools Gerber viewer ONLINEOnline Gerber viewer tool, no need to register or download software, just upload your ZIP and visualize all gerber files inside. Great online tool! Open Source Pcb Design Software FreeGC PrevueFree gerber viewer. ViewMateFree gerber viewer GerbToolCool Gerber CAM software. You can download limited demo version. CAM 350Gerber CAM software. You can download limited demo version. CAMTASTICGerber CAM software. You can download 45 days trial demo version CAMCADPCB CAD/CAM viewer / translator. You can download limited demo versions. CAM ExpertCAD/CAM program. You can download limited demo version. EvgraverFree Pcb Design SoftwareProgarm for control of CNC engraving machine. May be used for Gerber/HPGL viewer/convertor. You can download limited demo version ViewPlotGerber viewer and editor. Circuit PeopleOnline Gerber viewer. GerberLogixGerber viewer can be download and used free for non-commercial use PCB InvestigatorGerber viewer can be download and used 30 days free of charge. Comments are closed.
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