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Evan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:
Schematic Software |
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What are people's recommendations for schematic drawing software for Windows?
This includes schematic stensils for Microsoft Visio.
I've done a quick checkout of KiCAD and Eagle LE, and have found them both difficult to use and confusing.
My initial schematic is for an Advance Powerflex P350 power supply (has a problem and I have to reverse engineer the schematic to figure it out). As the PCB is approx A4 (or Letter sized), Eagle LE will be too limiting.
I also found it difficult to find a simple resistor that looks like a resistor in Eagle (the squiggly line type). Basically too many choices for a beginner, but I can see the value for more experienced people. Also, Eagle seems to pretty much requires you to know the parts you are going to use, so getting ideas down and then refining them seems to be more difficult.
I'm happy to pay a reasonable amount for this software, although I do want to be able to check it out first. |
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toppobrillo
Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 766 Location: oakland, ca
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:
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hey there
i just downloaded a package called "diptrace" and i gotta say it's very good.
if you tried eagle then i think you'll appreciate this. |
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shawn
Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 209 Location: savannah
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:
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ExpressPCB is another popular software package for designing schematics as well as pcb artwork. There are literally tons of them out there but it's usually between ExpressPCB (a lot of guys in the diy pedal area use it) or CadSoft's Eagle. |
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Clack
Joined: Aug 08, 2005 Posts: 438 Location: Walthamstow - london
Audio files: 5
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Dave Kendall
Joined: May 26, 2007 Posts: 421 Location: England
Audio files: 3
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:36 am Post subject:
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Can anyone recommend a MAC OSX schematic program?
(at the moment I'm using a propelling pencil to make schematics
cheers,
Dave |
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Evan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:08 am Post subject:
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Dave Kendall wrote: | Can anyone recommend a MAC OSX schematic program?
(at the moment I'm using a propelling pencil to make schematics
cheers,
Dave |
Before I started this thread, I checked back 10 pages in DIY Synths, and there is a thread about a Mac schematic program. Not running a Mac, I've forgotten its name... |
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Evan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:10 am Post subject:
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shawn wrote: | ExpressPCB is another popular software package for designing schematics as well as pcb artwork. There are literally tons of them out there but it's usually between ExpressPCB (a lot of guys in the diy pedal area use it) or CadSoft's Eagle. |
Thanks, I downloaded this, and it is much easier to use than Eagle (or KiCad). There are still some weirdnesses, but it is very usable. |
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Evan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:27 am Post subject:
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Mr Clack wrote: | although not packed with features and not much of a contender in the market, ray Wilson's schematic editor |
I'll get this and try it out on one of the daughter boards in the power supply.
Quote: | its really easy to just pick up and use, might be a bit klunky for your complex board |
It's not that it's complex (well, the PCB to component layout diagram is complex), it's that there is just a lot of it. The design looks very clean, and once I had the initial section for dealing with the 110/220 AC laid out in the schematic, one of the major puzzlements was solved, that being that the voltage select switch had nothing connected for 220, but lots of circuitry for 110. That is, until the schematic showed that the 110 circuitry is fairly minor.
What's going to be the hardest part is figuring out what some of the parts are, as I reckon this power supply was built somewhere around 1990, and part labelling can be cryptic at times (and that is before the labelling ink/paint starts to wear off).
In the mean time, I'm having fun, and learning how a power supply is put together. |
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Uncle Krunkus
Moderator
Joined: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 4761 Location: Sydney, Australia
Audio files: 52
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:32 am Post subject:
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I learned ExpressPCB so I'd be able to do the Klee. I must admit the initial idea was for me to learn ExpressPCB and for Scott to refine his knowledge of it's sister program ExpressSCH. They can be linked together for checking netlists etc. They come together in the download, completely free.
Anyway, I must say that in the process I have ended up learning both, and I'm completely sold on them. Even for just jotting down ideas so I can share them here, ExpressSCH is great. There are extra sets of components as well, the collection is plenty to get you started, and it wasn't long before I got confident with making my own anyway.
I wouldn't bother with anything else now, and I definitely wouldn't pay for one.
BTW I tried Ray's as well, and it is quite good. I just like ExpressPCB/SCH a little bit better. _________________ What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there. |
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Evan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:56 am Post subject:
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Uncle Krunkus wrote: | Even for just jotting down ideas so I can share them here, ExpressSCH is great. |
Doing the layout was quick, I spent most of my time translating the PCB-to-component diagram, not figuring out how to get a device onto the page.
Quote: | and it wasn't long before I got confident with making my own anyway. |
I get to have this thrill soon, as there are some parts that are not in the components lists.
Quote: | I wouldn't bother with anything else now, and I definitely wouldn't pay for one. |
I pretty much agree, but I'll try Ray's on a small daughtercard, just to see what it is like. And to see what his programming is like. |
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Dave Kendall
Joined: May 26, 2007 Posts: 421 Location: England
Audio files: 3
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:
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Quote: | Before I started this thread, I checked back 10 pages in DIY Synths, and there is a thread about a Mac schematic program. Not running a Mac, I've forgotten its name |
I just looked, and could only find a thread about MAC PCB design progs, not schematic drawing progs.
Or maybe my inner blonde is in control today.
It does seem to be one of those days......
cheers,
Dave |
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elektro80
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 21959 Location: Norway
Audio files: 14
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:
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OS X?
Off the top of my head:
Osmond, DesignWorks, EPOXY, PCBWarrior and Eagle.
_________________ A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"
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SoundCloud
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elektro80
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 21959 Location: Norway
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elektro80
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 21959 Location: Norway
Audio files: 14
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elektro80
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 21959 Location: Norway
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