Which Layout Program do you use?

Project_2501 · Joined: Jan 31, 2018 Posts: 68 Location: Los Angeles

Didn't see a thread in this nature so here it is... please delete/ignore if there is.

What program do you use for prototyping pcb/stripboards? pros/cons? Any which ones that are decent for free?

Any books/youtube instruction on how to translate schematic to efficient stripboard layout would be welcomed Very Happy

Grumble · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:31 am Post subject:

I use https://www.cadence.com/content/cadence-www/global/en_US/home/training/all-courses/85037.html this, its an expensive commercial package which I use for work but am allowed to use at home as well (can’t be in more places as one)...

gabbagabi · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:23 am Post subject:

iam not getting tierd to say to everybody:
Use "Sprint-Layout" !!!!!!

it is very easy to use, like a paint program
it is meant to use it for designing PCB layout but u can use it also for stripboard layout,
if you do so u dont need to learn a new program when you would design a PCB, and normaly this day will come in a complete SDIY-guy-lifecycle.

There is a full feature Demo Version only no saving/ printing fuction.
ive tested this program myself in a virtual maschine cheat the saving function (dont know how illegal that was) and purchased it as i was convinced that it will worth the 50€
https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/lng/en/electronic-software/sprint-layout-60.html?type=N&opt=%7B11%7D22&language=en

they have also a programm called "lochmaster" dedicated to stripboard design, which is also quite nice, but i would suggest sprint layout.

iam currently using them to develop a stripboard-design for my vco
attached a impression of how it could look like.

Sptint_VS_Loch.png

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Rob Kam · Joined: Jul 26, 2016 Posts: 7 Location: Gwynedd, UK

KiCad nightly build , decent and free. Docs here.

Getting to blinky.

Con: (Until you know what you're doing), KiCad libraries are organized in repositories on GitHub. Not for stripboard layouts.
Pro: KiCad libraries are organized in repositories on GitHub. For PCB layouts.

petegaggs · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 9:43 am Post subject:

I've been using easyeda, and can recommend it
https://easyeda.com/
I found I picked it up really quickly, probably due to the fact that the GUI seems to be modeled on Protel/Altium, which I used to use at work a long time ago.

Multi-sheet schematics did not work very well for me, though this was a while ago, they may well have improved that in the new version.
The auto router actually works pretty well, the PCBs I did with it were 100% autorouted.

You can also order PCBs from them, very competitive price. I recently got a small board made, qty 5 for about USD10 or so.

cslammy · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject:

Eagle. I used the free version for a long time and eventually sprung for the standard version (I think?) which allows the creation of larger PCB's.

Over the years, it's been a tiny bit buggy sometimes, not sure about the look and feel of the graphics output as sometimes it seems cluttered to me, but Eagle been around forever and I have found the tech support and community to be very helpful.

BTW the more recent versions greatly simplify the creation of gerber files, which is a big improvement. There is a bug with creating PDFs from reduced image files.