[sdiy] pcb / circuit layout software

[Chris MacDonald]

The "standard" version of Circuitmaker 2000 is $395.  Still not cheap
but much less than the $1000 "professional" version which has nice, but
not essential extra features IMO.  The CM2K interface is the least
aggravating of those that I have tried so far.  It has some bugs and
annoying quirks but I was able to produce a moderately complex circuit
board with the 30 day trial version.  The simulation feature is handy
and the schematic drawing interface is decent.  I could not find any
OTAs in the part libraries though. :(  The procedure for making new
parts is fairly obscure.  The PCB layout program (which is separate from
the schematic program) is functional, but a PCB layout isn't well
coupled to its schematic drawing, so revisions don't automatically
propagate from one to the other.

-Chris

Mountain Man wrote:
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] pcb / circuit layout software
> Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 06:14:03 -0500
> From: Mountain Man <mtman at cloud9.net>
> To: Chris Crosskey <chris.crosskey at metrics.co.uk>
> References: <609562B7721BD41187B400B0D020856035C9DB at FILESERV>
> 
> I downloaded and installed the demo version of the Scooter program -
> Deutsch
> only, which I don't speak  :(      About your suggestions, Harry,  $1K
> is
> considerably more than I had in mind to spend on a hobby that I'm just
> beginning
> to get into.  Quite a reasonable price for a commercial product, but too
> much
> for me at this point.  I will keep an eye on ebay, in the meantime, the
> search
> goes on.  Any other suggestions for layout software most welcome  :)
> 
> Elby
> 
> Chris Crosskey wrote:
> 
> > I don't know if it is available in a language to suit you  (ie I don't know
> > if it was ported to English) but if you come across a package called Scooter
> > by HK Datanteknik (prolly misspelled that) then it's pretty good. Available
> > on several platforms and portable across them, does Gerber adn NC-Drill but
> > has a wonderfully intuitive interface. I've used the Atari version for yonks
> > (the Germans are big into the high-end Atari clones)...
> >
> > chrisc
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Mountain Man [mailto:mtman at cloud9.net]
> > > Sent: 27 March 2001 04:50
> > > To: synth-diy
> > > Subject: [sdiy] pcb / circuit layout software
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I'm interested in finding an easy-to-use (read: beginner) pcb layout /
> > > circuit design program.  I want at least something that will provide a
> > > graphical interface with pcb and circuit diagram views; something that
> > > will allow me to do simulations as well,  would be a plus.  I've been
> > > surfing the web, and have downloaded several programs
> > > including: Eagle,
> > > Qcad, ExpressPCB, and PCB developer's assistant.  I haven't
> > > gotten what
> > > I want with any of these.  They are either inacessible to the
> > > novice (no
> > > way to avoid getting lost in long lists of cryptic part numbers, for
> > > example), or don't provide for both a pcb and a circuit diagram view.
> > > Can anyone recommend a program for Win 98 that has a good interface, a
> > > reasonable feature set, and is accessible to a novice?  It
> > > doesn't need
> > > to be freeware - I'm willing to pay a moderate price, but I do want to
> > > try a demo version before buying.
> > >
> > > Thanks very much,
> > > Elby
> > >