Greetings
Does Kicad run under Windows? I tried downloading and it would get about 10% through the download then my computer would switch off. Never had this happen before but happened more than once so not an aberration. Might be explained if the program is designed to run under a special environment, hence my question. Very odd, though.
Tinycad does have provision for both metric and imperial. Maybe you had an old version?
cheers
Graeme
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Barnes" <jim@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I want to echo my approval of KiCAD. In the current century, I first
> used TinyCAD. Why? Because it was the first program that I googled when
> searching for FREE CAD software. Along with FreePCB and a Gerber viewer,
> it really is capable doing a PCB; I used it for my first one. Its
> program glitches and, especially, its component library drive me up the
> wall, though. Whoever designed TinyCAD's libraries used something other
> than inches (probably metric) and the components can't be adjusted to an
> inch grid without redrawing them. In frustration, I installed KiCAD just
> today. After going through the tutorial, I'm quite impressed with its
> capabilities. I re-entered a schematic for a prospective PCB of mine and
> did it in a quarter of TinyCAD's time or less.
>
>
>
> (Sorry, ROTW, but I use inches, NOT mm! Through-hole components are
> sized in inches. If I want to build a soldered breadboard, perf boards
> come only in 0.1 inch spacing. If by some miracle I come up with a
> production design, American PCB houses use inches. I like the metric
> system and wish we had changed over in the 1950s, but we didn't. Unless
> manufacturers of the stuff-electronic, mechanical, and lumber, too-I use
> all go metric, I still use inches! Sorry for the off-topic tirade.)
>
>
>
> Bottom line for newbies: Don't waste your time with TinyCAD/FreePCB! If
> you need free, go right to KiCAD.
>
>
>
> Back in the computing dark ages (1980 +/-), I used OrCAD (now
> Candence/Orcad). I've seen that OrCAD is giving away their DOS (Yes, I
> said DOS!) version for free. The current version is a very high price,
> high capability product. I used the DOS version in the dark ages to
> design stuff for NASA and the military. I don't really remember whether
> it had component rotation, but I'll bet it did. Aerospace hardware used
> a lot of weird-sized boards that didn't lend themselves to parts lined
> up like soldiers in formation. If you're inclined to step back into the
> last century, you might check it out at www.orcad.com.
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of awakephd
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 7:46 AM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: PCB layout & component rotation
>
>
>
>
>
> I am very satisfied with KiCad -- so far I've not found anything I
> needed that it can't do. I have had to go into the module editor and the
> component editor from time to time to create my own
> components/footprints, but it is easy to do. There are quite a few
> libraries out there. IMO, it would be beneficial if someone had the time
> to go through all of these libraries and clean them up -- make them all
> more consistent.
>
> Take into account the fact that, while not quite still a newbie, I am
> certainly far less experienced than many others here. The most ambitious
> board that I've made so far is the one I'm working on now, a 3"x6"
> double-sided board with a mix of surface mount and through-hole
> components, using 10/10 rules for the SMD/logic section. I have etched
> it and it ∗looks∗ good, but I've not yet drilled and populated it, so
> time will tell ...
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com> , "James" <jamesrsweet@>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Kicad allows you set the angle to any arbitrary amount. You
> right-click on the component, choose Edit Component, and then change the
> Orientation to User, which lets you type in the angle you want.
> > >
> >
> >
> > Cool, thanks guys, sounds like it's there in most of them, apparently
> I've not been looking in the right place, I'm still a novice at using
> these CAD packages but learning more all the time.
> >
> > I'm currently pursuing Kicad because the price is right and it is not
> limited in any way. Obviously I'm not spending thousands on software to
> make a dozen or so boards a year at home for my hobby, and I've found
> that most of the free or cheap versions of other products are far too
> crippled, the price shoots up dramatically by the time you get something
> useful.
> >
>
>
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