Homebrew PCBs

I began with KiCad a couple of years ago when I started into this hobby, and have found it very satisfactory. It is open source, free, full featured, multi-platform, with no limitations. The user interface is pretty good -- a bit of learning curve, but that is true of any of the programs. There are some helpful tutorials on-line, and an active Yahoo group. It comes with a good set of libraries, and many more available on-line -- and it is easy to add new parts to make your own libraries.

KiCad uses a three-step process: 1) Design a schematic (which can cover multiple pages as needed); 2) Select the package for each component (i.e., KiCad lets you draw the schematic with a 1K resistor, but then you can choose whether that is in an SMD package, or a 1/4 watt size, or 1/2 watt size, or vertically placed, or so on.) 3) Design the board. You can ask the program to auto-place components and to auto-route, but unless your design is very simple, you will want to do some manual placement and routing.

You can have up to 16 layers; you can output Gerber files or postscript; you can invert, mirror, or scale any layer(s); etc. In short, there is nothing I have ever tried that it cannot do.

Disclaimers: I have no relationship to KiCad other than satisfied user; I am running it on Ubuntu Linux, so cannot talk about how it works on Windows (though I know many people do use it on that platform).

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Syncopator" <davidbridgen@...> wrote:
>
> 
> In the past I have made many p.c.bs using the rub-on transfer method, in
> particular those which Chartwell used to produce (r.i.p.)
> 
> Although it gave me great satisfaction, I now want an easier method; a
> method of diagram capture, auto routing and board pattern.  I don't need
> simulation once the diagram is drawn.
> 
> I've tried a couple of programs, can't remember which ones, but I found
> them awkward or clumsy to use and I simply ran out of patience.
> 
> Are there free and simple programs available?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>