Design/Sim/PCB Layout Package for Student Electronics Lab

C

Chris Maryan

Guest
I'm putting together a student electronics lab for elec eng and comp eng
students where they can get access to fairly nice equipment for their hobby
and thesis projects. Part of that is giving them access to a schematic
capture/simulation/PCB layout solution. I'm torn on the choice, mostly
because I have little experience with this software and am looking for
guidance from this group. Thus far my options are:
- OrCad: seems to be industry standard, but their educational licensing
terms are a little unfriendly to what we are trying to do.
- Protel: Another big name, don't know too much about it though.
- Proteus: Mostly because it can incorporate PIC microcontrollers into its
mixed signal simulation. PICs are really popular with the students here.
- Any other suggeestions?

The main goal here is to give a powerful tool (we want to offer more than
the cheap/free simulators that some students use at home), that will be
recognized by industry (i.e. they can eventually put this on their resumes)
and that has a relatively fast learning curve for basic design and
simulation (not too dauning for beginners). Most of the designs will be slow
(40MHz or less), mixed signal, low voltage (30V at most) and destined for
small single or double sided boards. Although some have expressed a desire
to try high speed (100MHz+), even microwave and multi layer designs.

Any suggestions? Offers of sponsorship? Crazy rantings?

Many thanks,

Chris
 
Hi Chris,

There is Eagle from www.cadsoft.de which is nice and not expensive. Schematic
entry plus layout. Could even be free for universities but that I don't know.
However, it is not industry standard and no sim. But my take is that students
should also learn how to interweave programs, iow how to create an output file
that will then run on Berkeley SPICE or something else. In biz they'll face
those challenges a lot.

As far as I can see here in the west OrCAD is pretty much standard. You'd have
to negotiate with the vendor about deals. On the market it costs quite a bit
more than Eagle.

Regards, Joerg.
 
"Chris Maryan" <joe@schmoe.com> wrote in message
news:3%0ec.43458$wq4.2741445@news20.bellglobal.com...
I'm putting together a student electronics lab for elec eng and comp eng
students where they can get access to fairly nice equipment for their
hobby
and thesis projects. Part of that is giving them access to a schematic
capture/simulation/PCB layout solution. I'm torn on the choice, mostly
because I have little experience with this software and am looking for
guidance from this group. Thus far my options are:
- OrCad: seems to be industry standard, but their educational licensing
terms are a little unfriendly to what we are trying to do.
- Protel: Another big name, don't know too much about it though.
- Proteus: Mostly because it can incorporate PIC microcontrollers into its
mixed signal simulation. PICs are really popular with the students here.
- Any other suggeestions?

The main goal here is to give a powerful tool (we want to offer more than
the cheap/free simulators that some students use at home), that will be
recognized by industry (i.e. they can eventually put this on their
resumes)
and that has a relatively fast learning curve for basic design and
simulation (not too dauning for beginners). Most of the designs will be
slow
(40MHz or less), mixed signal, low voltage (30V at most) and destined for
small single or double sided boards. Although some have expressed a desire
to try high speed (100MHz+), even microwave and multi layer designs.

Any suggestions? Offers of sponsorship? Crazy rantings?
EasyPC: http://www.numberone.com

Pulsonix: http://www.pulsonix.com

Leon
 

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top