New query for low cost PCB CAD that *works*

R

Robert Baer

Guest
Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?
 
In article <vkShf.2227$A23.669@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>, Robert
Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> writes
Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?
Click to expand...
Vutrax is available free up to 256 pins, with various
capacity options thereafter (pricing on website).
You can download the whole thing as manageable sized downloads
totalling about 10MB, including a detailed hands-on tutorial
viewed in an HTML browser and a range of libraries and
interface modules from

http://www.vutrax.co.uk (Main UK site)
http://www.bnellis.com/vutrax (Central Europe Mirror)

The basic package includes Schematic Capture, Technical Drawing,
Auto-placement, Auto-routers, Groundplanes, Powerplanes,
Design Checking, EMC, multitudinous outputs.
Available for Windows 95 through XP (x64 by arrangement) and Linux.

--
Roy Battell.
To use this address remove the digits included to remove Spam ...
Mail: news@vutrax666.co.uk
 
Roy Battell wrote:

In article <vkShf.2227$A23.669@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>, Robert
Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> writes

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?


Vutrax is available free up to 256 pins, with various
capacity options thereafter (pricing on website).
You can download the whole thing as manageable sized downloads
totalling about 10MB, including a detailed hands-on tutorial
viewed in an HTML browser and a range of libraries and
interface modules from

http://www.vutrax.co.uk (Main UK site)
http://www.bnellis.com/vutrax (Central Europe Mirror)

The basic package includes Schematic Capture, Technical Drawing,
Auto-placement, Auto-routers, Groundplanes, Powerplanes,
Design Checking, EMC, multitudinous outputs.
Available for Windows 95 through XP (x64 by arrangement) and Linux.

Thanks, will give it a try.
Click to expand...
 
Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> wrote:
Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?
Click to expand...
Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle
--
Uwe Bonnes bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik Schlossgartenstrasse 9 64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------
 
Uwe Bonnes <bon@hertz.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de> writes:

Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> wrote:
Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?

Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle
Click to expand...
I heard Eagle is pretty good.

--

John Devereux
 
Robert Baer wrote:
Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?
Click to expand...
Since you don't like Eagle and you want something low cost, you might
want to try out WinQCad from www.winqcad.com. The 499 pin version is
free. I use the schematic editor frequently, and I've found it to be
easy to use and stable. I have an old version of Protel that I prefer
for pcb layout, so I can't speak for the pcb layout part of it.
 
Robert Baer wrote:

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?
Click to expand...
Try Kicad. Find it here:

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html

Ian
 
Hello Robert,

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
Click to expand...

C'mon, what irked you there? I switched from OrCad to Eagle and it took
very little time to figure it out. The only thing that I find a bit
clumsy versus OrCad is the library editor. That has a long learning
curve and doesn't offer a non-graphical parts generator.

Other than that I was drawing the first schematic within an hour after
download. Another few days of kicking tires won me over and I bought a
license.

Cadsoft is one of the very few companies who set up usenet type forums
for support and exchange between users. You can even pick the language.
Makes me wonder how many more parts TI or National would sell if they
did that.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
 
Uwe Bonnes wrote:

Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> wrote:

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?


Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle
Excuse me, did i not say that Eagle does not work (twice burned that
Click to expand...
way)???
 
John Devereux wrote:

Uwe Bonnes <bon@hertz.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de> writes:


Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> wrote:

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?

Have a look at Cadsoft Eagle


I heard Eagle is pretty good.

I do understand that a number of people are lucky enough to have it
Click to expand...
work - but both times i tried it, i could not add parts or delete parts.
I wasted a lot of time on each occasion downloading the progra, etc
and trying to do anything with it (besides waste time), and got nowhere.
That is why i excluded Eagle in my request.
 
PH wrote:

Robert Baer wrote:

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?


Since you don't like Eagle and you want something low cost, you might
want to try out WinQCad from www.winqcad.com. The 499 pin version is
free. I use the schematic editor frequently, and I've found it to be
easy to use and stable. I have an old version of Protel that I prefer
for pcb layout, so I can't speak for the pcb layout part of it.
Thanks, will check it out.
Click to expand...
 
Ian Bell wrote:

Robert Baer wrote:


Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.
And i was unable to figure out what files wer needed to make the DOS
Orcad even run - so that is out.
PCB123 is out, because the manual is worse than obscene - unreadable
(Acrobat sez it is corrupted and cannot fix it).
So what is left?


Try Kicad. Find it here:

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html

Ian
Thanks; added it to my growing list.
Click to expand...
 
Joerg wrote:

Hello Robert,

Do not mention Eagle, i wasted a lot of time on POTS to download the
demo version, and again, it was totally useless.



C'mon, what irked you there? I switched from OrCad to Eagle and it took
very little time to figure it out. The only thing that I find a bit
clumsy versus OrCad is the library editor. That has a long learning
curve and doesn't offer a non-graphical parts generator.

Other than that I was drawing the first schematic within an hour after
download. Another few days of kicking tires won me over and I bought a
license.

Cadsoft is one of the very few companies who set up usenet type forums
for support and exchange between users. You can even pick the language.
Makes me wonder how many more parts TI or National would sell if they
did that.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it?
Click to expand...
If it worked / works for you, great.
It was worse than worthless for me.
 
Robert Baer wrote:

Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it?
If it worked / works for you, great.
It was worse than worthless for me.
Click to expand...
Robert,

Computers are remarkably consistent in what they do, geographically. If it
doesn't work for you, it is likely that you are using some strange combination
of software and hardware. What operating system are you using, and about how
old is your computer?

-Chuck
 
Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> wrote:

Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it?
If it worked / works for you, great.
It was worse than worthless for me.
Click to expand...
So tell us exactly what you do and perhaps we can help you.

Remember that the free version chokes to put anything outside the 100x80 mm
allowed area.

Bye
--
Uwe Bonnes bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik Schlossgartenstrasse 9 64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------
 
Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net> writes:
So what is left?
Click to expand...
If you're a little adventerous, there's always gEDA - which is
absolutely free and has no design limits, although running it on a
windows machine might be tricky (it's designed for linux/unix).

http://www.geda.seul.org/

I know of at least one person who used gEDA's PCB layout software to
do a 24 layer board, and it supports up to 32x32 inches at 0.01 mil
resolution.
 
If you're a little adventerous, there's always gEDA
...running it on a windows machine might be tricky
DJ Delorie
Click to expand...
Are you or Stuart in touch with Ales?
Any idea how the latest Windows port is coming?
 
"JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> writes:
Are you or Stuart in touch with Ales? Any idea how the latest
Windows port is coming?
Click to expand...
Yeah, we're all on the mailing lists. I work primarily on the PCB
layout program, so if you're asking about the other tools you'll have
to check the archives or ask on the mailing list.
 
Hello Robert,

Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it?
If it worked / works for you, great.
It was worse than worthless for me.
Click to expand...

I have no problem adding and deleting parts in Eagle.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
 
Chuck Harris wrote:

Robert Baer wrote:


Like i said before, if one cannot add or delete a part, what use is it?
If it worked / works for you, great.
It was worse than worthless for me.


Robert,

Computers are remarkably consistent in what they do, geographically. If it
doesn't work for you, it is likely that you are using some strange
combination
of software and hardware. What operating system are you using, and
about how
old is your computer?

-Chuck
Lemme see now; i run different OSes, on different drives, and prefer
Click to expand...
to use Win2000, and i have a P5-2200 (GenuineIntel x86 Family 15 Model 2
Stepping 7); 1Gbte RAM.
 
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