Free pcb design software to replace eagle.

[abaxas]

Hi all. First post so please be gentle!

After a 20 year 'holiday' from the world of electronics, EE degree but ended up working with computers. I'm back......

First project is to build some pinball machine test equipment. So I downloaded eagle, did 2-3 hours training and things start to return from the back of my brain and the schematics are done.

So I try and do a pcb layout.... and it wont fit on 100x80. Bugger

Hence the question..... which software to move to? Suggestions please.

[Phaedrus]

DipTrace is good, one of the best free ones I've found.

I actually like ExpressPCB's schematic software (ExpressSCH) better than DipTrace's, it's better for quick sketches. But DipTrace's PCB layout software is an order of magnitude better than ExpressPCB.

[ludzinc]

My vote is KiCAD.

I'm 'normally' an Altium user at work and just recently switched to KiCAD for home projects.  I've been using it for less than a month, but find it carries enough features for PCB design.

Only downside so far is that it is _not_ Windows software and thus the user interface is a bit weird to grasp.  What I mean by 'not Windows' is that it's multi-platform (Windows, 'nix, Mac) and thus it doesn't 'work' like other Windows programmes.  For example right click - copy / paste just isn't an option.

Good luck!

[lgbeno]

I've managed well with DesignSpark PCB.  I prefer the user interface over Eagle and KiCad particularly for Sybil and footprint creation

[GiskardReventlov]

What I mean by 'not Windows' is that it's multi-platform (Windows, 'nix, Mac) and thus it doesn't 'work' like other Windows programmes.  For example right click - copy / paste just isn't an option

Don't feel bad, apparently it doesn't follow the look-and-feel of any of the platforms it runs on. The author chose to do what they wanted to do.

[c4757p]

Yeah, it's completely, uh, "unique".

It's right click -> "Save Block", by the way (or Ctrl-C), followed by Paste, which as far as I can see only exists on the toolbar.

[ludzinc]

Yeah, it's completely, uh, "unique".

It's right click -> "Save Block", by the way (or Ctrl-C), followed by Paste, which as far as I can see only exists on the toolbar.

Thanks for the tip.  As far as I could work it out, 'Copy Block' just grouped your selection.  I had no idea you could paste from a toolbar.

Dear KiCAD - a paste hot key would be FANTASTIC!

[sleemanj]

Only downside so far is that it is _not_ Windows software and thus the user interface is a bit weird to grasp.  What I mean by 'not Windows' is that it's multi-platform (Windows, 'nix, Mac) and thus it doesn't 'work' like other Windows programmes.  For example right click - copy / paste just isn't an option.

That has nothing to do with being cross platform, and everything to do with the kiCad developers not being able to design an intuitive user interface if their life depended on it.

Hence the question..... which software to move to? Suggestions please.

My vote would be Diptrace.  It has a fairly generous limit for the free version (300 pins)

[Teledog]

..found every program has it's pros & cons.
started with Eagle, then was thrown into (old) Orcad, then PADS &..yada yada ....no, I'm not a designer..just part of the job.
I like Kicad lately because of the plenty of open source hardware files out there (software? ie:GoodFET?)  and being able to easily upload Gerbers to OSH Park.
/end my silly rave 

[grumpydoc]

I tried kicad but struggled to get a simple schematic entered so switched to gEDA. At least I got the schematic in although the step of getting the PCB layout done is proving a bit more cumbersome.

I suspect that kicad is the more capable program but will stick with gEDA now until it runs out of steam.

[mcinque]

Diptrace. 

The only thing is missing is an automatic BOM.

[grumpydoc]

Diptrace.   

The only thing is missing is an automatic BOM.

No native Linux version.

Not a complete show stopper as I have plenty of Windows boxes available but my main machine is Linux.

Yes, I know DIPtrace will work with Wine but I don't use that for anything else so it's an extra item to set-up.

pcb has a wierd UI though - I mean do I really need to rotate a bunch of objects by putting them in a buffer, rotating the buffer, then putting them back on the diagram.

And why no tools to align or distribute items (I want lines or grids of LEDs).

[ion]

Diptrace.   

The only thing is missing is an automatic BOM.

...

And why no tools to align or distribute items (I want lines or grids of LEDs).

Just discovered this the other day: Edit > Copy Matrix...