Can you use files from ExpressPCB to etch your own boards?

[Chris Wilson]

Can you use files from ExpressPCB to etch your own boards? Or are they in a proprietary format and you have to have them or their agents etch boards for you? Thanks. If the latter, is there a cheap but similarly intuitive schematic and board design programme?

[MattHollands]

Hi Chris,

As far as I am aware ExpressPCB do not let you etch your own boards easily. They use a proprietary format to lock you into using their PCB service.

I've personally had good experiences recently using Altium's Circuit Maker to design a board and OSH Park to get it made. OSH Park charge $5 per square inch, for 3x double sided board.

A popular alternative to Circuit Maker is Eagle. In fact you can upload files directly from eagle to OSH Park and they will make the board for you.

[Edit] On second read, it looks like you want to etch your own boards, rather than get them made professionally. I know for a fact you can do this easily with Eagle as I did it in my shed countless times. I THINK you can do it with ExpressPCB because I believe that's what I used at school, and we etched our own boards. I guess it kind of depends on your etching method, but if all you need is a printout then it should be simple with either tool. [/Edit]

Matt

[KL27x]

Yes. You can print from ExpressPCB. If you can't reverse the image in your printer software, you can use a PDF printer app to do so.

If you're in a hurry to make a particular board, then sure. If you can wait a few weeks, I'd give a go at learning anything else. The longer you use ExpressPCB, the more work you will put down the drain.

[CatalinaWOW]

There are several cheap (including free) PCB design softwares.  What is intuitive depends a lot on what your past experience is, and how your brain works.  Something else to consider is how long these softwares will last.  Eagle is not intuitive for me, in fact, most people seem to find a steep learning curve with it.  But it does appear likely to be around for a long time.  The one I use most often is vulnerable to dying any minute, but it was easy for me to learn (Autotrax DEX).  Many other low end programs have either disappeared completely, or stopped development.  In a world where operating systems abandon their past every few years stopped development is death.

[zapta]

The packages you want to consider, in arbitrary order, are Eagle (very popular, mature, UI takes time to learn), Dip Trace (supposed to have good UI), Kicad (open source, getting promising, not mature) and Circuit Maker  (limitations on keeping your design private or saving them on your computer). Just play with them and see which one you like.

For PCB manufacturing process check pcbshopper.com

I am using Eagle, may switch down the road to Kicad.