Free Schematic and Layout software!

[perfect_disturbance]

So I've just finished a project.  I built it on a piece of strip board and have been testing it for a few weeks and it's working great.  Now I want to have a professional circuit board printed up for it.  Most of the places I've looked at want Gerber files.

What's a good workflow for drawing up a schematic and processing that to some sort of layout files that I can send to a PCB service for example seeedstudio's Fusion PCB Service?

What software should I used to capture the schematic and how do I use that to create the PCB layout and how do I save that as the Gerber files I need to send?

I have both Windows and Linux PC's.  Software that runs on either but preferably both is fine.

Thanks

[Mechatrommer]

DipTrace is easy to use but 300pins limited for free edition. good enough for basic and hobby projects. there are free open source software such as KiCAD but i never get around it, its "too complicated"

[ElektroQuark]

there are free open source software such as KiCAD but i never get around it, its "too complicated"

No, it isn't.

[ttp]

Another options are Eagle PCB from Cadsoft and Design Spark PCB from RS Components. Free version of Eagle has limitations but seems to be more popular, Design Spark has no limits but runs on Windows only.

[Thor-Arne]

there are free open source software such as KiCAD but i never get around it, its "too complicated"

No, it isn't.

Agree, it's just different. If you haven't used any EDA before it's not much different to learning another one.
And it's free with no limits and multiplatform.

[Mechatrommer]

there are free open source software such as KiCAD but i never get around it, its "too complicated"

No, it isn't.

Agree, it's just different. If you haven't used any EDA before it's not much different to learning another one.

have you tried DipTrace? among the "complicated" stuff in KiCAD are i have to click 2 separate scroll to move (pan) in X-Y direction, and rendering is a bit slower so i guess it must use "complex mathematical calculation" during redrawing. and lastly i'm too lazy or dont have enough time to read the manual (just printed it now ). for the $300++ price standard and $700++ unlimited DipTrace and i'm a hobby guy, i think sooner or later i'll need to learn the KiCAD, but if i or you have the money, i'm sure the experience will be "different", as you said.

[Thor-Arne]

have you tried DipTrace? among the "complicated" stuff in KiCAD are i have to click 2 separate scroll to move (pan) in X-Y direction, and rendering is a bit slower so i guess it must use "complex mathematical calculation" during redrawing. and lastly i'm too lazy or dont have enough time to read the manual (just printed it now ). for the $300++ price standard and $700++ unlimited DipTrace and i'm a hobby guy, i think sooner or later i'll need to learn the KiCAD, but if i or you have the money, i'm sure the experience will be "different", as you said.

I didn't get as far as trying DipTrace, I settled with KiCad before that. Tried some others like DesignSpark, I didn't like that one, it was slow as crap on my laptop. KiCad however was quite fast. Only issue with speed in KiCad I've noticed is when scrolling/zooming larger PCB's (i.e. the video board in the sample directory).

Personally I don't mind the way panning is done in KiCad, it's just a habit. But I understand this can be annoying if one is used to other software.

I expect KiCad will get better UI config options in the future.

[Excavatoree]

What about Express PCB?  For beginners making simple designs, their "free" software seems to be adequate.

I understand it isn't for the many board designers we have here, but for someone that needs his or her hand held, are they a good service?

[Thor-Arne]

What about Express PCB?  For beginners making simple designs, their "free" software seems to be adequate.

I understand it isn't for the many board designers we have here, but for someone that needs his or her hand held, are they a good service?

As I understand it, you'll commit to use their service for the manufacturing.
This just can't be a good idea, if you later need to get your boards manufactured elsewhere you have to learn to use another package, and do the work all over again.

I recommend using any of the independent software packages, you can then send your gerber files to any of the pcb manufacturing companies.

Even if this software and gerber files complicates the learning a little bit, it's well worth it even for one-offs.

If ExpressPCB is a good service or not I can't answer, haven't used them.

[Kremmen]

If the 300 pad limitation is OK for you, just go and get Diptrace at www.diptrace.com. You won't look back.
And $125 will get you the 1000 pad non-commercial version which i am using, should you need to do  bigger layouts.

[TerminalJack505]

If you're going to try DipTrace then don't forget that Dave has some sort of deal going with the DipTrace guys.  If you send him a message he can give you a license code to turn the 300-pin freeware version into a 500-pin version.

[Josephine85]

I would recommend Cadsofts PBC Board Layout too.
Maybe it doesn't have the features of the full version but if you are looking for free software its the best to start with.