What software do you use for PCB design?

I'm interested in learning how to make a proper PCB rather than perf board with wires all over the place.

31 points · 19 comments · view on lemmy.world

19 Comments

M_Reimer@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 3y (4 replies)
[ removed ]
Saigonauticon@voltage.vn · 8 pts · 3y

Yeah! I tried it years back, and it was not so good.

Fast forward to this month. I try it again and am really impressed! It's great now!

I was using it on client work within hours.

carzian@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 3y

Kicad is great. It also has a huge community behind it so there are plenty of tutorials and ways to get help

thzihdd@feddit.de · 7 pts · 3y

Second that. Did my own Keyboard design with it with zero preknowledge and available community resources.

MrPozor@discuss.tchncs.de · 6 pts · 3y

Another vote for Kicad. I have done a small project with it and it worked perfectly.

teri@discuss.tchncs.de · 15 pts · 3y

KiCad. Stay away from closed-source tools. They'll all try to press out the max amount of money sooner or later. Or get bought and discontinued for eliminating competition.

bekopharm@discuss.tchncs.de · 15 pts · 3y

KiCAD is good and has no vendor lock-in.

There are very good beginner tutorials and videos explaining typical workflows.

It features also stuff like auto-routing, error checking, part lists and 3D previews.

Sprite_tm@kbin.spritesserver.nl · 11 pts · 3y

Another Kicad vote here. Note that even if you don't like it and move away from it eventually, the fact that it's open-source and the file format is documented means you're capable of taking your designs with you.

XTL@sopuli.xyz · 9 pts · 3y

Kicad. Capable and free as in freedom and it just keeps getting more and more capable. Install size with all the libraries and models can be pretty massive, though. https://kicad.org

I also tried Horizon EDA recently and it's very impressive. Perhaps simpler and easier to use but still feels very full featured. Certainly a smaller install. https://horizon-eda.org

opensesame11@discuss.tchncs.de · 8 pts · 3y

I use Altium Designer and KiCAD. KiCAD isn't as good by just a hair but makes up for it by being free and open-source. Altium Designer is also crazy expensive for hobbyists.

HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 3y

Another tool worth exploring is EasyEDA. The fun part is you can even run it as a webapp.

It's tightly linked with the JLCPCB/LCSC ecosystem, so there's a lot of libraries of parts and it scans for their design rules, if you want to use their services.

There's also a somewhat basic auto-router baked in, which is harder to integrate in KiCAD.

I do agree that KiCAD is the consensus "full fat" tool these days, but I've put together decent projects in both.

MrMonkey@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 3y (2 replies)

KiCad. Is there a place to import more models from? Like say the esp line?

Or can I download it from something like Mouser when I find the part I need?

Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 3y (1 reply)

I've been looking into KiCad lately (thanks to this thread) and this guy seems to sum it up pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCVh2SAZY4&list=PL3bNyZYHcRSUhUXUt51W6nKvxx2ORvUQB&index=1&pp=iAQB

bekopharm@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 3y

Looks good. Enjoying the little history lesson there :D