Free PCB Design Software?

Angelica Jolly · 05-11-2009, 04:03 AM

Hi,

where can i download pcb design software for free
i want full version software
also tell me which is the best one

**g2ktcf** · 05-11-2009, 04:42 AM

There are many packages out there. The only full package that is not demo or limited that I know of is www.freepcb.com

Others, like Diptrace, have 200 pin limit versions available.

Hope this helps.
Chris

**n1ist** · 05-11-2009, 07:47 AM

I have switched from ExpressPCB (full free software, but limited to using them as a board house) to Kicad http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/, also a full free package, but it generates gerbers which can be sent to any board house. I used Gold Phoenix for my last board - $100 for 155 sq in and they panelize for you.
/mike

**g2ktcf** · 05-11-2009, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by n1ist

I have switched from ExpressPCB (full free software, but limited to using them as a board house) to Kicad http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/, also a full free package, but it generates gerbers which can be sent to any board house. I used Gold Phoenix for my last board - $100 for 155 sq in and they panelize for you.
/mike

hmmm never heard of that one..might give it a try! lol

**51fordf2** · 05-11-2009, 10:16 AM

I use PCB Artist. It's for use by Advance Circuits, but you can print to PDFs or print to paper, for home-etch. The library is pretty hard to find stuff in, but you can build your own components, and they seem to stay on top of updating it. I've used Express PCB, and Eagle, but like the ease of PCB Artist.

R

**g2ktcf** · 05-11-2009, 11:15 AM

I was originally using PCBExpress...but I wanted the flexibility of getting Gerber Files and Excelon Drill Files. Does PCBArtist do that?

**edward57** · 05-13-2009, 11:04 PM

I use sprint-layout v5. not free ($29) but has a good library and can generate all the popular file types, and printing PDF with a printer calibration to ensure the sizes are correct.

Very pleased with the results it gives..

**NogginBoink** · 05-17-2009, 07:14 PM

I use Cadsoft Eagle (www.cadsoft.de). Be sure to download the tutorial from the downloads page and go through it.

**David_AVD** · 12-15-2009, 04:43 AM

Angelica Jolly,
There are various free and low cost packages around. Just bear in mind that you usually get what you pay for. Take advantage of the demos offered by the various vendors and see what suits you.

jonelee,
I use Altium DXP 2004 and it's quite good. Not sure how much a new licence for it is - probably around the USD $5000 at a guess. I always make my own component library parts as I really don't trust any of the pre-made ones. Besides once you get the hang of it, making a library part only takes a few minutes. Just make sure you have a set of digital callipers!

**Entropy** · 12-15-2009, 01:18 PM

Cadsoft Eagle is quite popular with the hobbyist/Open Hardware community because it has very good "bang for the buck" and is available for multiple platforms including Linux.

Both SparkFun Electronics and Adafruit (aka Limor Fried) use Eagle for their design work. SFE provides an Eagle library with every component they have ever used in a design since switching to Eagle, and Adafruit provides Eagle projects for most of their products (which include the library info for the components used).

Eagle is free for board/layer limited (4x3 inches and 2 layers IIRC) noncommercial use, and I believe $49 for unlimited noncommercial use. Commercial use is MUCH more expensive.

Eagle's free version limitations are more than enough for MANY hobbyist projects.