What programs are available for drawing schematics?
For X11 (Linux, Unix, even Windows) the only real choice is xcircuit
(available at http://bach.ece.jhu.edu/~tim/programs/xcircuit/).
Fortunately it's an excellent choice.
I'm still looking for a short list of recommended programs for
Windows and MacOS, but here's a long list from the net:
>Subject: Re: Freeware schem.capture/board-design/auto-router ?
>Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 07:40:43 +0000
>From: Terry Pinnell
>Newsgroups: sci.electronics.cad
With minor variations, this question seems to arise here (and/or in
one of the other sci.electronics newsgroups) several times a month.
So I've listed below about 50 ECAD packages with URLs and brief notes,
with an emphasis on amateur/hobby use. They're obviously a very mixed
bag in terms of capabilities, full version price and popularity. Most
of them include schematic drawing. Many include PCB design (a few with
auto-routing). Relatively few incorporate simulation.
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
=========================
========
B2SPICE
BeigeBag
www.beigebag.com
"Analog simulator ... includes 3,000+ parts from manufacturers." From
$99.
Also B2 LOGIC "Digital circuit simulation & analysis tool with circuit
editor". Demos cannot save and print and are limited to a certain
number of components in a circuit. Trials are fully functional but are
limited to 30 days use.
=========================
========
CADSTAR
ZUKEN
http://www.zuken.com/solutions els.asp
Schematic and routing. No demo/evaluation, but can download 'Entry
Level Brochure' (244Kb). "Complete PCB Design On The Desktop. CADSTAR
is Zuken?s Entry Level Solution ...runs under Windows NT, Windows 98
and Windows 95 operating systems."
=========================
========
CADINT PCB
CADint Sweden
http://www.cadint.se/
Free version "allows use of all features up to 250 pins, using manual
routing only. The application requires Window 95/98 or Window NT...
Note that all libraries in CADint PCB free version are cut down to a
minimum, to speed up the download process." Approx. 10.5 MB
=========================
========
CAPFAST
Phase Three Logic
www.phase3.com
"Includes schematic editor, symbol editor, symbol library, plotting
program, & utilities." $1,000 entry? UNIX evaluation version
available.
=========================
========
CIRCAD
Holophase
www.holophase.com/
"Written entirely in Assembler Language by Hardware Design Engineers
(not utility programmers), CIRCAD boasts the highest run-time
performance of any PCB CAD package on the market today. Schematics,
netlists, circuit boards, and gerber plots are all at your fingertips
awaiting your beck and call. For the more advanced users, CIRCAD even
has a "reverse engineering" feature that enables you to start with a
scanned image of a PCB and work backwards to the schematic." Download
version available.
=========================
========
CIRCUIT LAYOUT
http://nstarsolutions.com/products/4488.htm
"... a printed circuit board design program ... Features include an
integrated autorouter, netlist import, Gerber photoplotter support,
and design rules checks. It is intended for hobbyists, and small
businesses." $82. Downloadable limited version for trial.
=========================
========
CIRCUIT CREATOR
AMS
www.advancedmsinc.com/
"Includes full Schematic Design and Capture, full interactive Symbol
Editor, professional Printed Circuit Board Design and Layout, and
Automatic Routing." Free demo.
=========================
========
CircuitMaker and TraxMaker, currently at version 2000
PROTEL/MICROCODE
www.microcode.com
"...allowing you to design, simulate and output your printed circuit
board designs. Exceptional ease of use and tight integration means
you'll spend less time learning the software and more time
designing... all the features of professional, high-end software at a
fraction of the cost." Student Version, same as CM 6 with the
following limitations: Max 50 devices per design (any type); Device
library limited to 1,000 models; Symbol editor and Macro feature
disabled; PCB netlist export limited to TraxMaker format; Technical
support limited to fax and email only.
Technical Support for the FULL version is pretty abysmal in my
opinion, so it's just as well that paper and on-screen Help is
relatively good.I'm a user of CM Pro 6.2c myself.
=========================
========
COMPUTAMATION SYSTEMS
VUTRAX
www.vutrax.co.uk/
No simulation. Demo version limited to 256 pins. Extensive libraries,
plus "...you can draw anything you like". Approx. 9MB download (7
floppy-sized files).
=========================
========
DESIGN WORKS
DOUGLAS PROFESSIONAL CAD/CAM
http://209.35.53.132
Demo for Mac downloadable. For Windows send for CD-ROM.
=========================
========
DESIGN WORKS LITE
Capilano Computing
www.capilano.com/
"Draw, save, edit and print complete, professional circuit diagrams
using powerful features like bussing, multi-level Undo/Redo, and
automatic gate packaging. Use the library of common 74XX and discrete
symbols provided or create your own libraries using the built-in
symbol editor. Send compact circuit diagram files to friends or
colleagues over the 'net. They can get their own free copy of
DesignWorks Lite to view, edit and print the circuits."
=========================
========
DOUGLAS PROFESSIONAL CAD/CAM
Douglas Electronics
http://209.35.53.132/
"Schematic capture and more..."
=========================
========
Eagle Layout
CADSOFT
www.cadsoftusa.com/
"... easy to use, powerful and affordable schematic capture and
printed circuit board design"
=========================
========
EASY-PC
Number One Systems
http://www.numberone.com/main.htm
"Integrated Schematic and PCB design environment? Four Product
Variants? Easy to use? Outputs professional manufacturing files? Sh
ape
Based Copper Pour? True Split/Partial Power Planes"
Demo available.
=========================
========
EDS-LITE
VAMP Inc
www.mccad.com/
"... fully operational EDA design system which will actually produce
maufacturable outputs...includes a Schematic Capture module, a PCB
Layout module, a Gerber Tranlator Module and a robust set of Library
symbols and footprints. An abrieveated [and hopefully spell-checked]
users manual is also provided in PDF format." This LITE version has
net, pin and board size limits.
=========================
========
EDWIN
Swift Eurotech
www.swiftdesigns.co.uk/
"EDWin is totally integrated CAD/CAE software packages..." [sic]. Demo
available. Full versions ?165 - $540 @ Feb 2001.
=========================
========
EXPERT PCB
Sage Eda
www.sage-eda.com/
"ExpertPCB II for MacOS costs $1695 per seat. A competitive upgrade is
available for $995." Limited demo version.
=========================
========
ELECTRIC
Static Free Software
http://www.staticfreesoft.com/
Free download. "The Electric source code distribution contains code
written in C, which can be compiled and run on UNIX (all variants),
Macintosh (system 7 or 8), and Windows (9x/NT/2000). In addition, the
distribution includes the user's manual (in HTML) and supporting data
files (libraries, samples, etc.)" Looks a bit tricky to set up on
Windows? Full Windows version approx. $175.
=========================
========
gEDA
Stormix Technologies
www.stormix.com/resources/packages/electronics/geda-utils
"GNU EDA, an electronics design package, including gschem, a schematic
editor. This is alpha software!"
=========================
========
ICAP
INTUSOFT
www.intusoft.com
"...the most powerful analog and mixed-signal simulation toolset on
the market... sets the industry standard for accurate, easy-to-use,
and feature rich SPICE software with state-of-the-art technology at a
price affordable by ANY budget."
Student version IsSpice4, "... the same as the production version.
However, IsSpice4 will only accept SPICE netlists with fewer than 20
top-level components... Simulator: Circuit Size Limited to 20 main
circuit (top-level) elements, special limitations are applied to
subcircuits... The key difference between the demonstration version of
ICAP/4Windows and the ICAP/4 Students version is that ICAP/4Students
comes with a much larger library of models (900 vs. 75+), full product
support, and a printed manual."
=========================
========
INTERACTIVE IMAGE TECHNOLOGIES - Electronics Workbench (EWB)
Multisim - Schematic Capture, Simulation & Programmable Logic
(I recall EWB used to be the name of the package. But now it's the
name of the company, and the package itself is now called Multisim.)
You can download the Multisim V6 Demo for Windows 95/98/NT (large -
msmdemo.exe is 22.5MB). Full version approx. $1,000?
Also Ultiboard: Powerful PCB Layout & Ultiroute: Autorouting &
Autoplacement.
=========================
========
LAY01
www.baas.nl/
PCB CAD/CAM software with 200 pin demo version for free download.
=========================
========
MATLAB
The MathWorks Inc
www.mathworks.com/
Student version available
=========================
========
OSMOND PPC
www.swcp.com/~jchavez/osmond.html
Free MAC PCB CAD/CAM software.
"The latest release is Version 0.99b2, built January 14, 2001...
During the public beta testing period, I am providing current versions
of the Osmond PCB application and documentation for the adventurous on
a free trial basis. The application is fully functional and not
crippled in any way."
=========================
========
PADSPCB
ftp://sss-mag.com/pcb design/pcb.txt
"...small printed circuit board cad package... three programs: an
autorouter, a board viewer, and a board printer." Free limited demo
version on this ftp server.
=========================
========
PCB
Thomas Nau/Harry Eaton
bach.ece.jhu.edu/~haceaton/pcb/index.html
Free unix PCB editor. "...free software for making printed circuit
board layouts. It has many features and is capable of
professional-quality output. pcb was orignally written by Thomas Nau
of University of Ulm, Germany, and is now maintained by harry eaton of
the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel,
Maryland, USA."
=========================
========
PC LOGIC
Circuit Layout
" Design your circuit with PC Logic's schematic capture program --
This easy to learn program is an ideal front-end to PC Logic's Circuit
Layout PCB editor. Schematic capture should have always been this
easy!"
=========================
========
PCB ASSISTANT
A. Waldherr (Germany)
www.waldherr.com/
Low cost PCB CAD software. Limited demo version, PCB Editor DEMO V3.0
(900 KB)
=========================
========
PCB DESIGNER
www.niche.co.uk/
Low cost PCB CAD software. You can download limited demo version.
"... Microsoft Windows application (see PCB Designer Requirements)
that enables you to design masks for printed circuit boards. It's main
goal is to make this process as easy as possible... ideally suited for
use in educational establishments, for the home hobbyist and for small
businesses." ?49 ($77 USD). English and French language libraries
included in both full and demo versions.
=========================
========
PCB ELEGANCE
Merco
http://www.merco.nl/
CAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. You can download limited
demo version. "In the limited version of PCB elegance all the
functionallity is available, except the design limited is set to 200
pins."
=========================
========
PROTEUS LITE
Labcenter
www.labcenter.co.uk/
Low cost CAD/CAM software. (Shareware). Limited demo version. I tried
it a couple of years ago and personally found its interface very hard
work.
=========================
========
PROCAD POWERSTATION 32
Interactive CAD Systems
www.icadsys.com
"... a single Editor solution for Schematic Capture, PCB Layout,
Wizard driven component creation, and Mechanical drafting. You don't
need to use three or more packages with different interfaces - We do
it all in one very easy to use EDA Editor..." Lite version for $50.
=========================
========
PROTEL
Protel
www.protel.com/
Expensive, professional use. 30 days free trial available.
=========================
========
QCAD
Microcad
www.winqcad.com/
"Qcad 14.1 is a complete electronics design software running with
Windows 95/98/NT operating system. It includes schematics and PCB
design, and a state of the art autorouter together with a post-routing
optimizer. Depending on the features and pin capacity, Qcad is
available from just $59 US."
=========================
========
QUICK ROUTE
Quickroute Systems
www.quickroute.co.uk/
Poor web site - no details of Quick Route as at 14th Feb 2001.
=========================
========
RANGER 2
Seetrax
www.seetrax.co.uk/
PCB CAD/CAM software. Limited demo version (no saving facilities).
=========================
========
SCORE
[Unclear who developed it]
members.ol.com.au/score/
Free schematic capture software for Windows. (Alfa version). "Ability
to import OrCAD SDT and OrCAD Release IV schematics
Can use directly either .LIB or .SRC libraries. No design size
limitations. Export EDIF netlist"
=========================
========
SILVACO
SmartSpice
www.silvaco.com/products/analog/crusade/smartspicent/smartspicent br.html
"SmartSpice uniquely provides vendor compatibility with major Spice
vendors and platform compatibility between UNIX and PC platforms...
compatible with HSpice, PSpice and Berkeley Spice. Designs completed
under HSpice and PSpice can be re-simulated without modification."
=========================
========
SUPERSPICE
Kevin Aylward
www.anasoft.co.uk
"... Cheap, No Shit!, a currently free GUI xspice, unlimited
component, mixed-mode Windows simulator with Schematic Capture,
waveform display, FFT's and Filter Design."
=========================
========
SPICYCLE
TATUM LABS
www.tatumlabs.com
Two-level schematic editor & PCB layout; reverse-engineering
capability; imports a netlist & represents it schematically. $300
entry?
=========================
========
SIMETRIX
Newbury Technology
www.newburytech.co.uk/models.html
"...the most complete and high performance solution for electronics
design using personal computers. Includes full Schematic Design and
Capture, full interactive Symbol Editor, professional Printed Circuit
Board Design and Layout, and Automatic Routing... 100% customer
satisfaction. Since its inception 5 years ago, not one single customer
has returned or asked to return a copy of SIMetrix, or expressed
dissatisfaction with SIMetrix in any way." $249? Free demo available.
=========================
========
TopSPICE/Win32
PENZAR DEVELOPMENT
www.penzar.com/topspice.htm
"For Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000. An affordable integrated computer-aided
circuit design software package offering advanced native mixed-mode
mixed-signal analog/digital/behavioral simulation based on the
industry standard SPICE program."
=========================
========
TINA Pro 5.5
"Offering over 20,000 models, fully interactive simulation with a wide
range of virtual instruments, and a powerful feature set, TINA is
available in a range of versions to suit most users. Full information
and demonstration software will be available on our web site next
week" [Undated statement!]
=========================
========
TARGET2001
I.B Friedrich (Germany)
www.ibfriedrich.com/
Limited demo version available.
"For a LAYOUTER the migthyness of the functions is most important. It
does not matter which (expensive) hardware is required, how much the
software costs or how long and costly the start-up time is; the main
thing is, that he can work productively one fine day. TARGET 2001! V8
design station ... is a Schematics / Simulation / PCB / Auto Router
and EMC-Analysis package in ONE SINGLE PROGRAM and all project data in
ONE SINGLE PROJECT FILE (real time forward- and back-annotation). You
can have schematic and the PCB together on your screen or work in
different projects at the same time."
=========================
========
ULTIBOARD
Ultimate Technology (merged with Electronics Workbench 1999)
www.ultiboard.com/
"Ultiboard is a powerful, yet easy-to-use PCB layout and routing
program..." Limited demo version available. Ultimate also supplier for
Multisim, UltiROUTE and UltiCAP.
=========================
========
WINBOARD PCB
www.ivex.com/
CAD/CAM software for schematic and routing. Can download limited demo
version. Starts at $250?
=========================
========
WINCIRCUIT 2000
Alain Michel
www.kagi.com/alain.michel/anglais.htm
"Creation of printed circuits for Windows 3.x, 95, 98 ou NT...
translated into English, Spanish and French... includes automatic
routing. A view in pseudo 3D makes it possible to have a good idea of
the side circuit."
No print facility in evaluation version (600 KB). Full version $30
(USD) or ?20 (UKP).
=========================
========
xcircuit
Tim Edwards (senior staff engineer at Johns Hopkins University,
Applied Physics Lab, Space Dept.)
http://bach.ece.jhu.edu/~tim/programs/xcircuit/
"There are drawing programs, and there are schematic capture
programs... Rarely is the output of a schematic capture program really
suitable for publication; often it is not even readable, or cannot be
scaled... XCircuit is my UNIX/X11 (and now Windows, if you have an
X-Server running) program for drawing publishable-quality electrical
circuit schematic diagrams and related figures, and produce circuit
netlists through schematic capture... XCircuit is flexible enough to
be used as a generic program for drawing just about anything, and is
competitive with powerful programs such as "xfig". It is especially
good for any task requiring repeated use of a standard set of
graphical objects, including architectural drawing, printed circuit
board layouts, and (my personal favorite) music typography..."
=========================
========
Written on 14 February 2001 at 18:04 UK time
===
Additionally, I have been made aware of a shareware
package for routing circuit boards using CorelDRAW,
Merlin PCB Designer. Details are at
http://www.geocities.com/MerliPCB/index.html.