SMD PCB Softwares

How many layers do you need to design? That will give us a start.

Dual layered SMD PCB.

I have used expressPCB for some time now. As Andy Germany has said, it is free.

The way it works is this:

1) Using the schematic software, you construct your circuit.

2) From the schematic, you build your circuit board with the PCB software.

3) When your PCB is complete, you can upload the design to expressPCB and they will fabricate your design. Three 2-side, 2.5" x 3.8" PCBs are around $60 last time I used them. For this price you only get the pads and traces; no solder mask or silkscreen. Many more options are available (for higher prices).

I have no financial nor any other interest in expressPCB. I simply have used their services and am a satisfied customer.

Good luck!

I agree with Mikerho.And add, that the operator's skillset is the decisive factor. All modern software produce the same type files for the PCB maker. Basic libraries are adequate for common use. beyond that, you either create them or purchase them.

I have a preference for Altium, mainly because I started with Protel 98. I find that it doesn't matter which Ecad program you use you will need to invest a significant amount of time in familiarising yourself with its intricacies and foibles.

Depending on how "intricate" your smd design is and whether you will use bespoke or odd ball (bloody F*%#N BGA's) components will also be a factor.

I like the Library wizard in Altium, but you must be discipled in how you create your libraries lest you fill up your hard drive with "stuff".

Being old school I find I can draw(sketch) a diagram on paper faster than with an E CAD, and I use that as my basis for the E CAD Schematic. Once I'm happy with it.

I have trialled Eagle but like the difference between Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones, I found it a bit cack(left) handed against Altium. I didn't have the time to really get into Eagle (30 day trial isn't long enough to really get your head into it) and the company I worked for put up the $10k for the Altium license so lay down misere for me

Do not underestimate the time required to get your head into the Various E CAD programs as it is measured in months not days, Altium and Eagle have pretty comprehensive tutorials but you have to pick one and go with it.

I have been using Eagle CAD from CADSoft since nearly 30 years, I forget exactly, though not as often recently. I still have my first version 2.0 (on a AT286 PC), which will even run under WinXP at a blinding speed, with all features, even SMD......I am using 5.x nowadays....The whole program and libraries will run on a 5 1/4" Floppy!!!

I have never had the money to buy or need to test Altrium.

What I like about Eagle (possibly Altrium and other programs too), is that you draw the circuit diagram/Schematic, just add the component sizes and styles you want and it can produce you a PCB. Change the component styles and it makes another PCB.....it should allow you to swap components between SMD and DIL for example.

There are also very many good Eagle tutorials free online. The help function is good too and once you are "in it", you can produce good professional PCBs very easily.

The libraries are simply HUGE in Eagle, but if you have a component that is not included, its quite easy to design the component both for a schematic and for the PCB and link them together.

There is usually some changes to track thicknesses that may need to be done by hand etc., but easy stuff.

Eagle has a free version, the same as the versions you have to pay for, but with a restricted number of pins and PCB size being the only restrictions that I remember.

No 30 day test period somebody mentioned on this version (maybe when a full unrestricted version is used).

Many hobbyists use the Lite version almost every day of the year, but staying under the restrictions, which then don't worry them....but if it does, Eagle is not expensive.

Look here:- http://www.cadsoftusa.com/downloads/freeware/?lang=de

KiCAD is free to download and use and many say its a very good program, though I have only seen the excellent results, not really tried it myself.

Express CAD & Express PCB are also totally free and the price of the PCBs is also reasonable.....the Schematic program is really simple and gives a good usable result......I use this occasionally when working on PCBs that someone else has already designed.

I recently found a great program in Fritzing, free and open source, that allows you to test and design using a breadboard, then you key in the final results in the program and it will make you a Schematic and/or PCB in an Eagle compatible format. Also there is a company they work with to make PCBs at a reduced cost.......any number from 1 copy upwards.

Go here:- http://fritzing.org/

I occasionally have used SprintLayout, but as it cannot read a schematic (not even the one the same company makes), I find it to be only useful for a hobbyist, who makes a PCB directly.....Even though its very cheap, I cannot therefore recommend it....

It cannot handle updates and changes in a proper methodical manner, its all "handwork".....

I have only mentioned the few programs that I have had something to do with, there are many more out there that I have never even heard of.....

Its all a matter of price and requirements as to which one you choose......

Thanks. I will continue using Eagle CAD.

Until you get into real complex boards you should be happy with Eagle. Eagle is a very good value.

If you have very dense 8 layer or more boards then you probably need to use a professional layout service. There are times when the task requires that you pay $5K+ for the service done by a professional at a $60K per seat workstation. Some tasks are too much for the more affordable packages.

Normally, if you have to ask then Eagle is good enough. If Eagle is not good enough then you probably already knew that your task required a professional.

I have used Eagle for simple single sided PCBs, and have been quite happy with the results.

If I get to anything really exotic (where I can't make the PCB in house), I will switch to PCB123. This is for logistical reasons only though. The company that developed it (and the PCB fabricator) is about a 40 minute drive from here. Oh and PCB123 is another bit of free software.

Bill

Just a thought, if you are still developing your circuit and if you use conventional components to do that with a breadboard for example (as many do if the frequency is not too high!), you should take a long hard look at the "Fritzing" program I previously posted the link to.....as it makes an Eagle compatible schematic and PCB if required.

Then its quite easy to make a new SMD version from the schematic using surface mount components instead of the conventional ones...using Eagle of course, though maybe some other packages can use the same file format.

Just a thought or two......as I don't know where you are in your development process.....I personally find developing using smd less than useful (I have not seen a cheap way to do it.....), but I am a private person with severely limited means......and still not a user of SMD, but that may change next year, but I will get the SMD PCBs assembled for me......my hand is too shaky......