Schematic software

[danny.guitar]

Wasn't sure where to put this...

but I'm just getting into reading schematics/circuit diagrams (particularly for microphones and other recording equipment) and was wondering if there is some freeware/cheap programs out there for creating schematic diagrams.

It sucks having to draw them out in MSPaint or on paper making them hard to read.

 

[mshilarious]

check out expresspcb.com.

 

[danny.guitar]

Thanks, I found that earlier on another website but it said it was a trial, guess not.

Thanks.

 

[Minion]

ExpressPCB is 100% free, but if you want to use the program for Createing PCB"s that "YOU" will etch yourself then it might not be the best program because it doesn"t have the feature of being able to print out just the design the way it would/Should look on an actual PCB in just black and White....

I use ExpressPCB for my PCB"s that I etch but I have to go through this long drawn out process of screen captureing the PCB design and then haveing to put the Pic into "Paint Shop Pro" and then I have to create a Vector Layor and then I Trace out the PCB design in the software and then Make the Backround invisible and then I can print it out on Paper.....

It is a Pretty drawn out process (takes me about 1 hour for a 3 x 6 in PCB) but I have more time than Money so I would rather do this than pay 4 the full version of Eagle PCB ,Which by the way also has a free version available but it has a Size and Parts limit.....

Cheers

 

[danny.guitar]

ExpressPCB is 100% free, but if you want to use the program for Createing PCB"s that "YOU" will etch yourself then it might not be the best program because it doesn"t have the feature of being able to print out just the design the way it would/Should look on an actual PCB in just black and White....

Maybe I don't understand correctly, but there seems to be an Export as bmp feature that will export the design into a black & white bitmap picture.

 

[altitude909]

cadsoft eagle. Free for personal use

 

[mshilarious]

ExpressPCB is 100% free, but if you want to use the program for Createing PCB"s that "YOU" will etch yourself then it might not be the best program because it doesn"t have the feature of being able to print out just the design the way it would/Should look on an actual PCB in just black and White....

I use ExpressPCB for my PCB"s that I etch but I have to go through this long drawn out process of screen captureing the PCB design and then haveing to put the Pic into "Paint Shop Pro" and then I have to create a Vector Layor and then I Trace out the PCB design in the software and then Make the Backround invisible and then I can print it out on Paper.....

It is a Pretty drawn out process (takes me about 1 hour for a 3 x 6 in PCB) but I have more time than Money so I would rather do this than pay 4 the full version of Eagle PCB ,Which by the way also has a free version available but it has a Size and Parts limit.....

Cheers

Yes it does, when you print, just select the top or bottom copper layer as the object to print.

Although I think danny was asking about schematics rather than PCBs, the express software does both. Incidentially, I order my PCBs from expresspcb and their boards and service are excellent.

 

[Minion]

The Export BMP option just exports the Component layer (at least my version only seems to do that) and it is useless to print out the Traces in Red and Black as you need Black and white if you are doing Toner Transfer which is why I do it they way I do.....

there is a method behind my madness....

 

[mshilarious]

The Export BMP option just exports the Component layer (at least my version only seems to do that) and it is useless to print out the Traces in Red and Black as you need Black and white if you are doing Toner Transfer which is why I do it they way I do.....

there is a method behind my madness....

I don't export, I just printed direct to transparency on a laser printer, no color involved I used photosensitive PCBs.