Electronics conception

[Mouse-Potato]

I was wondering if there was any software that I could use for pcb board conception.

I want to build/mockup a small audio conversion board that has both wired and wireless input and output.

Anything helps !

 

[UrbanFreestyle]

I think tinkercad has a circuit section on their site: www.tinkercad.com

[minibois]

I believe people also use KiCad for this, but I am not sure if this program is better/worse than Tinkercad.

[WereCatf]

16 minutes ago, Mouse-Potato said:

I was wondering if there was any software that I could use for pcb board conception.

I want to build/mockup a small audio conversion board that has both wired and wireless input and output.

I recommend https://easyeda.com/ -- no need to install anything since you can just run it straight in your browser, and you can construct your BOM directly from their components-service LCSC.

[FlappyBoobs]

Crocclips was what I used at school (20+ years ago) and it was excellent for designing, testing and printing the PCB designs and very simple to use. But only for single layer circuits, multi layer or more complicated PCBs should be designed in what ever your favorite CAD software is, with an electronics plugin. 

 

 

Crocclips is now free for home use according to their website.

 

https://www.yenka.com/en/Yenka_Electronics/

[straight_stewie]

1 hour ago, Minibois said:

I believe people also use KiCad for this, but I am not sure if this program is better/worse than Tinkercad.

KiCAD is production level software, on par with Autodesk Eagle.

[bob345]

Kicad is probably the best free option out there and it is what I would recommend. Osh park is also great for getting pcb's manufactured fairly cheaply. 

[mariushm]

KiCad is free and open source ... The UI used to be a bit cumbersome, backwards compared to other programs, but nowadays I think it's better.

 

DipTrace also has a free version (limited to 300 pins but otherwise no limits) : https://diptrace.com/

 

Zuken also has a free version of Zuken Cadstar (limited to 300 pins and 50 components) : https://www.zuken.com/en/resource/free-pcb-design-software-cadstar-express/

(it's less known but it's the software Sony prefers or preferred to use for a long time)

[Mouse-Potato]

On 6/5/2019 at 10:40 AM, UrbanFreestyle said:

I think tinkercad has a circuit section on their site: www.tinkercad.com

 

On 6/5/2019 at 10:45 AM, Minibois said:

I believe people also use KiCad for this, but I am not sure if this program is better/worse than Tinkercad.

 

On 6/5/2019 at 10:56 AM, WereCatf said:

I recommend https://easyeda.com/ -- no need to install anything since you can just run it straight in your browser, and you can construct your BOM directly from their components-service LCSC.

 

On 6/5/2019 at 10:58 AM, FlappyBoobs said:

Crocclips was what I used at school (20+ years ago) and it was excellent for designing, testing and printing the PCB designs and very simple to use. But only for single layer circuits, multi layer or more complicated PCBs should be designed in what ever your favorite CAD software is, with an electronics plugin. 

 

 

Crocclips is now free for home use according to their website.

 

https://www.yenka.com/en/Yenka_Electronics/

 

On 6/5/2019 at 12:25 PM, straight_stewie said:

KiCAD is production level software, on par with Autodesk Eagle.

 

On 6/5/2019 at 10:38 PM, bob345 said:

Kicad is probably the best free option out there and it is what I would recommend. Osh park is also great for getting pcb's manufactured fairly cheaply. 

 

On 6/6/2019 at 3:14 AM, mariushm said:

KiCad is free and open source ... The UI used to be a bit cumbersome, backwards compared to other programs, but nowadays I think it's better.

 

DipTrace also has a free version (limited to 300 pins but otherwise no limits) : https://diptrace.com/

 

Zuken also has a free version of Zuken Cadstar (limited to 300 pins and 50 components) : https://www.zuken.com/en/resource/free-pcb-design-software-cadstar-express/

(it's less known but it's the software Sony prefers or preferred to use for a long time)

Thanks you all for the pointers, I will check them all out when I get a chance! Also in a worst case scenario, do you know of a company or person that can build something if I tell them what I want? I'm not sure if I'll be able to know how to implement everything i'm thinking of and i'm definitely not an electrical engineer...