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Rickertsen2
13-08-2006, 22:17
I'm looking for a CAD program that does wiring diagrams. I'm working on an engine swap for a Fiero and need to be able to plan things out. Any suggestions from the vast knowlege base of CDers heads?

This is obviously not for FIRST, but such a program would be great for FIRST bot wiring as well so i think it is relevant.
Arefin Bari
13-08-2006, 22:21
I'm looking for a CAD program that does wiring diagrams. I'm working on an engine swap for a Fiero and need to be able to plan things out. Any suggestions from the vast knowlege base of CDers heads?

This is obviously not for FIRST, but such a program would be great for FIRST bot wiring as well so i think it is relevant.

Came up when I searched in Google... (http://www.ecti.com/)
Matt Krass
13-08-2006, 22:41
I've had great success with CadSoft EAGLE software. It does schematics and PCB layouts as well, and they have a well featured freeware version.

Here's the site: http://www.cadsoft.de/

I highly recommend it. I use it for all of my projects.
Richard Wallace
13-08-2006, 22:47
I've had great success with CadSoft EAGLE software.I like Eagle, too. It's especially good for simple PC boards, and it also works well if you just need to draw a wiring diagram.

When you need small quantities of PC boards, say 1-10 pieces, Eagle is a very popular way define what you want so you can get prices and enter orders with online suppliers.
Chris_Elston
13-08-2006, 23:01
If depends on what kind of schematics?

Circuit Board level? Or Hard wiring type?

Circuit Board level Eagle works well and it's a free download.

Hard wiring type, I used AutoCad Electrical 2004. I dunno if that was included in the KOP or not last year, but it works well.

Here are some of my example prints:
http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?download=186

http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?download=185

AutoCad Menu system free download. Installs into your AutoCad for electrical symbols. Made by me.
http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?download=146




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sciguy125
14-08-2006, 00:41
I've been using Kicad (http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/). It's similar to Eagle, but open source.
Rickertsen2
14-08-2006, 17:40
If depends on what kind of schematics?

Circuit Board level? Or Hard wiring type?


I'm looking for something to do wires/connectors/black boxes level designs. Maybie i will try to learn Autocad Electrical. Eagle is great but really not suited for this purpose.
RyanN
14-08-2006, 23:36
I'm looking for something to do wires/connectors/black boxes level designs. Maybie i will try to learn Autocad Electrical. Eagle is great but really not suited for this purpose.

I use Visio. It suits our needs well, although it's hard to get used to.
Joe Ross
15-08-2006, 11:14
We used Powerpoint for this on our team. It gets unweildy for larger drawings or where you have to make a lot of changes, but many more people have it then other programs.

As for schematics and such, I used the demo of Orcad while at school, which helped a lot when I got into industry. http://www.cadence.com/products/si_pk_bd/downloads/orcad_demo/index.aspx
Qbranch
15-08-2006, 20:07
This beats em all for electronic design. Its TOTTALLY FREE and incorporates a SPICE simulator. So, it helps out a lot with the math.



Here's a direct link to the download: http://ltspice.linear.com/software/swcadiii.exe

Here's a link to LinearTechnology's website: http://www.linear.com

You'll be amazed how good this is for a free circuit simulator. PM me with any ?'s/comments you might have.

-Q
KenWittlief
15-08-2006, 20:55
I use Visio. It suits our needs well, although it's hard to get used to.

ditto - I think you can download a free 30 use version, and I know all the teams use to get a copy

use the basic block diagram, and lines with arrow heads - for a wiring diagram its perfect.
FIRST JerseyKid
16-08-2006, 02:32
For analog curcuits I like 5Spice, its tough to do some stuff without buying it, its another SPICE simulator.

For digital I like logic works, you can do anything digital in logicworks.
woody
17-08-2006, 09:10
expresspcb.com has a nice schematic layout program, including a number of pre-made connectors, ic's, passive components, etc. They also allow you to create your own components. It may be worth a look.
Matt Krass
17-08-2006, 15:13
expresspcb.com has a nice schematic layout program, including a number of pre-made connectors, ic's, passive components, etc. They also allow you to create your own components. It may be worth a look.

I've used their program, it's not bad, it's not great either, often times I found myself fighting with it. Then when I finished the PCB, I had no way of easily getting it out of the program. It uses a proprietary file format, and watermarks all the printouts so you can't etch your own board. It's only good for ordering from Express PCB, which is a bit pricey for someone who already has the etching stuff available.

Eagle is cross platform as well, and the professional version has a nice autorouter for PCB layouts, and many PCB fabrication companies accept Eagle files.
anna~marie
17-08-2006, 15:15
Not much help, but I used one the other year... but everytime I went to finalize the wiring it would crash... after about four hours of that I got so ticked off
*shrug*
woody
17-08-2006, 21:58
I've used their program, it's not bad, it's not great either, often times I found myself fighting with it. Then when I finished the PCB, I had no way of easily getting it out of the program. It uses a proprietary file format, and watermarks all the printouts so you can't etch your own board. It's only good for ordering from Express PCB, which is a bit pricey for someone who already has the etching stuff available.

True, it does make PCB etching difficult, but not impossible. If anyone is interested in doing this, drop me a PM.
However, ExpressSchem, also included in the program bundle, is pretty nice. As I understand it, you are only looking for a program to draw schematics, not create actual circuit boards, correct?