Printed Circuit Design Software for Beginners

[Mike Copioli]

I second the EAGLE vote, it is relatively inexpensive but powerful. It is however, as stated, a learning curve. Creating a new part being the steepest part of that curve. Another thing about EAGLE that is strange is the UI. When you want to copy and paste something you actually have to cut it first. This takes some getting used to, that and the creepy eyeball. In spite of all of the weirdness the support is fantastic. It is one of the only software companies that you can actually call and get a human on the phone for support. When I first started using EAGLE I was on the phone with support getting clarification on the whole custom part thing, in my frustration I asked why is this program so counterintuitive in some ways but sensible in so many other ways. There was a short pause and then the tech replied "........because it's German"(in a fake German accent). This statement has become my answer for pretty much everything now.

Once you learn EAGLE using a different type of CAD software such as Solid Works becomes weird. I often find myself trying to do things that can be done in EAGLE but cannot be done in solid works and vice versa.

[MrForbes]

Remember when we used a Sharpie "etch resist pen" to make our PC boards?

ok, I'll be quiet now

[dtengineering]

Thanks, everyone. For now I have installed DipTrace and Eagle (with the sparkfun libraries) in the lab, as well as Fritzing. Fritzing isn't quite ready to do everything I want, but I like how it ties breadboarding in to the process.

So I haven't really made a final decision yet. I'm going to stay away from Altium, or any of the commercial packages, as I do want a package that my students can take away with them and then install in their lab and share with their students in a couple of years when they are teaching in a high school.

And as Jim points out, pens also work great! We actually start our students out by using masking tape and xacto knives to mask the board, then we move on to pens. This semester we're moving on to toner transfer, but will also look at other methods for producing boards.

I hope to take a look at some of the other packages mentioned here over the holidays. There just doesn't seem to be a "perfect" package out there... yet... for introducing people to schematics and PCB production, but with some careful tweaking of libraries it should be possible to get one that will be "good enough".

Thanks!

Jason

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

This semester we're moving on to toner transfer, but will also look at other methods for producing boards.

Don't forget to try photo-sensitive boards (pre-coated or coat-yourself. This method has been most successful for me. I laser-print onto plain vellum (not clear plastic) and use that as my negative, which works just fine.

Also consider at least demonstrating the silkscreen method. I used this for a production run several years ago, and it worked great. Let me know if I can send you some raw boards for show & tell.

Lastly, don't forget the printed circuit board handbook. I have the 2nd edition; they're up to 4th now. Tremendously useful.

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Don't forget to try photo-sensitive boards (pre-coated or coat-yourself. This method has been most successful for me. I laser-print onto plain vellum (not clear plastic) and use that as my negative, which works just fine.

Also consider at least demonstrating the silkscreen method. I used this for a production run several years ago, and it worked great. Let me know if I can send you some raw boards for show & tell.

Lastly, don't forget the printed circuit board handbook. I have the 2nd edition; they're up to 4th now. Tremendously useful.

Thanks, Don! We've got a silkscreen unit, which does work great particularly for "mass production" board runs and, of course, the photographic techniques work well too. We've even got access to CNC equipment so we could look in to just cutting out the traces with a nice fine bit, as well.

We've found that for the mass runs that we would have traditionally silk screened that it is now almost as cheap to contract that work out to a service provider. It certainly saves a lot of time for the teacher and makes doing two sided boards much less of a hassle.

One of the catches I face, however, is time. As our students are also learning how to teach power mechanics, wood, metal, and drafting, everything I add in to the curriculum means that something else has to come out. And unlike in high school where it is easy to cover some extra material after school, many of our students have committments to car pools, child care and other issues that don't usually affect high school students. We work them hard during the day, and load them up with homework, but do face some hard limits on cramming a huge amount of learning in to a two-year program.

But I think I might have convinced a few of them to come down to Seattle to check out the FRC event there on their spring break.


Jason

[Mike Copioli]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Remember when we used a Sharpie "etch resist pen" to make our PC boards?

ok, I'll be quiet now

OOOOOOhhhhhh....Ferric Chloride.

[Chadius012]

Altium is a great choice and is free with the Kit of Parts.

All you need to do is fill out the registration form here, and they will send you a link to download the software.

[Gdeaver]

Ferric chloride does stain. There is still a spot on our counter top from my circuit board learning experience 5 years ago. My wife still reminds me of my transgression. Don't etch your boards in the kitchen. Oh, and while I'm on the topic of the kitchen and robot projects, don't bake your composite layups in the family oven. I'm still reminded of that. Though our head mentor did get away with heat soaking our polycarbonate battery box in his families oven this year. He seemed to get away with it.