Bottlehead Forum

General Category => Tech Tools => Topic started by: debk on March 29, 2011, 06:04:00 AM

Title: Schematic drawing software
Post by: debk on March 29, 2011, 06:04:00 AM

Any suggestions for an EASY to use schematic drawing software program, either windows or OS X


Deb

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: Grainger49 on March 29, 2011, 06:32:35 AM

I do mine in AutoCad.  I don't think it is that easy or reasonably priced.

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: debk on March 29, 2011, 07:40:43 AM

I tried Autocad awhile back to design some rocketry parts, but found it way to difficult to use.

Whe I was I school we used drafting tables to draw things.  Computers used punch cards and where the size of large rooms.

Deb

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: Doc B. on March 29, 2011, 08:10:35 AM

Download ExpressSCH

http://www.expresspcb.com/expresspcbhtm/Free_schematic_software.htm (http://www.expresspcb.com/expresspcbhtm/Free_schematic_software.htm)

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: JC on March 29, 2011, 08:12:23 AM

You may want to do a search for ExpressSCH.  It is not particularly tube-friendly, but it might be worth a try.

EDIT:  Ha, Doc, this is the one time I should have paid attention to the software when it warned me that someone else had just posted!

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: Grainger49 on March 29, 2011, 08:30:33 AM

Quote from: debk on March 29, 2011, 07:40:43 AM

    .  .  .   When I was in school we used drafting tables to draw things.  Computers used punch cards and where the size of large rooms.

Deb

Me too, but Kimberly-Clark trained everyone on AutoCad.

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: dstrimbu on March 29, 2011, 10:27:20 AM

Quote from: Grainger49 on March 29, 2011, 08:30:33 AM

Me too, but Kimberly-Clark trained everyone on AutoCad.

Careful guys, I work for Autodesk.  :-)
But really, AutoCAD can be a struggle to get started with...
Have you tried AutoCAD WS?  It's web based, and it's free:

http://goo.gl/HvjnX

-Don

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: pro_crip on March 29, 2011, 12:42:56 PM

That web based autocad wasn't too hard. After a few minutes of playing with it, I had created a basic circuit. It's free so it can't hurt.



Rich

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: dstrimbu on March 30, 2011, 08:24:46 AM

Quote from: pro_crip on March 29, 2011, 12:42:56 PM

That web based autocad wasn't too hard. After a few minutes of playing with it, I had created a basic circuit. It's free so it can't hurt.

Rich

Thanks for checking it out, Rich!  Hope that it adds value for you...

-don

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: debk on April 08, 2011, 01:15:18 PM

thanks for all the suggestions.  I used ExpressSCH, easy to use and not to steep a learning curve.

Debra

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: John Roman on August 05, 2011, 08:47:15 AM

Just registered to use AutoCad WS. I'll have to tinker a bit and compare too ExpressECH
John

Title: Re: Schematic drawing software
Post by: cpaul on April 10, 2012, 11:54:44 AM

Deb,

Try out Eagle, DesignWorks Lite, McCad or SolveElec.  Or if you can compile software, try xcircuit, though it's got a bigger learning curve.  Fink has a builder for it too if you know Fink.

Carl

Title: I'll second ExpressPCB. I've seen tube symbols posted for ExpressPCB.
Post by: VoltSecond on April 10, 2012, 05:39:36 PM

I'll second ExpressPCB.  I've seen tube symbols posted for ExpressPCB.  My biggest complaint about ExpressPCB is the "undo" is only one deep.

A second choice would be LTSpice.  There are tube symbols posted on the Web for LTSpice too. I just make my own.  LTSpice is just one huge drafting page.