What is a good, very easy to use schematic creation program?

[mort]

Preferably something free, but doesn't have to be.

[mort]

I'm currently messing around with the APP on digikey, and I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to just draw a line. Sometimes I can get a line segment to appear, and then I repeat that exact same action to draw a second line and it doesn't work. I've also gotten a couple of lines to intersect, but I have no idea how denote whether they actually make a connection or not. This is frustrating.

Invalid Request

[raiken]

PCB Software | PCB Design Software | Sunstone PCB123

KiCad EDA Software Suite - Kicad EDA - KiCad EDA

[J M Fahey]

I use the schematic editor from Express PCB.
ExpressPCB - Free PCB layout software - Low cost circuit boards - Top quality PCB manufacturing
Very intuitive and fast.

One example:

[mort]

Thanks I'll check em out.

[Dave H]

I'm currently messing around with the APP on digikey, and I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to just draw a line. Sometimes I can get a line segment to appear, and then I repeat that exact same action to draw a second line and it doesn't work. I've also gotten a couple of lines to intersect, but I have no idea how denote whether they actually make a connection or not. This is frustrating.

Invalid Request

I've just tried it and it worked OK. Drag the required symbols from the menus on the left to the drawing area then position the pointy finger where you want to make a connection (to an existing connection or end of a component), press and hold left mouse and drag the green dotted line to where you want to connect to then release the left mouse button. The connection 'blobs' should now appear. If it doesn't make a right angle correctly when you are dragging release the left button then press and hold it again to continue at 90 degrees. I use ExpressPCB and TinyCAD myself (both free).

[mort]

I've been playing around with the ExpressSCH program and that is the ticket for me. Easy to figure out and I'm even making custom components.


I'm not finding a choke in there but there's an inductor symbol that I can use to build a custom component for it. Is there any way I can remove part of a preloaded component? I'd like to get rid of the "L" that's on the inductor symbol. Or better yet, remove part of a preloaded transformer symbol to make a choke symbol.

edit: I just made a choke out of scratch so that's all good. still wouldn't mind knowing if there is a way to erase/remove part of an existing component in order to make a custom one.

[Dave H]

...I'm not finding a choke in there but there's an inductor symbol that I can use to build a custom component for it. Is there any way I can remove part of a preloaded component? I'd like to get rid of the "L" that's on the inductor symbol. Or better yet, remove part of a preloaded transformer symbol to make a choke symbol.

edit: I just made a choke out of scratch so that's all good. still wouldn't mind knowing if there is a way to erase/remove part of an existing component in order to make a custom one.

To remove or change the 'L' of the inductor symbol place the symbol in the schemitic then double click on it to open the 'Component Properties' menu then remove or change the 'L' in the 'Part ID' box.

To edit an existing symbol place it in your schematic, select it then select 'Component' then 'Ungroup Component' from the drop down menus at the top. Edit the component then drag a box around the component elements then select 'Component' then 'Group to make component' from the drop down menus.

[mort]

Nice. Thanks for that. I don't think that's covered in the instructions, or maybe it is but in a different place than I was reading.



Just attaching a file to check for image size.

[Chuck H]

Believe it or not, I use MSPaint I keep a drawing with some basic stages already drawn and all the symbols I've already created and then I just stack and modify. Useless for PCB work or if you need to interface with other circuit design options, but if all you need is a schematic this program, with the method described, works just dandy.

[bob p]

I do pretty much the same thing that Chuck does. I've been looking for something better for a long time, but learning to use sophisticated tools just takes so much time that it's a major obstacle for me.

[Enzo]

OK, it is a legitimate question, and you are getting good informative answers.

But I have to say, when I saw the thread title, my instant reaction was: a pen and a pad of paper.

[mort]

OK, it is a legitimate question, and you are getting good informative answers.

But I have to say, when I saw the thread title, my instant reaction was: a pen and a pad of paper.

I did draw out some custom symbols on paper before committing them to digital ink. I used to know a guy that could draw out a 5e3 sized schematic in about 2 minutes or less. It was impressive to watch.

[Chuck H]

Indeed. Most of my schematics are drawn on 5x1 grid paper in pencil. I only use the poot when I need to convey a design to someone else. Like when I sell an amp. I provide a schematic so that (in the event of my death) the customer can get the amp serviced more easily. The schem above is an example.

[mort]

The schem above is an example.

The first time I looked at that I hadn't noticed the little speaker plug facing the output jack. nice touch


the main thing I've used Paint for was to crop images