PCB , Schematics Freeware - with Error/ Warning Test Rules

[CSPRINGER]

Hi,
I have a couple PCB, Schematic Programs. The latest of interest is Eagle 5.6.0 that I have found on the net, interesting in that it has a variety of test/rules test/functions. I am not affiliated with this company nor have I used this software to build any boards. It's reliability is unknown, thought others might find this interesting or ever useful.

This link is for the latest download
CadSoft Online: Download

Here is a sample submitted from some user of a OD Pedal for guitar.
CadSoft Online: Download

select the overdrive.zip

Extract it to a directory of choice and open either of the files board or schematics. Check out the Errors, Warnings functions. Unknown if they are indicative of a bad or incomplete design.

Thoughts, Comments, Useful?

CS

[Steve Conner]

I've been using Eagle for years and have designed about 25 PCBs for commercial products with it, some up to 6 layers. I'm not saying that it's the best PCB software, but it's probably the best value for money. (the pro version runs about $600)

The electrical rule check tells you if you made any dumb errors in your schematic, like forgetting to wire up power pins. The design rule check tells you if you did anything really stupid in your board, like having tracks touching that shouldn't. Neither check will tell you whether the circuit you're laying out was any good in the first place.

[CSPRINGER]

Just sharing... and wondering....

Hi Steve,
Have you experience along the lines of this thread using this software, particularly my last post at the bottom?


Is this amp PCB layout familiar?


thanks

[Steve Conner]

I didn't understand your last post: it doesn't seem to contain anything of any relevance to PCB design software. Even if I did understand it, I only do PCB layout for money.

[defaced]

When I first started using Eagle, I found it kinda weird to use (it just operated different than typical software). Now that I've gotten the hang of it, it's super fast to get a schematic and layout done (I still haven't mastered how to make components from scratch). I've gotten a couple of boards fabbed from it, the cam job processor makes that stupid simple. I would say one of the nicest things about Eagle isn't anything about the software, but that it's so popular, tons of people have made parts libraries for it.