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What are good softwares for PCB designing?

I usually work for PCB designing and know some useful design software. I want to know what design software you are using. Is there any high recommendation?

Prior to making suggestions to you, I think you may think about the follow factors.

  1. How much is your budget?
  2.  Are you use it for profession?
  3.  Are you going to share my designs online?
  4.  Or you are going to work on a single computer most of the time?
  5.  Which operating system do you often use?

According to your answers, here are 12 suggestions:

Free & Web-based

Circuit Maker: Focused on sharing designs and knowledge in the community of users

123D Circuits: Includes 4 modules. Part of a large family of 3D design software.

Upverter: Partly focused on building a global library of verified components  and footprints.

Easy EDA: Completely free for individuals and business

Free & Offline

KiCAD: Popular free EDA software

DesignSpark PCB: Free tools for electronic, mechanical and software design. Slightly focused on IoT projects.

Fritizing: A nice breadboard to PCB transition tool.

PCB Web: Focused on the manufacturing process with a BOM tool, Digi-key part integration, etc.

Not Free & Professional

Altium Designer: Costs a few thousand dollars. Mades to design FPGA, flex-board, etc. (Windows only)

Eagle: Affordable option for small businesses. It has a free version with limited features.

PCBWorks: Can be used as a standalone platform though it is specially designed to facilitate collaboration with the 3D environment of SolidWorks.

OrCAD PCB Designer: Comparable to Altium Designer and at a similar price.(Window only)

#PCB Design #IOT

Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.
Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

What Others Are Asking

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The PCB has a pulse oximeter mounted on the surface, and it’s tolerance is 0.6mm. The problem is the pulse oximeter needs to touch the bottom case at all times. How to best mount the PCB in the case without putting too much stress on the pulse oximeter? Will screws with flexible washers be all right? Sadly separating pulse oximeter from main PCB is not an option.

Is solder mask a valid electrical insulator?

There is a copper pour over the entire top of the my PCB, which is part of GND net. It turns out that the surface mounted 1W LEDs I’m going to use have the heat slug connected internally to the LED’s +ve terminal. Can I rely on the solder mask to insulate the +ve voltage (~3V ish) from GND? Long term?

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