> What PCB design software   you use and why
> What PCB design software you would suggest to start with
> Are there any GOOD tutorials for that kind of PCB design software
> Are there any support forums for that kind of PCB design software
> ?
>
> Thank you for your help

Previously I used a very old Dos based software called EEDESIGNER and I kep=
t=20
pushing up selecting a new cad package since in order to find out if it is =
any=20
good you really have to make a design with it which means learn it.

Then RS-Components released a free package called DesignSpark that I tried =
out.=20
It is now at V5.1. It includes schematic capture, autorouter (which I have=
=20
never used), PCB CAD and a possibility to create a 3D model of your board w=
hich=20
then can be exported to the new companion 3D CAD - DesignSpark Mechanical.

It has quite a few tutorials (not sure about the quality of those though) a=
nd a=20
pretty good built in help. It was a couple of order of magnitude better tha=
n=20
EEDESIGNER and was quite easy to learn so I have stuck with it and have now=
=20
done around 30 boards with it. All from simple sensor boards with a signle=
=20
temperature sensor to more complex designs with PIC32, Ethernet, USB, radio=
,=20
graphic LCD etc. Not more than two sided boards though.

I make most of my componets from scratch since then I know what I get and I=
 can=20
keep a pretty uniform style for both the schematic symbol and the pcb symbo=
l.=20
It comes with quite an extensive library though and it has an on-line libra=
ry=20
(called ModelSource) which is connected to RS-Components and the components=
=20
they sell (surprise!).

There is also a support forum on the DesignSpark community web site.

There are some some drawbacks but all in all I am pretty happy with it.

/Ruben

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Ruben J=F6nsson
AB Liros Electronic
Box 9124
200 39 Malm=F6 Sweden
Tel +46 40142078
ruben@rjjournal.net
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

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