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Schematic entry and PCB design software:
- CadSoft Eagle – free version for 80×100 mm available
- Target 3001 – free version available
- Kicad – free, GPL
- ExpressPCB – free, but you have to order your boards from them
Tutorials and articles:
- You can often find lots of practical information about PCB design on the websites of the software vendors (see above).
- PCB Design Tutorial
- A Practical Guide to High-Speed Printed-Circuit-Board Layout
- PCB Design Guidelines For Reduced EMI
To be continued. If you want to suggest any additions, please reply below.
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Can I add DipTrace (http://www.diptrace.com/) to your list. I have been using it and it is excellent. It has a schematic and PCB IDE and also includes a component editor. The library of components and footprints are huge and easily searchable. A freeware version with a 250 pin limit is also available on a non profit licence. The PCB layout allows you to save all the gerber and drill and artwork files needed for PCB manufacture and the freeware version allows you to create a pcb with up to 2 layers.
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http://www.pcb-pool.com offers a free full version of Target3001, but you have to order your boards from them. http://www.pcb-pool.com/ppuk/service_downloads.html
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There are another tools: - DesignSpark PCB - http://www.designspark.com/pcb - they write that "most powerful free PCB Design tool available, and gives all design engineers access to powerful, professional-standard software at no cost". But then one can find "non-crippled and modified version of Easy-PC; a low end CAD tool from Number One Systems" - gEDA Tools - http://www.gpleda.org/index.html - I am using this regularly. Nothing convinced me to leave gEDA Tools and start to use something else. There are some things which can be better. But IMHO it is everywhere.
