DesignSpark PCB is a free
electronic design automation
Electronic design automation (EDA), also referred to as electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The tools work together ...
software package for
printed circuit boards
A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a laminated sandwich struc ...
. Although there is no charge for the software, the user must register with the website to unlock the program and it displays advertisements which must be acknowledged before the user can begin working.
Background
DesignSpark PCB resulted from a collaboration between electronics distributor
RS Components and EDA software developer 'Number One Systems', being a fork of their long- established EDA Easy-PC.
Electronic design automation
Electronic design automation (EDA), also referred to as electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The tools work together ...
(EDA) software is a sub-class of
computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Projects
Projects are used in DesignSpark PCB to organise design files. A project can have an unlimited number of schematic sheets and one PCB layout file.
Schematic capture
DesignSpark PCB has a Schematic editor. Schematics are used to draw up circuit diagrams and connections. A given project can have multiple schematic sheets that together combine to form the complete design.
There are some useful third party libraries that can be added.
PCB layout
Schematics are translated to a PCB layout file with a PCB Wizard. A PCB layout editor is then used to refine the physical layout of the printed circuit board. A design may have several iterations before a finalised printed circuit board is passed for production.
Autorouter
DesignSpark PCB includes an auto-router which automatically places tracks between components on a PCB layout. Components can also be auto-placed.
DesignSpark PCB produces
Gerber and Excellon drill files. These standard files are accepted by
PCB fabrication
A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a laminated sandwich stru ...
companies and are used to build a printed circuit board.
DesignSpark PCB Pro
DesignSpark PCB Pro is a paid upgrade from the free DesignSpark PCB software and a free trial is available to test the additional functionality. It is aimed at professional electronic design engineers of
SMEs with an expanded feature set compared to the free DesignSpark PCB software.
Background
DesignSpark PCB Pro also resulted from a collaboration between electronics distributor
RS Components and
EDA software developer 'WestDev Ltd'.
Features
DesignSpark PCB Pro has specialised tools to aid professionals with customising and managing large projects involving multi-layer
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly carcinogenic chemical compounds, formerly used in industrial and consumer products, whose production was banned in the United States by the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1979 and internationally by ...
. Noteworthy features referred to on the developer's website include:
* Blind and Buried Vias - to connect between different layers of a complex printed circuit board
* Fully configurable design rules editor and checker - to verify a circuit design and pass quality checks for production
* Hierarchical Schematic Design - split multi-sheet schematics into building blocks to make them readable and manageable
* Panel design editor - visualise and manage assembly of finished PCB designs prior to manufacturing
* Variant Manager - to specify different design variants to meet global market requirements
* Automatic shape-based and gridless router
* Advanced routing modes – trunk routing for differential pairs and buses, pull tight, auto mitre, and auto neck tracks
* Dual screen support
* Cross-hatch copper pours, teardrops, bullet, and asymmetric pad shapes are supported.
See also
*
Comparison of EDA Software
This page is a comparison of electronic design automation (EDA) software which is used today to design the near totality of electronic devices. Modern electronic devices are too complex to be designed without the help of a computer. Electronic dev ...
*
DesignSpark Mechanical
DesignSpark Mechanical is a free 3D CAD (computer-aided design) solid modelling software application.
DesignSpark Mechanical enables users to solid model in a 3D environment and create files for use with 3D printers.
Using the direct modelling ...
References
Further reading
"Профессиональная работ ав САПР DesignSpark PCB"(English title: Professional work CAD DesignSpark PCB.)
GlobeNewswire.com
*
ttps://www.eejournal.com/industry_news/rs-components-upgrades-designspark-pcb-with-high-end-productivity-tools/ "RS Components upgrades DesignSpark PCB with high-end productivity tools" EEJournal.com.
External links
Official DesignSpark PCB websiteOfficial DesignSpark PCB ForumOfficial DesignSpark PCB Pro WebsiteOfficial DesignSpark PCB Pro ForumOfficial DesignSpark PCB Pro User Guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Designspark PCB
Electronic design automation software