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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Circuit diagram software
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Herry Senior Member  Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Wondering if posters have a recommendation. Tried TinyCAD but no MM size IC symbol and generally a bit clunky. (Using Pebble very happily for breadboard and Vero layouts) Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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MicroBlocks Guru  Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Diptrace. I use it for schematics, pcb with panelizing, custom parts, 3D models etc. When you are not using to many parts it is free. Already use it for about 2 years now and it is very reliable and so far i can make anything i want. Also making new parts is straight forward. Export for making gerbers after setting up is just a few clicks. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1982 |
I've tried a few I use Diptrace free version. Paul. "It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all" |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
I've used this one a couple of times lately, web based, no downloaded needed. http://www.digikey.com.au/schemeit/ Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9585 |
Here we go with the PCB software again.....   
I prefer and use Sprint Layout 6 but that is just me. This software will allow you to do single-sided, double-sided and four-layer boards. I have not yet needed more then 4-layer, so the fact it lacks 6-layer is not really an issue - for me. Six-layer board are generally very expensive anyway. There are plenty of choices, and some members prefer the free softwares. I like SL6 cos it is relatively simple, easy to learn, and small so does not gobble up heaps of PC resources like some of the larger professional packages can. ...again, this is just my 2c... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2428 |
for simple circuit diagrams, you might like to try DIY layout creator: https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator/archive/master.zip it is a very basic structured drawing program, allowing you to lay out simple schematics and create veroboard designs. it is NOT an integrated schematic capture and PCB CAD system. for my purposes, it serves well as a simple means to create circuit diagrams for publication. one strength is the ability to overlay objects, so for instance, one can place a circle over a transistor, or build up a complex shape: 
cheers, rob :-) |
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| Pete Locke Senior Member Joined: 26/06/2013 Location: New ZealandPosts: 182 |
....Windoze Paint for the simple stuff. A wet afternoon when the lawns can't be mown can see a great collection of hand drawn components in a library. Also use it for PC layup. Easy enough to scan a sample of vero board for 0.15 matrix, and it will print to scale once designed for the old stick and punch method of one off boards. But that's me, I'm cheap 
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Thanks for replies. I've been looking quite closely at Diptrace and it is much too complicated for me. I am happy with Pebble for breadboarding and at the moment I do not want to progress to a PCB (although I believe they are remarkably cheap to have made). What I would like for now is a *simple* way to draw circuit diagrams, where I can move elements around and retitle them at will. Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Tried Robert's simple one, but after downloading and unzipping could not find an exe file Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9585 |
Opps - you wanted circuit diagram schematic software, not PCB software - sorry. 
Have a look at Splan 6. Also not free software, but I like this one too for my schematics. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Now Splan that looks the part Grogster! Trying the free trial version 7. You've done it again. Couldn't find a 28 pin DIL though... Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
...and now I think I have that answer. It is created in Component editor, using say the 24 pin and editing it and saving it as a 28 pin? Right? Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2428 |
oops, that link was to the mac specific version. try this one, the multi-platform version that includes a windows executable: https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator/releases/download/REL_3_28_0_MP/diylc-3.28.0.zip cheers, rob :-) |
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| HankR Senior Member Joined: 02/01/2015 Location: United StatesPosts: 209 |
This is a great thread. I also would like a simple schematic program, but so far none mentioned have fit the bill. My wish list is: 1. Absolute freeware. No crippleware or time limited trial software. 2. Simple program. If it's more than 4 Megs unzipped it has probably too many features. No project files, please. No extensive symbols libraries, either. 3. It should run on WIN 98. If it doesn't, it's probably more complex than I need. (I will run it on XP, but WIN 98 is a sort of litmus test.) I used to have a nice one that was a breeze to use, but it's back several generations of computers and OSs. It might have run under WIN 3.1; WIN95 for sure. If I could find it, I'd list it here on TBS. Hank |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9585 |
WIN98?! Folks, I think we have found one of our W98 forum members!
Seriously though, W98 is essentially dead(with no disrespect to those still using it), so I seriously doubt you will find any modern software that will support it let alone stay inside 4MB.
I'd like to be proven wrong, though.... I used to use Paintbrush for Windows 3.11 to do my early schematics, and I still have a full library of symbols for it. Here is a schematic I drew using that method years ago: 
This was an ancient old amp I built for camping long before the days of iPods and other efficient battery powered stuff. It has a datestamp of June the 3rd, 1996. Note it was to be plugged into a cassette walkman..... Anyway, that schematic was drawn using Paintbrush for Windows 3.11 I preferred that over Paint for Windows 95 or 98, as PB3.11 was smaller, and even easier to work with then Paint was. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9585 |
Here is another image: 
This is how I drew my DIL chips at the time... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
z80? Brings back memories of programming the TRS-80! Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Well I downloaded the full paid version of sPlan 7 and it looks very good. I am having trouble creating a DIL 28 (for the Micromite) though. I copy a DIL24, edit it at length (more pins etc) and (I thought) save it. But on opening up the program although the new 'DIL28' is now in the component library, all my edits are lost (ie it is still an unedited copy of the DIL24)> I tried to query this on an sPlan forum, but all those appear to be in German! Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9585 |
I have Splan6 and use it often, so I will have a gander at this later tonight(my time), and post back here. EDIT: Could not help it - had to have a look at this now. Works for me..... 
Bear in mind, this is the fully-registered paid for version I am using. If you are using the TRIAL version of the full program(IE: you have not purchased a copy from them), then the trial version won't let you save any changes - that's a limitation of the trial version, from what I can remember. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Yes, now OK. Only problem is getting straight wires in the right place. My mouse hand either goes too far or not enough, leaving a badly jagged line. Normally I would nudge the position of one end of the line using keyboard CTRL-Arrow, but that doesn't work on one end of a line. It moves the whole line. Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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