PCB Software Review

I just did a quick review of AutoTRAX for my potential use to make Hobby Toner Transfer PCB's.

It was looking good until I looked at the copper pour implementation.

See previous reviews.

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Looking at other PCB Tools

I started looking at other PBC Layout Tools. In addition to DipTrace (so far) I have tried the following. I will include only the important points that I used to decide if I will use the tool.

My target production environment is Hobby Toner Transfer.

These are only my opinions.

I will update this as more points are noted.


DipTrace (Demo);
Notes:

• Windows program, but runs nicely via Wine on Linux

Good:

• Nice Copper Pour, lots of options
  

Bad:

• Free copy, Limited Pin Count - 250
• Part Lib is Extensive but hard to find simple things.
  

KiCad (Free);
Notes:

• Runs native on Linux

Good:

• Full Project oriented
  
• Has a nice 3D Completed Board View
  

Bad:

• Mouse Zoom is NOT smooth - only zoom multiples of 2X or X/2
• Does NOT support Un-do!!!!
  

gEDA (Free);
Notes:

• Runs native on Linux
• Pads are associated with schematic at a intermediate step

Good:
Bad:

• Copper Pour is easy to use, but low quality

PCB Designer (Free) (not started review yet);
Notes:
Good:
Bad:

ExpressPCB (Free) (not started review yet);
Notes:
Good:
Bad:


AutoTRAX (Demo)
Notes:

• This could have be my favourite, but normal single layer auto-routing and copper pour is a must, maybe it is there, I just could not find it.
  

Good:

• license is not expensive
• seems easy to use
• project structure
• schematic and PCB bi-directional linked
• easy to use library, did not check for completeness.
• schematic parts and PCB patterns are linked in library
• it looks like it has a nice 3D proto viewer.
  

Bad:

• Free copy, Limited Pin Count - 250, but license is not expensive
• Auto router used grid cross linked horizontal and vertical traces on two or more layers
• Did not find a fast way to rotate parts like the space bar - but did not do an exhaustive search for hot keys.
  
• Very poor copper pour, low resolution, no option for cross-hatch pour.
  

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