Pro Audio Design Forum

That looks like what used to be the free version...

JR

They still have the two signal layer Freeware: http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/freeware/

And there's a $69 version as well. http://www.mcmelectronics.com/manufactu ... E/01008405

I guess the 100x160mm constraint was not enough to prevent commercial users from using the free version. These days with SMD smaller and smaller PCB are used.

I still use a very old commercial eagle seat, but I am too cheap to pay for a license renewal upgrade to get the newer version. At some point the design rules may force me to pay up or change to a different PCB CAD program. FWIW my tuner PCB is larger than 100x160 mm

JR

So what platform are you running the old Eagle on?
Will an OS obsolescence eventually force an upgrade?
Some of the stuff I still use runs on XP.
Not much but some.

old PC don't even recall the operating system.

JR

I just figured out how to get KiCAD to run under Win7 (do NOT let it install in the default "applications" directory). Sheesh...I miss XP.

Bri

Thanks Brian.
Did you have to force it to the Programs (x86) Directory?
It looks like a nice free program and worth trying.

It wanted to default to the Applications(x86) directory, but I overrode that choice and installed in c:\kicad.

Edit...I meant Programs (x86).

I originally installed Kicad on my older machine running XP and had no problems letting the installer use the default directory. But, with this "newer" Win7 machine, it appears that Windoze doesn't allow an app to physically store data files in the Programs directory, and instead secretly puts stuff into into a VirtualStore directory located many levels below the C: root directory.

Kicad uses several applications which are launched depending on what you are doing, and a couple of those apparently were looking in the the actual disk directory vs. looking into VirtualStore. Interestingly, I discovered that the Duncan PSU Designer and my general-purpose DesignCAD app also have their data files stashed there as well.

As for Kicad, it took me awhile to grasp the general file storage system and naming conventions, but it''s been a pretty nifty app with tons of available support on the 'net. Not bad for a freebie!


Bri

Let's see if this works....

Screen shot of a project I began (and halted when I packed up to move to Kansas) with Kicad about a year ago. It's 99% done (top layer "ground pour" not done it appears).


Bri

Very nice layout Brian.

Looks as easy to use as ExpressPCB.