I would have to recommend Eagle (eagle lite is free). The learning curve could be steep if you haven't worked with this kind of thing before, but it is well worth it, and I recommend it strongly. Google eagle cad lite for download.
If you need easy auto trace, eagle is free. But if you need best layout, you need any CAD based software. CADint demo version is free, but only 250 unit component.
If you need easy auto trace, eagle is free. But if you need best layout, you need any CAD based software. CADint demo version is free, but only 250 unit component.
Could you be a bit more specific about why you like CADnt better?
Why do you think it is a better layout tool?
One of the things I like about Eagle is the scripts. They are esp helpful when making you own boards. I use Drill-Aid to close up the holes, this allows me to use smaller drills. I use PCB-Gcode to generate NC files for a CNC machine that I use to drill boards.
I have to agree with 3vO. eagle is CAD. not only that but you can do extremely sophisticated things even in the free version. On top of that, there is an extremely active support group at cadsoft.
I've been having a play with the Sprint Layout since it was suggested here and I find it very easy to use - I'm seriously considering buying a copy - especially at the price.
I've been having a play with the Sprint Layout since it was suggested here and I find it very easy to use - I'm seriously considering buying a copy - especially at the price.
Well you can buy a seperate schematic capture package but the layout is just that - a PCB layout and editor.
Very very easy to define new footprints, manual routing is better than the autorouter (which is a single wire by wire router and a bit crap) but for me seems ideal as I use Corel Draw to design my PCBs anyway. I can do a board in around a third of the time of Corel Draw and a tenth of the time of Eagle (I'm not a great Eagle fan and have only used it for 8-10 hours though).
Best of all is the price which is a little under 40 euros or around $50 - it will save me that in the first day of designing with it if its all it seems to be so far.
Its worth having a play with Sprint - its only a 5.6mb download and although its save/print disabled for the demo it will give you an idea if its worth using for you.
The version I have is not free (I use the Starter Kit 500 pads max) but I know it and it does every thing from Schematic to VSM and on to design the board. No need to learn anything else or use any other package.
Well I had a bit more of a play with Sprint and purchased a copy about 5 minutes ago. Questions from the company were answered promptly via email and I've got a fair bit of PCB work to do this week so if its as good as it seems to be I can get a lot of work done