Software for Layouts and schematics

[MCK]

EDIT: I forgot - over at the Hoffman site, there used to be a rather simpler but free schematics and layout program, along with a library of various schematics and layouts, but for the best of me I cannot remember the name of that program... ?

JSchem?

[overtone]

EDIT: I forgot - over at the Hoffman site, there used to be a rather simpler but free schematics and layout program, along with a library of various schematics and layouts, but for the best of me I cannot remember the name of that program... ?

JSchem?

yup, that's the one and it works on the Mac fairly well.
The jschem Edit "undo" function does not work on my Mac and it will freeze up if the project gets too complicated.
IMHO it is better for quick and dirty schematics rather than for precise layout. I prefer the precision of Autocad, but it is a professional tool and not the kind of software that you can learn overnight. Jschem is quite simple to learn.
Sometimes I just prefer pencil and tracing paper.
Best, tony

[Aurora]

Yes - JSchem and PCBExpress, I think....
I'm a memeber of EL34, too, but I haven't logged on there for ages.
I think those two have a fair support for tube based stuff. If teh interest of various posters here are mainly tube amps, very few of the commercial programs these days have tubes in their libraries. I was lucky to find a user library online which supports OrCAD, which we have at work.

[husky]

In Eagle, when you select something like a resistor or capacitor, there seem to be so many options. is there some logic to what you choose in terms of size, value, etc? I ask because the code numbers they have don't mean anything to me. I like this type of program though in that it encourages you to think schematically and it creates a layout for you - this is very new to me.

If you do the libraries correctly you can have multiple packages (part footprints) for the parts and change the package later. You can make your own custom libraries that makes sense to you. For instance I have one schematic symbol for a resistor, I place the resistors and caps in the schematic. Then I have multiple packages like R400, R600, R1000 which stand for spacing of .4", .6" and 1". I can change these packages as I place them or later. For eyelets I put an eyelet every place one is needed and I'm free to hook them up to the eyelet with bent wires etc. I have a R800NP part which stands for 1W with no pads, I use a surface mount pad for hooking up the leads on the resistor that has no holes. This way leaves no chance for errors, you can run multiple leads to one eyelet with no checking errors. You can change the value anytime or the package and they are updated on the layout automatically. You can also do things like swap halves of a triode with no issues. Or you can change values and packages on the layout. Overkill? Not to me since I don't do only eyelet layouts. A schematic is usually easier to visualize. This way you are guaranteed the Layout is the same as the schematic. You can also import and export DXF files so you know it is all the same as your chassis. You can go either way with that. I then bring the board back and forth in to the chassis in Solidworks so I can make sure everything fits. I know this is way overkill for a hobbyist but great documentation makes sure your end product is professional and easy to repeat. It really eliminates unforeseen headaches. I build the amp in completion on CAD first. You can add the silkscreen, rotate knobs, check for interference between speaker and transformers in a combo etc. Solidworks is very cool. You can have the transformer and sockets punch the holes for you in the chassis so you can drag things around. Or you can take known chassis dimensions and make everything fit in 3D. Including hookup wiring using Solidworks wiring. I haven't gone that far yet. Not enough time in the day but I want to try it.

[Gaz]

Uhhhhhhh, that is awesome. John, did you learn all that software on your own over the years, or did you take classes? I think skills from a CAD class would come in handy for a lot of projects.

[husky]

Uhhhhhhh, that is awesome. John, did you learn all that software on your own over the years, or did you take classes? I think skills from a CAD class would come in handy for a lot of projects.

Thanks, If I spent time to render it you can make it look real enough to fool people.
Pretty much by myself. I did take SolidWorks classes 10 years ago for 4 days to learn how to draw guitars. That was about it and I really didn't learn anything much with the classes. I've been doing PCB layout since 1988 on a Mac with Douglas. I did the first CAA 3+ Preamp using that.