Knowing someone who owns Altium, I have been able to get some free instruction and really dig into how it works. I have been playing around with Eagle, Pulsonix, and the latest Altium Designer as I learn the art of PCB creation. With additional support to the modern open database (ODB++) and new-generation Gerber X2 formats, PCB manufacturing seems to be at its best.At the risk of sounding like Novarm employee, I MUST shout out loud about my experiences with their amazing PCB layout software. The latest version allows you to customise your hot-keys according to your comfort. It includes support for differential-pair routing, not just in designating nets as pairs but using it as a single unit while routing manually.Īn interesting way of working with this tool is to use hot-keys or keyboard shortcuts. Get accustomed to it quickly as the next version 2.9 is in Beta stage. The version with this month’s DVD is DipTrace 2.4. I am still learning all the tricks, but throwing together a basic PCB in DipTrace is super easy and requires very few intelligence quotient points.”ĭipTrace developers are open to user complaints and appropriately react to the engineering community with improvements and updates.ĭipTrace enjoys huge community support and offers good support to its users. I still struggle with certain things in Eagle, but DipTrace was easy to use from the get-go. I would definitely say that DipTrace is better of the two. A user on Parallax forum says, “I use DipTrace but also use Eagle to review designs for customers that use Eagle.
#Diptrace to eagle install
Interestingly, you can install DipTrace on multiple systems, but only one copy of the software should run at a time. Certainly makes it easy when you have doubts you want answered quickly, would you not say? There are also users who stick to the software as developers are active on various forums. The process adds no complications and thus, users find DipTrace easy to work with when they want to use multiple software for different areas of expertise, like exporting files to Spectre for auto-routing. The other factor is export/import feasibility. One is the graphical user interface (GUI) that is easy to use, easy to learn, intuitive and familiar. There are two factors that seem to be making users choose DipTrace. Also, with an efficient filter, you can search these by reference, designator, type or value. The structure of the libraries gives easy access to components. With exclusive sections for components, patterns and 3D models, all libraries in DipTrace are organised into groups where both components and patterns can be stored.
4: Visualise how your PCB will lookĬross-module library management. Pattern editor also allows you to connect patterns to your 3D model for a wholesome picture. Pad specifications like position, shape and numbering can also be worked around using templates and special features. This editor helps you make and edit these patterns, letting you specify the parameters. This is like the allotted place with required connections in order. Pattern editor.Every component has a particular pattern (footprint) on the PCB on which it is placed. You can even group pins based on their functionality and handle these as a single unit. You can design the component, choose its properties and functioning details.įor chips, you have the choice of different kinds of packages, too. Manage component library, make new components and edit old ones with this editor. Let us now take a look at three features that make the design tool work its magic.Ĭomponent editor. Having seen how you can use DipTrace to design PCBs faster and better, one might wonder how the tool manages to do what it does. Also, with 3D-preview-&-export module, you can see the 3D model of the board with all components installed, rotate it, change parameters to see the effect and export 3D PCB in STEP format for mechanical computer-aided design integration. Numerical control (N/C) drill file that needs to be sent in to the manufacturer can also be generated with just a few clicks. You can even specify details like what components need to be exported to the files, what accuracy is needed and preview to visualise your configuration. Export for manufacturing.Gerber files for printing PCBs can be exported layer-by-layer or in batches with DipTrace.