Layout/Schematic drawing software

[funkgang49]

Can anyone point me in the direction of some easy to use free drawing software in order to make clear and ledgible layout & schematic drawings?
Keep in mind that I am a computer using putz!

[10thTx]

IF you downloaded ExpressSCH which is FREE , you could make editable schematics and layouts. It is very intuitive and user friendly, IMO.

And EL34 World (Hoffman forum) has literally 100's of editable schematics and layouts in SCH format. They are in the SCH Library of schematics. Lots of innovative designs there also.

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=12.0

And there are many editable SCH schematics on TAG also.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=17449
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=17500

With respect, 10thtx

[Kagliostro]

At EL34World you can really find a large library of schematics in SCH format

I've used sometime ExpressSCH and much more JSChem, both read SCH schematics

but if you really want to draw easily schematics with a perfect look my council is to use FidocadJ this is a FREE program that is an evolution of the old Fidocad

With FidocadJ you can draw schematics and PCB in a very easy way

you can download it and a lot of documentation here

http://davbucci.chez-alice.fr/index.php ... ge=English

in the libraries there are also tubes and if you require a special component that is missing it is very easy to draw it by yourself and add to the library

K

[davent]

Hoffman forum also has a downloadable library of custom components related to tube circuits so you don't have to create your own. (For ExpressPCB)

I too found that software easy to use right off the bat, no real learning curve at all.

Only issue i have is it's lack of colour and a single lame font. After creating the schematic you can print it to pdf then open the pdf in Inkscape and give it a more pleasing/interesting presentation.

[AmpegSVT]

I like EAGLE. It also will layout PCB's from your schematics. Not the easiest to use, especially when making your own part libraries. But worth the learning investment.

[sepulchre]

Express Sch for schematics, definitely. And here's what I use for layouts: http://code.google.com/p/diy-layout-cre ... loads/list

It's not perfect but gets the job done and it's free. Here's a sample:

[AmpegSVT]

That express does look good, wish they had it for MAC.

[Aaron]

Visio for layouts it pretty good too.

[bb5000]

I use Visio for both schematics and layout

[davent]

That express does look good, wish they had it for MAC.

There is jschem for any platform and is compatible with ExpressPCB schematic software.
http://dhost.info/jschem/