Drawing Schemos and Layouts- What software?

[TelZilla]

What do you guys use to draw schemos and layouts? Can I do it in Powerpoint?

[Tdot]

Me?

• Illustrator
• OmniGraffle
• TurboCAD

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by TelZilla

What do you guys use to draw schemos and layouts? Can I do it in Powerpoint?

You could do it in Powerpoint (or even in Word) but a true drawing application is more powerful and flexible. Do you have MS Visio?

[1293]

I use Visio. If you work for a company that participates in Microsoft's Home Use Program, you can get a copy of Visio Professional for $20.

[Gee]

This is an excellent free schematic program which is included in the free program ExpressPCB available here:

ExpressSch

[whodatpat]

MS Paint if its REAL simple. :-)

[getbent]

I use conceptdraw

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by Gee

This is an excellent free schematic program which is included in the free program ExpressPCB available here:

ExpressSch

I like it, but I can't find any tubes in the component manager. AM I looking in the wrong spot?

[Gee]

Originally Posted by TelZilla

I like it, but I can't find any tubes in the component manager. AM I looking in the wrong spot?

I don't think there are any tube and high voltage components in the standard program. However, there are libraries of such components about. What I usually do is download some schematics from somewhere like the ExpressSCH forum at the Hoffman forum - http://www.el34world.com/Forum/yabb2...ard=Schematics. Then if you open one with a similar layout to what, you want you can either edit it or cut and paste the bits you want, i.e. such as a 6v6 tube symbol. What I do is drag a box around a component I want, i.e. 6v6 tube, then cut and past into a workspace area, I then edit the component and then combine it into a single library symbol and save it. 20 minutes effort will get you all the symbols you would need.

Here is a 5E3 schematic drawn with ExpressSCH - http://www.el34world.com/Forum/yabbf...5E3_Deluxe.sch

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by Gee

I don't think there are any tube and high voltage components in the standard program. However, there are libraries of such components about. What I usually do is download some schematics from somewhere like the ExpressSCH forum at the Hoffman forum - http://www.el34world.com/Forum/yabb2...ard=Schematics. Then if you open one with a similar layout to what, you want you can either edit it or cut and paste the bits you want, i.e. such as a 6v6 tube symbol. What I do is drag a box around a component I want, i.e. 6v6 tube, then cut and past into a workspace area, I then edit the component and then combine it into a single library symbol and save it. 20 minutes effort will get you all the symbols you would need.

Here is a 5E3 schematic drawn with ExpressSCH - http://www.el34world.com/Forum/yabbf...5E3_Deluxe.sch

Perfect. Thanks a lot!!

[zook]

Originally Posted by whodatpat

MS Paint if its REAL simple. :-)

Microsoft Paint. Download a couple Gif schematics and take them apart for the parts. Here's an example:

Winnie

PS that's an old email, no longer valid

[JDO]

Originally Posted by Gee

This is an excellent free schematic program which is included in the free program ExpressPCB available here:

ExpressSch

+1 on this. it's an easy program to use and you can save things as jpgs to upload on line. you have to make your own tubes and tranny's but other than that you're good. and it has everything needed to make your own.

i wish i could find something that was as easy to use, free and looked like visio for layouts.

here's something i drew up using it. i'd send you my library but i'm now on a mac and they don't write software for macs. my express software is on an OLD pc that i can't hook up to the inet. i just use it for drawing schems.