CAD tools or software for drawing a schematic

[milocj]

I just got done going through an ancient Rickenbacher for which there is no schematic that I could find, and in fact I couldn't even find what tubes were supposed to be in it which took me the longest to get it up and working properly. Now that I have it working I'd like to draw up a schematic in case other people may need one.

I've been a tooling designer/draftsman for years and could do this on paper the old fashioned way, though it would probably take me several tries to make it pretty and get everything nice and clear (to my own personal satisfaction) and I don't exactly have a lot of free time. I have access to AutoCAD licenses at work and have used it off and on for years so that would be the easiest software available for me to use, especially if CAD blocks of the electrical and tube symbols exist somewhere and somebody could pass them along to me. So, does anybody have these symbols in an AutoCAD compatible format or is there another free software that has these things available that could speed up the process of me drawing a schematic?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tubeswell]

If you're a mac user, there's JSchem.

 

[milocj]

Thanks, but no Mac. Not sure if I have any friends with them or not.

 

[LeroyBlues]

ExpressPCB and it's companion, ExpressSCH are free. I have them loaded on my computer, but have only just checked them out. Seem ok. Be a bit of a learning curve. Might not be so bad for someone that has experience with other cad programs. (link removed)

 

[milocj]

Thanks,
I'll give that one a try and see how easy it is. It would be a breeze to do in ACAD except that we have floating licenses at work and since I don't need it on a daily basis they get a little ticked if somebody who doesn't need it to do their job has a license pulled which would really limit me. The CAD I use isn't real good with 2-D and would add a lot of time just to make each symbol before I could cut and paste them.

I can always resort to pencils and circle templates if I need to.

 

[tubeswell]

Thanks, but no Mac. Not sure if I have any friends with them or not.

That's Okay - we don't have to be friends. ;-)

I'm sure there are other free schematic programs for PC users

 

[milocj]

Well, I don't think I have any enemies with Macs either

The free software above didn't have any tube templates in it, but it looks like I could draw them using the software. I'll still do a little searching, but may just do it over a couple of lunch breaks at work or the old fashioned way with a .7mm Pentel HB, a couple of triangles, and a Pink Pearl.

 

[Jebrone Lames]

http://www.digikey.com/us/en/mkt/scheme-it.html It's free. FREE? must be good!

 

[G60syncro]

ExpressPCB and it's companion, ExpressSCH are free. I have them loaded on my computer, but have only just checked them out. Seem ok. Be a bit of a learning curve. Might not be so bad for someone that has experience with other cad programs. (link removed)

Got their softwares, they're great! One is ExpressPCB and the other is ExpressSCH. Both are linked together, so you draw your schematic first. Then when you link your PCB layout file to the schematic, it tells you which pins of the components have to be linked with copper traces. Once finished, you can upload your design to expresspcb.com and order your board!!

There are no tubes in the symbol library but making your custom components is easy. I suggest finding an existing schematic and PCB layout for a simple circuit and try reproducing it to get the hang of it.

 

[sjhusting]

If you're a mac user, there's JSchem.

JSchem runs under Windows, too.

http://dhost.info/jschem/

 

[ripgtr]

Maybe Eagle? I has lots of parts but not sure about tubes.
(link removed)

But I googled and found this -
(link removed)

 

[Steve Mavronis]

To echo what G60syncro said above, I like using ExpressPCB too. It's completely free and does both board layouts and schematics. Very easy to learn and you don't have to use their board making service. Just use it as a design tool and you can easily build your own custom parts and components to use in ExpressPCB and ExpressSCH that comes with it!