Free Software

amro · Apr 12, 2004

HI ALL
WHERE CAN I GET FREE SOFTWARE FOR DRAWING CONTROL CIRCUITS?
THZ

ndzied1 · Apr 12, 2004

It is not free (unless you use unix or Mac OSX and want to combile the binaries yourself) but I have found an inexpensive useful 2d package for simple stuff at

http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html

I ponied up my $26 as it seemd well worth it to me. Like any package, there is a little getting used to it but for simple stuff it's great.

panic mode · Apr 12, 2004

MS Paint that comes with windows is free. Once you create one
or two symbols (...or drawing sets!) you will probably be more
flexible when it comes to spending some money on essential tools.

akreel · Apr 12, 2004

panic mode said:
MS Paint that comes with windows is free.

You say that like you're joking. I've been told about a guys who does drawings in Excel. I haven't seen how it's done, but I think it involves zooming WAAAAY out, turning off borders, and using fill patterns.

If anyone has actually seen it, I'd like to know.

AK

msinclair · Apr 12, 2004

I've been told about a guys who does drawings in Excel. I haven't seen how it's done, but I think it involves zooming WAAAAY out, turning off borders, and using fill patterns.

Here's an extreme case of using Excel's drawing tools . . .

Drawing With Excel

Tom Jenkins · Apr 12, 2004

It can be very expensive saving money. Skimping on tools (and CAD is a tool) is usually the poorest sort of economy. Unless you are a hobbyist or a student with no course work deadlines you are better off spending a little money and getting an entry level professional drawing package. There is AutoCAD light, Visio, DesignCAD, and I'm sure many others out there.

Rick Densing · Apr 12, 2004

Tom Jenkins said:
It can be very expensive saving money. Skimping on tools (and CAD is a tool) is usually the poorest sort of economy.

Amen.

What is you time worth?

panic mode · Apr 12, 2004

My point exactly...

format C: · Apr 12, 2004

just downloaded intelliCAD - free trial 4 a month then $400ish. compatible with autocad drawings. quite nice to use

rta53 · Apr 12, 2004

We have a guy at work who has done many pages of electrical schematics using MS Paint. We bought him AutoCad Lt. but he still uses Paint.

dale1627 · Apr 12, 2004

I use Excel to do schematics very often. The company that I work for doesn't want to spend the money for a CAD program since I am the only one doing any drawing and it is normally just an addition to a circuit. The way that I do it is set the columns and rows the same size(like graph paper), open the drawing box and draw away. I have created a library of commonly used symbols and can copy paste them wherever I want. Also easy to email it since most everyone has Excel. Much easier than drawing by hand and not bad looking.

Dale

Alan Case · Apr 12, 2004

Believe it or not, but the state I live in (NSW) does all its rail network drawings in Excel. 1 cell is 100 metres of track.

Regards Alan Case

smoc · Apr 12, 2004

No wonder we have so many trains derailing around here

Geza Kelemen · Apr 13, 2004

I find this electrical schematics drawing software wich utilizes
Excel, CircuitWiz from Fudje Software, has downloadable trial.

http://www.fudjesoftware.com.au/cwe.html

Géza

Doug_Adam · Apr 13, 2004

You could try here at:

www.openoffice.org

It is an 'office' package competative with MS office.

The drawing package is better than paint, even though it is not competing with CAD packages.

I use this at home cause I'm too stingy to pay for Office for my home PC.

Doug

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