- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: February 05, 2006
- Total Downloads: 98,392
- Downloads last week: 98
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 17 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
Whatever kind of circuit board you re building, PCB123 takes you all the way from designing to ordering. A start-up wizard offers several choices for your board, including number of layers, use of plane layers, and solder mask and silk screen. Next, PCB123 presents a CAD design window, and it s time to go to town. PCB123 has an extensive library of parts, devices, and layouts, and can import net lists from CAD vendors. We found the component search efficient and easy, and editing component properties took only a few clicks. New libraries can be downloaded from the developer s site. There s even a 3D display. Pricing is constantly updated based on the current design, and you can order boards from PCB123. Online tutorials make the program relatively user-friendly, but this is not a program for beginners. You have to know what you re doing. However, dedicated hobbyists and sometime professionals should find that PCB123 supplies everything they need.Publisher's description
From PCB123 :PCB123 provides the complete circuit-board solution, design through order for your PCB prototyping needs. Download the circuit board design software that converts schematic to layout. There is an easy order process that quotes your board as you design. Boards are delivered in days. The program features a new board wizard; the ability to import net lists from multiple CAD vendors; more than 145,000 parts in the library; two-, four-, and six-layer support with soldermask and silkscreen; and fast, accurate DRC/DFM (Design Rule Check/Design for Manufacturing.
Version 2.1.0.7 is a major upgrade that includes a bunch of new features and bug fixes.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 17 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 8 user reviewsSee all 8 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
"Easy to use but wont generate gerber files"
Pros: It's easy to use. Much easier than Pads. Customer service is very good.
Cons: The biggest drawback is that it will not produce Gerber files. The file format is proprietary so you can only submit your designs to PCB123 (that's the catch.)
It's not immediately obvious where to put your own footprint library so you have to be careful not to wipe it out when you uninstall.
You don't have enough independent control over each pad. For instance, you can not selectively set the spacing around each pad and you can't pick and choose which pads will use thermal reliefs.
I wouldn't put it on par with freePCB but the integration with the company does make it easy to get your board done.
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Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros: Well put together, a few bugs.
Cons: Takes a while to learn.
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Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
"appropriet as per my requirement"
Pros: vary easy, user friendly
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Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
"I am just a bigginer trying to learn the use of this softwhare"
Pros: as I say I'm learning. But comparing to Boaredmaker I used to know it is more difficuld.
Cons: When I become familiar with it I think it will be OK
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Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
"Very useful, but some concerns..."
Pros: I have (cheaply) made short runs of PCBs for test jigs and production units (so cheap, it justified the use of PCBs over perf board and wirewrap). (Fairly) easy to create new parts for the library and it has a good search ability for existing parts. I can quickly position parts by entering the Device Label (it places the part under the cursor). Copper fill automatically provides clearances for components & traces and thermals for connected pins. Toll-free (& competent) tech support during business hours. Easily and quickly zoom out then in on the cursor location to move around the board. 3rd party netlists are supported (not a lot, but every package I have seen outputs at least one of the supported formats).
Cons: Auto-routing is very limited (one trace width only) and I have seen better implementations. Steep learning curve for people who haven't laid out PCBs before, mediocre documentation and haphazard User's Forum at their website, but I produced a good PCB after a day's effort.
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