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CNET Editors' review
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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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 17 votes
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Current version:
3.9 starsout of 8 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-8 of 8
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"Best free PCB desing software on the market."
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros
Live BOM and instant online pricing for both assembly, parts and fab as I design
Cons
Great functionality- much more capabilities than other free software.
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"Hangs on Vista"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros
Lots of IC libraries from various manufacturers would really be helpful.
Cons
1. Hangs when launched using windows Vista
2. Very steep learnnig curveSummary
Try it. See if you can get it to run on windows Vista. I couldn't.
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"Works well (better than i thought)"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros
Able to design a board (both sides) and silkscreen parts, will do connections as well and able to move them. Also has a design are so you can import that to the 3D design layout.
Cons
The only thing is, its design to ORDER from them only, so really isnt any good for anything else, you can take pics though and print so might be ok for Microsoft writers to save the file.
Summary
Works well, however you cant export your designs for your own use, that said it does work well to learn how to design boards and circuits...
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"Easy to use but wont generate gerber files"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
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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"Good program, not bad"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros
Well put together, a few bugs.
Cons
Takes a while to learn.
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"appropriet as per my requirement"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
Pros
vary easy, user friendly
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"I am just a bigginer trying to learn the use of this softwhare"
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
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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"Very useful, but some concerns..."
Version: PCB123 2.1.0.7
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.
Results 1-8 of 8
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