DesignSpark PCB is a free-of-charge schematic capture and PCB layout tool for Electronics Design Automation

Electronic design automation

Electronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...

, for use by professional electronics design engineers, hobbyists, educators and students.. (EDA software is a sub-class of CAD software

Computer-aided design

Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...

.) Although there is no charge for the software, the user must register with the website to unlock disabled functions and the program displays advertisements which must be acknowledged before the user can begin working.

Background

DesignSpark resulted from a collaboration between electronics distributor RS Components and EDA experts Number One Systems.

Projects

Projects are used in DesignSpark PCB to organise design files. A project can have an unlimited number of schematic sheets and one PCB layout file.

Schematic capture

DesignSpark PCB has a Schematic editor. Schematics are used to draw up circuit diagrams and connections. A given project can have multiple schematic sheets that together combine to form the complete design.

PCB layout

Schematics are translated to a PCB layout file with a PCB Wizard. A PCB layout editor is then used to refine the physical layout of the printed circuit board. A design may have several iterations before a finalised printed circuit board is passed for production.

Autorouter

DesignSpark PCB includes an auto-router which automatically places tracks between components on a PCB layout. Components can also be auto-placed.

DesignSpark PCB produces Gerber

Gerber File

The Gerber format is a file format used by printed circuit board industry software to describe the images of a printed circuit board . The Gerber format is the de-facto industry standard for printed circuit board image transfer.There are two versions. RS-274X is the most commonly used today...

 and Excellon drill files. These standard files are accepted by PCB fabrication companies and are used to build a printed circuit board.