Electronics-Lab.com Blog

Javier Serrano of CERN’s BE-CO-HT section has sent this message to the Developers list to help enhance Kicad: Introducing CERN BE-CO-HT

As you know, the BE-CO-HT section at CERN has been contributing to Kicad for some time now. We see this involvement as a key part of our activities regarding Open Source Hardware. We are also contributing to the adoption of VHDL and SystemVerilog in the Icarus Verilog simulator, so as to enable cross-language simulation. Other related activities include the operation on the Open Hardware Repository and the development of the CERN Open Hardware Licence

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CERN supports KiCad development - [Link]

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) released a new version of its popular ADIsimRF design tool:

The free design tool is the software accompaniment to ADI’s complete portfolio of RF-to-digital functional blocks, allowing engineers to model RF signal chains using devices from across ADI’s RF IC and data converter portfolio. ADIsimRF Version 1.7 adds a number of new device models along with enhanced support for inter-stage mismatch calculations. The design tool provides calculations for the most important parameters within an RF signal chain, including cascaded gain, noise figure, IP3, P1dB, and total power consumption. The ADIsimRF design tool contains embedded data from many of ADI’s RF ICs and data converters, which designers can easily access using pull-down menus to assist in component selection.

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Analog Devices releases free version of RF design tool - [Link]

A new PCB design web application was released this last week called PCBWeb. The website states that PCBWeb is a free browser-based CAD application for designing and manufacturing electronics hardware.  The tool is currently released in BETA and allows you to create a schematic, full circuit board layout, and then export to gerber format for manufacturing. The application is supported on Windows and Mac using Silverlight.

Features include:

Schematic Capture

• Multi-sheet schematics
• Custom Ports
• Digi-Key Part Library (+100K components with symbol and footprints)
• Cut/Copy/Past and full undo/redo

PCB Layout

• Multi-layer board
• Support for all units (mm/inch)
• copper pour
• DRC (design rule checking)
• Gerber Export

Bill of Material Manager

• View real-time pricing
• Order Links

PCBWeb – Free Online PCB Design Software - [Link]

Author: James Connors

Description: This ULP is quite creative and simple to use. Draw a 0 with wire on the milling layer. Run the ULP, the dialog box selection will provide options to either draw an array of holes or vias. Parameters such as Diameter, signal name amount of holes and distance can be defined.

Eagle UPL: Create Drill Line Array - [Link]

A new PCB CAD tool called Razen soon will bereleased on Alpha version – [via]

Razen is a collaborative, scriptable schematic and PCB layout tool. Currently in development, a first alpha release will be available by April.

Razen, a new PCB CAD tool - [Link]

AVRDUDESS is a GUI for AVRDUDE, a tool for programming Atmel microcontrollers - [via]

Some key features:

• Supports all programmers and MCUs that AVRDUDE supports
• Supports presets, allowing you to change between devices and configurations quickly and easily
• Drag and drop files for easy uploading
• Automatically lists available COM ports

AVRDUDESS – A gui for AVRdude - [Link]

Christian Aurich developed a script to import Eagle boards into FreeCAD. This way he is able to design custom enclosures.

The common solution until now is to export your board with eagleUp and assemble it with a case in Sketchup. This also gives you some drawbacks. The most important to me was that the Sketchup files are mesh based like the data used for 3D printing usually, but for further use in CAD systems this is not really usable. You also will not be able to get a STEP model that you can give to your costumers out of this data.

Script lets you import Eagle boards for use in FreeCAD - [Link]

Here’s a tutorial on how to automatically generate Eagle parts from manufacturers’ BSDL files. These files are available from some manufacturers and include tables listing pin names and numbers. [via]

Simplify Eagle library part creation from BSDL files - [Link]

FidoCadJ is an easy to use graphical editor, with a library of electrical symbols and footprints (traditional and SMD). It aims to be an agile and effective small EDA tool for hobbyists.  FidoCadJ stores its drawings in a compact text format, practical for the copy and paste in newsgroups and forums: this has determined its success on the Usenet and in numerous communities. FidoCadJ is multi-platform and runs on MacOSX, Linux and Windows

A multiplatform vector drawing program with a complete library of electronic symbols. Schematics and drawings are stored in a very compact text format. There is no netlist concept behind the drawings (so no simulation here, sorry!) but this allows a great graphical flexibility and ease of use, making FidoCadJ the perfect tool for exchange sketches in forum and newsgroup discussions with a few clicks. Drawings can be exported in several graphic formats, such as pdf.

FidoCadJ – Simple and intuitive 2D vector drawing for electronics and not only - [Link]

A good program for organizing electronic parts (not limited to components) is called GcStar. GcStar is very customizable, you can add the fields and categories you want, pictures of the component, etc.

GcStar personal collections manager - [Link]