Anyone tried this...

[pwdrive]

I downloaded this some time ago, it downloads as a zip file, I tried to open in up in paint but it does not recognize it, does it need unzipping? if so is that easy to do?

http://www.qsl.net/w/wd4nka//TEXTS/Tubepadf.html

Lawrence.

[tiv48]

tube pad is just a collection of symbols that can be used in any drawing program
rob t

[pwdrive]

Yes, I have them and figured out how to unzip the file.

Still at the same conclusion though, drawing circuit diagrams on a computer is to fiddly and to time consuming and apart from a neat diagram no other advantage to me, others may be better at it than I.

Lawrence.

[Yorkie]

http://www.digikey.com/schemeit#

Lawrence.

I've given it a spin Lawrence and found it easy enough to use even by my ground level ability with CAD. As you say, it's a bit limited for use due to not having a library of valves. Although it's free, you can't dowload it onto your PC - you can only use it online by creating an account with digikey, setting up a username and password then logging into their website. However, you can save any drawings you've created with a file extension that I'm unfamilar with ('scalable' something or other?). Easy to flip or rotate components, to add and remove them, link them up etc. Looks well enough when printed off, and labels compoenents automatically - R1, R2, C1, C2 etc.

Is Eagle free - I notice you need a licence key to use it?

Probably go whoosh over my head anyway!

Really, seeing yet more CAD progs underlines what is often said - pick one that you feel at home with, stick to that and build up your expertise on it over time, as Colin has done with EMS for his engineering prrojects.

CAD is no good for fidgets like me - borderline ADHD!

It's why I knew at an early age that I was destined never to learn to play a piano - only a kazoo.

[pwdrive]

http://www.digikey.com/schemeit#

Lawrence.

I've given it a spin Lawrence and found it easy enough to use even by my ground level ability with CAD. As you say, it's a bit limited for use due to not having a library of valves. Although it's free, you can't dowload it onto your PC - you can only use it online by creating an account with digikey, setting up a username and password then logging into their website. However, you can save any drawings you've created with a file extension that I'm unfamilar with ('scalable' something or other?). Easy to flip or rotate components, to add and remove them, link them up etc. Looks well enough when printed off, and labels compoenents automatically - R1, R2, C1, C2 etc.

Is Eagle free - I notice you need a licence key to use it?

Probably go whoosh over my head anyway!

Really, seeing yet more CAD progs underlines what is often said - pick one that you feel at home with, stick to that and build up your expertise on it over time, as Colin has done with EMS for his engineering prrojects.

CAD is no good for fidgets like me - borderline ADHD!

It's why I knew at an early age that I was destined never to learn to play a piano - only a kazoo.

David, the eagle one is free so far as I am aware, I have tried it, it's probably fine if you are at it everyday, but not for me, I will stick with scrap bits of A4 sheet etc.

Lawrence.

[tiv48]

just had a go with digikey
and did this

[Nick]

Is Eagle free - I notice you need a licence key to use it?

I'm a heavy long-term user of Eagle - 12 years or so - its command structure is sometimes counter-intuitive, but once you're used to it, its great. I use it for all my boards and most schematics...

There is a "FREE" version - not to be confused with the "Freemium" version which is a 30-day or so free trial of the professional version.

The FREE version of Eagle, which is limited in the board size and number of layers, is available from http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle...anguage=en

There are more fully functional (and paid-for) "Hobbyist" and "Light" variants available on http://www.cadsoftusa.com/shop/pricing/

I have written a tube base footprint calculator for Eagle at http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Electronics/soculator.html - mainly this is used for nixie footprints, but it works for any tube. There are a (very) few of my projects written up on that site - the schematics and boards for all those there were done with eagle... Below, I've shown a little SLA charger project that I knocked up very quickly in Eagle...

Any questions about Eagle, just ask...

HTH

[camallison]

As well as Eagle, I use another that has valves in its library and also allows the use of perf board. It goes by the simple name of diy-layout-creator and is free for non-commercial use. The site is http://code.google.com/p/diy-layout-creator/

Go to the downloads on the left column and select the second one labelled diylc-3.24.0a.zip Unzip it and run it from the diylc.exe file

A manual and instructional videos are available on the page I directed you to.

Colin

[camallison]

The chap who wrote the DIY layout creator program is a Serb and he has a youtube presence where he shows off his valve amps see

http://www.youtube.com/user/bancika

Definitely a valve promoter I would say.

Colin

[pwdrive]

For my sins...Done on Digikey.

Lawrence.