Drawing schematics on a computer?

[Yorkie]

I marvel at the abilities of many who have become truly adept at using a range of CAD software to produce wonderful results, whether line drawings, circuits, battery scans, or more complex stuff such as the faithful reproduction Ekco A22 (etc) dials drawn from scratch, which Robert Darwent is famed for. I've made the mistake of gathering several CAD programs onto my hard drive, dabbled with all of them and not got properly involved in any. Clearly the sensible thing to do is to try one that seems to suit, and develop a good level of competence in that, as most sensible people seem to do. They soon become 'the thief of time' but as with any skill, there's quite a learning curve and no short cuts.

I manage to fumble about using MS PAINT for drawing circuits, PCB layouts, front panels etc, and Photoshop 'Elements' for tidying up dial scans to a reasonable level of competence, sufficient for my own limited needs. I've added several projects in the home-brew section of the forum over time, all drawn using PAINT, including the PCB Drill Speed Controller project that I'm on with just now. (I think there's a more up to date version that's more versatile, which can be downloaded FOC from Microsoft).

I've never found a PCB package to my liking - they go further than I need to, with auto-routing, multi-layer boards, and I don't like track layouts drawn in for example, Express PCB/Express Schematic as the tracks are often too narrow and the pads too small for DIY PCB production, but then the software is primarily intended for one to draw a layout and get the PCB professionally made, which perhaps many people do.

There's a circuit-drawing program which I think was mentioned on the forum some time ago, called 'sPlan 7.0' which costs 50 Euro, but you can download a free demo version which enables you to draw circuits, but not save or print them.  I gave it a go - it's quite intuitive and has a reasonable library, but I don't do enough to warrant forking out 50 Euro. It's here if anyone wishes to give the demo version a spin:

http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/splan.html

Another program which I think have been mentioned on the forum is  eMachineShop, which is excellent for making drawings of parts in 2-D or 3-D, and also has excellent online tutorials. It's FOC, and  is to enable users to create custom metal and plastic parts quickly and easily. You can use it to design  2D parts cut from sheet metal or 3D machined parts. The reason it's free is that it's to enable you to get a quote from the firm to make parts for you (as with Express PCB). You can click on your 2-D design and view it in 3-D, and rotate it to view it from any angle. I watched the tutorials, but I have to own up that even though I'm at an age at which I can't take 'Yes' for an answer, I couldn't concentrate as my mind kept wandering towards the presenter -  'Aurora Nestle', who is rather easy on the eye! (Maybe I have ADHD or some such thing, or I'm just a dreamer?).

Excellent tutorials - give them a spin, and try to keep your mind on the cursor!:

http://www.emachineshop.com/

[Yorkie]

Dave, I use Paint for everything - not that I'd stop you experimenting with anything else, of course!

- Something I don't use but you may find it useful is the click Gridlines on the View menu ©. Paint doesn't have a 'snap to grid' function but you might find the grid easier to follow when drawing lines.

I note that you have a jpg symbol file, which is a pity - as I explained in another thread recently, the 'p' stands for pictures - the sort you take with a camera. You should use the png format (where the 'g' stands for graphics) for your schematics to avoid the degradation caused by the jpg compression.

I've attached a symbol file I've gradually been adding to over the years which you are free to use - note that the symbols are 200% of normal size! 

Finally, to prove that you can draw (lots of) straight lines using Paint, I've attached the latest revision to the Dulwich museum's RF distribution system.

Thanks for the tips on Paint Terry - I never appreciated the 'grid line' facility under 'View', which for me, will prove really useful to line certain things up.

I must remember too, to save graphics as png - not jpeg!).

The symbols too, will be really useful, but I'm note sure how to import them into a Paint drawing. If I click on 'copy' (a symbol), I can click on paste in MS Word, and there it is on the screen. Same with 'Publisher'  but If I've got Paint open, (a new drawing say), and copy a symbol then click on 'paste' nothing happens.

What's the process of importing symbols into Paint please?

(Wrote 'Confused', of Cottingham )

[Aerodyne]

If it is just schematics you want to create, there's nothing wrong with the free Express SCH (you don't have to use the Express PCB part of the program suite) and it is easy to use and easy to create symbols such as valves. OK, it is limited, especially when it comes to printing the schematic you've drawn but the quick way around this is to blow up the diagram - zoom in - until you fill the screen, then use the Windows clipping tool to copy, either for direct printing or to load into as graphics program or Word file. This obviates the need to learn to use a dedicated drawing program for those like me who are short of time and impatient!
Tony

[Terry]

The symbols too, will be really useful, but I'm note sure how to import them into a Paint drawing. If I click on 'copy' (a symbol), I can click on paste in MS Word, and there it is on the screen. Same with 'Publisher'  but If I've got Paint open, (a new drawing say), and copy a symbol then click on 'paste' nothing happens.

What's the process of importing symbols into Paint please?

I'm not sure I understand this, David.

I just open my symbol sheet in Paint, then open another instance of Paint for the new drawing. Then I just select the symbol(s) I want and copy and paste to the new drawing.

Incidentally, I use + C and + V for copy and paste - it's much quicker.

[Radio Fixer]

I don't bother with symbols library, far too organised and not needed by the way I work. I have countless previously drawn diagrams and I just grab a section that has the elements needed for something new. Quick paste onto a clean sheet and away we go. Need another element of the same type: just highlight and hit the numeric + button (as many as you want) and then reposition.

Lawrence and Terry's spaghetti method of drawing resistors is cumbersome. Want to move one up the page by an 1" and one connection has to be shortened and the other lengthened. So I devised for myself drawing them as white filled rectangles "always on top". Now I can just slide them up the line (with the circuit value as well with shift click) or even move to any other line. Create one for vertical and one for horizontal and so easy.

Caps are two lines and a white filled borderless rectangle between them. I didn't say in the previous post that I make this a "Group" so they all move together. So again easy line sliding. As before have a V and an H.

Gary

[pwdrive]

Spaghetti resistors Gary? They are zig zag, with the program I have they can be moved anywhere in the circuit PDQ in any orientation suit, I try as far as possible to use traditional symbols as that's what I'm used to. My symbols library was custom drawn by me and it includes odd ball valve symbols that have a 2 pin connection to the cathode such as maybe used in RF stages.

Lawrence.

[Terry]

There is no reason why a conventional resistor symbol can't be be drawn on a white infilled white rectangle to provide the same opaque movement capability ...

[Radio Fixer]

Yes! you could do it that way ... wouldn't bother myself.

Gary

[Radio Fixer]

You are playing with words Lawrence and not understanding me.

Spaghetti or zig zag, call them what you like, with them, without the Terry modification, if you move them up, or along, a circuit one line to them has to get shortened and the other lengthened. My lines are continuous and never need changes after the component move. Cant say it simpler ... you do it you way but I know what is easiest ...

Gary

[pwdrive]

I usually put the component symbol in the right place to start with.  

Lawrence.