Circuits.io is growing up – multi-layered PCBs and more | Hacker News Reader

Circuits.io is growing up – multi-layered PCBs and more

blog.circuits.io

64 pointsbenschrauwen22 comments

This has a lot of potential, but doesn't seem to be functional yet. That is to say, a partially functional EDA software is pretty much useless.

I just tried to work up part of a board I'm designing right now using the interface, and was stopped dead when the IC I needed wasn't available. When I tried to input the IC footprint specs, the proper (standard) footprint wasn't available, only one that is "almost right". Then when I tried to continue anyhow, the interface told me to select pads to map them, but nothing was clickable. This kind of thing is a complete show stopper. I can't adopt a piece of software without knowing that in the worst case I can design my footprints manually, in a reliable way.

Minor nit picks: - Disabling the context menu is fairly irritating

- Many of the buttons ("create", "next") take a very long time to do anything and so they appear broken

- If you're going to use Octopart as your parts DB (which is a great idea) why not use an interface more similar to theirs for fitlering, instead of making me scroll through 5000 components to find the one with the right package?

EDIT: If I am simply missing some key piece of the interface, do let me know.

After Tinkercad shutting down, I would be wary of tying my workflow (or investing my time in learning) into software I didn't own. Not trying to spread FUD or anything, but it seems risky.

While I agree that all users are taking the risk you describe, I think they reason they are using the website at all is the hope that an online tool will increase productivity via features only an online tool could be expected to have. That trade-off might be unavoidable.

What are those features?

>What are those features?

being slow/laggy on complex designs on underpowered machines

Live collaboration, one click share, Q&A style community interaction, crowdsourced component databases, crowdsourced modules, forking...

If you're using something like Orcad or Altium, you don't own that software either; you're paying for a license to use it.

This is some really cool software. I have just finished my first boards with eagle and open sourced them. Alas I absolutely hated Eagle, but getting mercy for Linux users is a miracle in of itself ;(

If anyone gives a shit my boards are here. https://bitbucket.org/TheLegace/yurt_motordrive-hardware

Did you hate Eagle because you are used to something better (and presumably costing $000's), or because it's not like any other app? IME all EDA apps are weird, and I really like Eagle (although I don't use the auto router).

Eagle is terrible, and their "native" linux app is (or at least it was) less robust than some Windows software under WINE.

FWIW I have access to an Eagle license but prefer to use Kicad whenever I can. In no small part because of the Linux app being clunky (also because Kicad is FOSS.)

The annoying thing about using both is they're both similar-but-different in lots of little ways (like the other comment says, all EDA apps are weird.) Learning one once you're used to the other is a pain, but it's not impossible.

Anyone know what the business model is here? How can I expect to be monetised once I'm tied in?

Hi Michael

We just hope you will order your boards through circuits.io :), but we will not tie you in. You can download your gerbers and have your board produced elsewhere.

Karel

Gerbers are fine for sending PCB layouts to board manufacturers - but what about my schematics and my library of footprints for parts I've used before?

Traditionally EDA tools are weak at importing and exporting this sort of thing which makes moving between tools a total pain. Could be inconvenient if your commercial offering had a price increase, presuming you plan to have a commercial offering (it's not 100% clear from your website; I assume you're planning to make money somehow?).

As you have said, tools in general are weak in importing and exporting, chances are you won't be able to import it into the other tool, anyway. As long as there's no standardized format for exhanging this info, it's hard to support these features. In circuits.io at least you benefit from other peoples work on component libraries.

True - but non-cloud-based software will keep working even if the developers go out of business or have to increase their prices (unless it has DRM or is leased by the month) - my 10-year-old copy of Altium Designer still works just fine.

Anyone come across PCBmodE? Make pretty (and functional) boards.

http://boldport.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/introducing-pcbmode.h...

It's pretty, but no DRC or back annotation support. It is a shame professional tools have to be so ugly.

I have wanted to dabble in making my own PCBs and I have always wondered about the steps beyond the PCB. As in, is there a good small-run manufacturer for doing the pick and place of the components?

This guy used such a service and tells about it in his blog.

http://www.reddit.com/r/ECE/comments/1cfuk3/making_55_of_som...

Fritzing (FOSS) does single and double sided boards and has an almost child-easy interface and they have a pcb fab service

4pcb, PcbExpress, and many other board houses have their own Windows software they give away, but they usually don't let you export your data.

DipTrace is surprisingly good for the cost, runs in WINE, renders 3D models of your PCB.

gEDA - Get ready to spend years of your life editing PCB files, running scripts, generally being an errand boy for your PC, but you can do amazing things with it after you learn to make it sing. (FOSS), but the price you pay is in the thousands of hours you'll spend.

Kicad - (FOSS) - Recently adopted by CERN, I used to consider it less capable than gEDA, probably worth a second look.

We just released PCBWeb BETA - a full-featured schematic and layout tool. Feedback welcome!

http://www.pcbweb.com

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