Using Kicad (schematic, pcb layout+) on the Maciintosh?
HShanko
Posts: 402
Yesterday there was a reference to pcb CAD, and Kicad. But looking into Kicad, it appears one has to compile a bunch of files to create the application. I Googled Kicad but didn't recognize what had to be downloaded to compile, or even any instructions for doing so.
Has anyone done this for their Macintosh? If so, please some clue as to what files are required, and what app compiles them? I've used a Mac for years, but had never yet cared to make an app (Kicad).
Is there any negative points about Kicad?
Has anyone done this for their Macintosh? If so, please some clue as to what files are required, and what app compiles them? I've used a Mac for years, but had never yet cared to make an app (Kicad).
Is there any negative points about Kicad?
Comments
Only problem is when I begin to download " kicad_osx_v3142_DEV.tgz 21-Sep-2011 08:37 45.5M " it runs for several MBs and then stops. Maybe 2 to 9 MB; tried several times and ran for an while then halts. Activity LED (that something is being downloaded)on router stops blinking ! Any idea what that could be?
Has anyone used Kicad for schematic/pcb layout?
Of so, any positive/negative comments on it?
Thank you
But I do have experience with KiCad, and I do recommend it to anyone who are brave enough to test something that doesn't cost any money.
I haven't come across anyone else on this forum who have any experience with KiCad though.
Everytime I mention it, I will get no response and everybody keeps on talking about other programs that are more common.(at least on this forum)
I think KiCad is excellent and it has got many features not seen in some programs costing a lot of money (like 3D view)
Then you are not limited to how many layers and the size of the board etc. that you can do, like in many budget versions of commercial programs.
I have used KiCad for semi-professional PCB development and I haven't come across any bugs or serious issues. The biggest issue with KiCad is of course that not all components are available. But it's very easy to make components with the supplied editor.
Did I say that I really like the 3D view?
/Johannes
Thank you for the reply. For a while I figured no one knew about Kicad. Or even wanted to talk about it. Or it was too far off-subject. Except to layout out things Propeller, I need something.
I too began in 1984 with the original 9" b/w Macintosh; I still have it, though it seems to run like molasses in winter compared to todays models. I'd attended a '84 Wescon exhibition and there saw a Mac demoing the Douglas Electronics CAD. At the show I bought for $12 their 3.5" diskette and used that for several years before I paid some $3500 for their CAD plus gerber viewer and other useful items. Have done just over 100 boards and a number of revisions for a customer over the years. Four layer boards, even one that was about 15" square! All on the b/w 9" screen. Later found the iMac color display made layout work easier. Then my first iMac power supply board died for the 3rd time and no one now seems to repair them any more. Thus the hunt for something that will run on my several year old iMac.
I think what I downloaded is a full Kicad minus any library parts. From a 21 Sep.2011 build from an official Kicad site. I've tried to use the Teho Labs how-to on creating lib parts but there must be some step missing and what's created never shows up in Kicad as selectable. It appears dimmed-out. Today I ran across another tutorial by David Jahshan; hope to go through that today. Maybe that will provide a clue. So I will have to relearn some details on learning Kicad.
I do recall someone providing 3D views of some Prop pcb layouts. But at the time I was busy with other things and that was a diversion so didn't do more than peek at a few views.
I looked at a number of other CAD packages, but most 'free' ones were just too limited; either in size or number of pads.holes, etc.) Even the lower cost versions still had serious limitations.. Eventually, Kicad was found and it appears to have no limitations. I'm used to each different part having schematic symbol, footprint and silk screen and solder mask layers. I have to check out how one uses the Kicad way of handling the part footprint, silk and mask details. Fortunately there is no rush presently for creating a board. But need to get up on the learning curve; presently near the 0,0 point on that curve. And I may find the '3D view' to be quite useful.
Thanks for responding; and for providing encouragement I made a good choice.
If you say Kikad is the 'best', I'm curious why using Diptrace? Libraries?
I tried many free programs, but don't remember the names, but I hated eagle, PCB artist had many bugs.
I have used Protel for DOS and early windows 3.1 versions, but later versions started to get bloated and slow and out of price range, I Have also used Orcad, Tango, Protelus, and others, Protel was the best.
Do either of you use KiCad on a Mac/iMac? I downloaded a large file of KiCad for OS X, some 135 MB, but for some reason I cannot find a tutorial for OS X; just versions for Windows. There may be some important differences in what the Windows tutorial says vs. what one has to do on the Mac.
I'm able to create a Project folder, but cannot get it to ever show xx.sch or xx.brd files as the Windows document shows. And when I think I might be doing something correctly, the EEschema cant find any of the parts libraries! Weird. If I look in the KiCad folder I do see library parts.
Does this give any clue? I'm baffled as to why it isn't working. Unless it is a Windows vs. Mac type 'funny'.