5 Design
5.1 CAD software for PCB design

There are many different ways to create a PCB design but the most common is by using a CAD software package specifically designed for PCB circuits. These software packages include board and schematic editors that work together to provide you the best design process. The board editor can import all of the components, footprints, and wires into the PCB file, which will make the PCB design process easier.

Nowadays, we can find a multitude of CAD tools in the market that allow us to design a PCB. They range from simple and intuitive to highly sophisticated, from free or inexpensive to high-end or premium, feature-less or feature-heavy [8-9]. However, the one that best suits you depends on your own needs (functionality required, typical complexity of designs, frequency requirements, etc.) and budget.

In terms of the most popular PCB design software packages, here is a list of the nine most widely used in the industry.

Altium Designer. It is a very popular PCB design software. Altium Designer is a commercial tool with a high cost license, mainly used in professional environments. Also, most of the universities use it in their laboratories. Altium software is generally used to design a complicated and very complex circuit with very fast and realistic results. It is efficient, easy to use, and meets the modern needs of professional electronics engineers.

OrCad. It is the PCB design software tool for a big group of engineers because it provides a complete environment, from the initial schematic to the final artwork. It allows you to simulate and design PCB circuits.

Mentor PADS. It is a PCB design package developed by Mentor Graphics. It provides quality PCB schematic and layout tools at an affordable cost for small to mid-sized companies. It has a number of high end features, including signal integrity analysis functions, an advance auto-router, thermal design consideration analysis and support for various project management functions. It is a professional level package with a competitive price point but still priced well above the hobbyist market.

Eagle. Eagle stands for Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor. This software is available in free and paid versions. In the paid version, the user is provided with technical support that includes call, mail and online chat support and provides access to latest release software. Eagle has a very simple, effective and easy interface and provide a library which contains a large number of electrical and electronics components. That is the main reason for being so popular PCB designing software among educationist, hobbyist, and professionals. In addition, you can find very good resources and tutorials from internet which is very helpful if you are beginner.

Zuken CADSTAR. This complete design environment takes engineers from their initial ideas through product creation, thanks to its unified suite of applications. It is an established and wide extended easy-to-use single board PCB design software with many thousands of satisfied users globally that includes schematics, PCB layout, routing, signal integrity, manufacturing outputs. It is a professional, powerful, accessible and affordable software that meet your design requirements and budget and is supported by experienced, local resellers who provide training, support, integration and consultancy to help you maximize your return on investment.

Zuken CR-8000. Electronics engineers choose Zuken CR-8000 when they require advanced PCB design software with a product-centric 3D PCB design platform. An advanced single and multi-board design solution that provides the tools to optimize a design at both the product and PCB design level. It includes 2D/3D multi-board design and implementation, FPGA I/O optimization, chip/package/board co-design, and 3D MCAD integration all in one design process.

Mentor Xpedition. A high-end product that combines ease-of-use with advanced functionality. It provides designers with the technology to create the most complex designs and satisfy the needs of mid-sized to large electronic companies. It includes interactive and customizable multi-pass autorouting controls for design challenges, such as differential pair routing, net tuning, manufacturing optimization and HDI/microvia and buildup technology. It also offers a 3D mechanical kernel in the PCB layout. Thus, designers can operate in a single environment and switch between 3D and 2D views.

DesignSpark. It is an easy-to-use free PCB design tool provided by RS Components. DesignSpark is modern and intuitive, with no practical design limitations in the area of the board, layers and number of contacts. DesignSpark generates Gerber files according to industry standards. It is offered free of charge for companies, hobbyists, educators and more. In addition, you can quickly upload your bill of materials (BOM) to the RS Components website using BOM-Quote service.

KiCAD. It is a free software suite that handles Schematic Capture, and PCB Layout with Gerber output. It provides a very easy way of routing the components and it makes easy PCB troubleshooting as well. This software is good for beginners and the biggest advantage is that this software does not require purchasing any license, it is free.

The PCB design software package that best suits you depends on your own needs and budget.

For professional PCB designers and large and complex applications, probably Mentor Xpedition, Zuken CR-8000 and Altium would be the best PCB design CAD softwares. For beginners or hobbyists, then Eagle, KiCAD or DesignSpark are good options.