Electrical and electronic circuits play a vital role in every instrument and those who belong to the electronics field, they have to get an idea about their designing & development. In such a condition, circuit designing software’s allow everybody to design circuits for different application purposes. At present, advancement in technology has increased because of the internet. There are different types of circuit design tools available in the market which is used to design the circuits for electrical and electronic projects. This article discusses the most frequently used circuit design software.
What is Circuit Design Software?
Circuit Diagram Software for Mac, Windows and Linux. Edraw circuit diagram software is an amazingly easy-to-use and quick-to-design diagramming tool that is perfect for drawing circuits due to a massive collection of electronic circuit symbols and templates. The Best Online Wiring and Circuit Diagram Software. SmartDraw is the easiest circuit diagram maker on the market today. Here's how it works. Open an wiring diagram or circuit drawing template—not just a blank screen. Add circuit symbols, switches, relays, and more. SmartDraw circuit drawing software works with you instead of against you.
While designing electronic projects, circuit designing process is the primary step to make the schematic diagram. The schematic diagram states that how circuit components are connected jointly on a PCB (printed circuit board). Once the designing part is completed, engineers can utilize their diagram for simulation. So, the circuit design software plays an essential role in electronic engineer’s life for designing & checking the faults in design at usual intervals. It is also very simple to navigate with plenty of options obtainable for best circuit design. So in today’s EDA tools, there are different features available, but often these tools cost a lot for engineers. Hence engineers are always looking for alternatives to use.
Logisim
This is an open source as well as a free tool, and this software is used to design & simulate digital logic circuits. Logisim is very useful in learning on the fundamental logic circuits concepts because it provides an interface like simple to use toolbar. This software includes many inbuilt components namely logic gates, multiplexer, I/O circuits, Flip-Flops, power, arithmetic circuits, ground.
There is a module namely combinational analysis, and the main function of this module is to enable the user to take on conversion among truth tables, circuits, &expressions. There is a combinational analysis module that enables the users to take on conversion between circuits, truth tables, and Boolean expressions. Please refer to this link to download-Logisim
Fritzing
Fritzing is open source circuit design software and it is used for the Windows users. This tool is used to make the Arduino prototypes & PCBs designing. Fritzing is a perfect tool not only for the beginners as well as non-engineers for designing, learning, & sharing the information of circuits.
Fritzing tools mainly includes different components like switches, resistors, ICs, diodes, gates, wires, junctions, etc. Once the design completes then it saves in.FZZ format. Finally, It also allows the designer to export the design into an image or a PDF. The design can be viewed in various modes like a breadboard, PCB, and schematic & code. Finally, there is an assistance page to give support in case the consumer faces any complexity during the designing. Please refer to this link to download- Fritzing
Zenit PCB
Zenit PCB software is also mainly used for circuit designing using various electronic components for semi-professional projects due to the restriction of usage of 800-pins. ZenitPCB software includes a black colored board with a network where every component can be placed with a right click.
Finally, the design can be saved in.ZSC format & everyone can also print out a copy of the project. Furthermore, the designing can be exported in the form of TXT which includes the author, design name, number of parts, pins, etc. A user guide is also available in PDF format in the help menu. Please refer to this link to download- Zenit PCB
TinyCAD
TinyCAD software is an open source for Windows users. It gives total sign symbol libraries along with tools namely PCB layouts, & schematic capture. The circuit design can be done using the components namely relays, logic gates, diodes, power sources, capacitor, switches, & microcontrollers. Additionally, it includes text, shapes, wires, and symbols for confirming the circuit connections.
Once the circuit design is finished, the circuit can take print directly, and the user can copy and paste the image in the type of a document, otherwise, user can save them in PNG bitmap otherwise the web format. Once the design completed, the file can be saved in .dsn format. Please refer to this link to download- TinyCAD
Proteus (Paid)
Proteus is one type of circuit designing software and it is a paid tool which is accessible for different platforms like Windows, Linux, & MAC. It permits users to design & deliver PCB designs. It is a complete tool for the engineers, and it carries an in-built STEP export & an auto-router in global shape. Furthermore, there are hundreds of microcontroller alternatives for the simulation.
The Proteus modules mainly include PCB design, microcontroller simulation, 3D verification, and schematic capture. Proteus is paid software the consumers can purchase it numerous configurations, based on the design size & the simulation microcontroller requirement. The price of normal feature set 487 $ but the specialized feature set is 1,642 $. Please refer to this link to download- Proteus
Eagle (PAID)
The full-form of Eagle software is ‘easy applicable graphical layout editor’ and for non-commercial use, a free version for circuit design is also available. It supports all operating systems and provides three modules namely schematic editor, an auto-router & layout editor, The circuit designing can be done using the components like filters, op-amps, diode, comparator, supply, symbols. Whenever the user clicks on every component, it reveals the features like symbol, name, etc.
By clicking the right side of the component, the user can rotate copy and delete the component. The circuit drawing in Eagle software can be imported while the pin-list, part-list, and net-list can be exported. The price of Eagle versions are Standard version is 69$, Premium version is 820$, Ultimate version is 640$, Premium LS version is 575$, & Ultimate LS version is 1145$. Please refer to this link to download- Eagle
Lucidchart (Paid)
Lucid chart software is a web-based protected platform. It is mainly used to permit users who can access from different locations to work together with their coworkers in circuit designing, modifying and charts & diagrams sharing. This software runs in a browser which supports HTML5, which means it doesn’t need third party software update such as flash. This software offers a free option as well as a subscription plan. The cost of this tool varies based on month and annual. For one month, it charges11.95 $ & 9.95 $ per month. Please refer to this link to download- Lucidchart
Digi-key
Digi-key is a free online schematic design tool. By using this tool one can design and share electronic circuits. This tool comprises of a complete electronic symbol library & also component list for designing circuits. Moreover, an in-built materials bill can be provided to keep follow the parts which are utilized in a circuit design.
When the circuit design is complete, then the user can export an image file otherwise share it through e-mail to others. Digi-key scheme-it supports all main web browsers without any use of plug-ins. All you need to do is, you have to register to design the schematics to save and share designs. Please refer to this link to download- Digi-key
KiCad EDA
KiCad is free software for EDA (electronic design automation). It is well-suited with all the operating systems and accessible with tools like PCB layout, schematic editor, & 3D Viewer. It allows the user to edit and add the components to decide the PCB layout.
The KiCad EDA has several in-built components like display, microchip, audio device, power, memory, transistor, etc. And extra components also selected like ground, bus, wire, and junction. In addition, there is a Footprint Editor for PCB & extra tools like a PCB Calculator & Bitmap2Component converter. Please refer to this link to download- kiCad EDA
Circuit Maker
This is a desktop-based tool that aids while designing circuits for Window operating system. To design the circuit, the first user has to log in the website and sign up. Once the circuit design is completed, the circuit can be saved online or on your device. The main feature of this software is that it holds a teamwork facility which allows you to access from anywhere. Please refer to this link to download- Circuit Maker
Thus, these are the free and paid circuit designing software’s which can be availed by the professionals, beginners, and students for designing electronic circuits easily. Here is a question for you, please mention some more paid circuit design software’s?
1. Reference Guide and Glossary
A. Reference Guide and Glossary
2. Design Space Menu Navigation
A. Overview
3. Ready To Make™ Projects
A. Ready To Make™ projects overview
B. Creating a Ready To Make™ Project
C. Customizing a Ready To Make project
4. Projects
A. Starting a new project
B. Saving a project
C. Accessing saved projects
D. Sharing your projects
5. Canvas Overview
A. Overview
6. Under construction
7. Inserting images from the image library
A. Insert image overview
B. Inserting an image
C. Searching for images
D. Searching with filters
E. Browsing images by category
F. How to browse and search for cartridges
G. Searching for cartridges with filters
H. Inserting basic shapes
8. Selecting images
A. Selecting a single image
B. Selecting multiple images
C. Image bounding box
9. Edit tool bar
A. Edit (Cut, Copy, Paste)
B. Image alignment
C. Distribute images evenly
D. Arrange
E. Flipping or Mirroring an image
F. Sizing an image
G. Rotating an image
H. Position
10. Working with text
A. Adding text
B. Text tool bar overview
C. Selecting a font
D. Text alignment
E. Text sizing
F. Text spacing
G. Ungroup to layers
H. Ungroup to letters
I. Ungroup to lines
J. Working with multiple lines of text
K. Writing on your project
11. Inserting basic shapes
A. Inserting basic shapes
12. Layers Panel Overview
A. Group and ungrouping
B. Duplicate
C. Delete
D. Changing image contour
E. Slicing images
F. Welding images
G. Welding text
H. Attaching to hold cut placement
I. Attaching to place writing or score
J. Flatten to print
K. Hiding an image layer so it doesn't cut
L. Selecting a line type
M. Arranging image order
13. Working with color
A. Color Sync panel
B. Changing color for cutting images
C. Changing color for images with a print line type
D. Selecting pen color
14. Using your own images
A. Upload image overview
B. Preparing artwork from Photoshop
C. Preparing to upload artwork from Illustrator
D. Preparing to upload artwork from CorelDRAW
E. Uploading images (.jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg, .dxf files)
F. Uploading pattern fills
G. Changing an uploaded image into a cut image
H. Working with uploaded photos
Free Software Electronic Circuit Design
15. Print then Cut
A. Print then cut overview
B. Changing a standard image into a printable
C. Inserting a printable image
D. Separating printable image layers
E. Change printable layers to a solid color
F. Applying a pattern to an image layer
G. Applying a pattern to text
H. Browsing patterns
I. Editing pattern fills
J. Matching Color with Printable Images
K. Combining standard and printable images
L. Final steps to printing and cutting your project
M. Image bleed
N. Troubleshooting Print then Cut
Free Circuit Design Software For Mac Software
16. Mat preview
A. Mat preview overview
B. Mirroring images for iron-on
C. Selecting a material size
Free Circuit Design Software For Mac Windows 10
17. Cutting projects
A. Set, Load, Go
B. Cutting the mat of choice
C. Edit mat
D. Managing custom materials
Free Circuit Design Software For Mac Os
18. Purchasing images
A. Purchasing images and patterns from the mat preview
B. Purchasing images from the Cricut Image Library
C. Purchasing patterns from the Cricut Image library