emenelWhat software do people like for making custom PCBs? So far I've tried Fritzing (too limited), KiCad (very frustrating), and Fusion 360 (commercial/expensive and online)... Is there a good option that I'm missing? Or do I just suck it up and use the free version of Fusion 360 until I can't anymore...
If it helps, this is for art ... not for product or manufacturing at scale. I'm doing some custom PCBs that will either be made in the smallest quantity possible, or even milled on a CNC.
Hart of the Wud@emenel What limitations were you running into with Fritzing?
@praxeology The component libraries are pretty limited or non-existent for what I'm working on, and it doesn't play as well with CNC milling (i could do a bunch of conversions etc but Fusion and KiCad seem to handle it better)
@emenel Yeah the libraries are much smaller. But if you are using things with standard footprints, configurable components like the generic IC can usually be tweaked to do what you want. Not sure which format your mill wants but if you export an "etchable svg" you can invert it in inkscape or whatever.
Institute of Diagram Studies@emenel my friend does this too for his custom synths. He said he was using some web based tool, I'll ask and report
@emenel not tested myself but: https://easyeda.com/
Thanks for all your replies.
I spent more time with KiCad and I think I figured out the symbol lib problem that was driving my crazy... so this might actually work.
christian faubel@emenel
re-posting https://mastodon.social/web/@fblchrstn/107699565181531296
i use the inkscape plugin svg2shenzen from Budi Prakosa https://github.com/badgeek/svg2shenzhen. The plugins exports inkscape files to Kicad-projects. Sort of sidestepping the complexity of Kicad. I use those generated projects to directly produce boards at https://aisler.net/. I am using the svg2shenzen for designing my own boards and I also use it for teaching.
@fblchrstn oh, interesting. i will take a look at that.
Aarøn 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 
@emenel KiCad is the best Option. There is also EAGLE, but in comparison, KiCad is superior in many ways. The basic concept of KiCad is indeed frustrating at the beginning, but it makes totally sense. Trust me :)