Flip your concepts into actual circuits with CircuitMaker. Free to make use of, full of professional options, straightforward to study, and constructed for collaboration.
Once we’re attempting to show an thought into an actual circuit, the very last thing we wish is to get caught wrestling with the device itself. That’s the place CircuitMaker is available in. It offers us a easy interface and a strong engine so we are able to deal with designing as a substitute of troubleshooting. One skilled engineer put it completely: “Lastly some recent air within the EDA market: a contemporary interface with some actually professional capabilities and no severe limitations. That is the device any electronics maker was ready for and it’s neighborhood centered.”
With CircuitMaker, we get a free platform for schematic seize and PCB structure. We will go as much as 16 sign layers and 16 airplane layers, and there’s no restrict on PCB dimension. When you’ve got ever felt boxed in by restrictions, you’ll admire that freedom.
Model 2.0 gave us one thing further, as much as 5 personal tasks. Meaning we wouldn’t have to share the whole lot straight away, we are able to select when to open designs to collaborators, clients, or the broader neighborhood.
The most recent launch, CircuitMaker 2.3.0 (July 1, 2024), takes issues additional. As a substitute of Octopart, part search now runs on the Nexar API. It’s sooner, safer, and feels smoother. We will additionally import designs from KiCAD and P-CAD, so when you or I already labored in these, we wouldn’t have to begin from scratch. Plus, Altium CoDesigner is inbuilt, so if we’re utilizing Autodesk Fusion 360, we are able to hold mechanical and PCB design in sync. And sure, this model fastened bugs and boosted efficiency based mostly on our suggestions.
Behind all of it, CircuitMaker runs on the identical engine as Altium Designer. Meaning we aren’t dropping out on professional-level energy. We will do each analog and digital simulations, generate netlists for different PCB instruments, and collaborate on tasks proper within the cloud. It does require Home windows and an web connection, however that additionally unlocks real-time teamwork.
Here’s what we get to make use of:
- An enormous library of ready-to-go elements.
- The power so as to add customized elements and mechanical items.
- A clear schematic editor with assist for a number of sheets and hierarchy.
- Limitless PCB dimension and 3D viewing. As one engineer mentioned, “The 3D viewer is superior and makes it tremendous straightforward to visualise how and what your product goes to bodily appear like. The Half meeting assistant is nice too!”
- Instruments to verify clearance and overlaps.
- One-click manufacturing and quotes by way of Altium 365.
And let’s be trustworthy, the largest plus is that it’s free. For many people, that alone makes it value attempting. It’s also straightforward to choose up in comparison with different PCB instruments, which makes it excellent for studying or for rapidly spinning up boards. “Nice for engineers, who simply have to spin up a fast prototype,” an entrepreneur added. Automated routing and enormous part libraries imply we spend much less time establishing and extra time truly constructing.
However we must also speak concerning the downsides. File compatibility remains to be a headache. CircuitMaker performs finest with Altium codecs, so working with exterior instruments isn’t at all times easy. And since the whole lot is saved within the cloud, we don’t get native copies on our machines. That may be irritating if we wish tighter management or simpler sharing exterior the platform.
So, is CircuitMaker excellent? No. However when you and I wish to design PCBs with out paying for a license, and we like the concept of neighborhood collaboration combined with pro-level options, it’s positively a device value having in our equipment. To study extra on methods to register or set up CircuitMaker, click on right here.
