DesignSpark PCB

Introduction

DesignSpark PCB is the world's most powerful free schematic and PCB layout tool. It provides every electronics design engineer with access to a powerful and easy-to-use professional-standard PCB layout tool – and at no cost. In conjunction with the DesignSpark community site, DesignSpark PCB has become an industry standard for collaboration and sharing of design files.

Available for free download via the DesignSpark site, DesignSpark PCB is a fully featured design engine that comes without restrictions on board size, pin counts, layers or file output – the tool can generate industry-standard Gerber (RS-274-X), Excellon, DXF and IDF files among others. There is also no time limit on the licence and no restrictions on terms of use.

Now available in its sixth version, new features and functionality have continually been added to DesignSpark PCB, many of which are based on requests and suggestions from its large and growing user base. New features added since the tool’s launch in 2010 include 3D viewer, simulation interface, design calculators, component-grouping functionality, and online Design Rule Check (DRC) and Cross Probe functionality. The tool also links seamlessly into a library, of more than 80,000 component schematics and footprints. The tool also offers a portal to obtain a rough Bill-Of-Materials quote via the RS site, as well as a facility to obtain quotes for prototype boards from RS partner PCB manufacturers. DesignSpark PCB tutorials, FAQs and numerous design examples are available via designspark.com.

Watch the new DesignSpark PCB Video Hub

Hardware Requirements

CPU:

• Pentium® 4 2.0 GHZ or Athlon® 2000+ or faster, 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

RAM:

• Minimum: 512MB RAM (32-bit), 1Gb RAM (64-bit)
• Recommended: 2GB RAM or higher

Video Card:

• Full DirectX® 9c,
• Shader Model 3.0 hardware support
• 256 MB of graphics memory or higher
• 32 bits per pixel
• 1024x768 minimum resolution
• Please ensure that you have the latest graphics driver for your card and that Direct3D Acceleration is enabled
• Run this diagnostic tool to check if your graphics hardware meets the above requirements

Recommended video cards:

Radeon®:

NVIDIA®:

AMD™:

Others:

• 2 Button Mouse with Wheel
• Optional - 3D Mouse (e.g. 3Dconnexion)

Multi-touch:

• Not compatible with a Multi-touch interface

Software requirements

• Operating Systems:
• Microsoft® Windows 7 - 32-bit and 64-bit
• Microsoft® Windows 8 - 32-bit and 64-bit
• Microsoft® Windows 10 - 64-bit
• DesignSpark PCB is not officially supported on virtual platforms.